Project Description
Interview with
PHIN
24th November 2021
Review by Melanie Griffiths
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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
I started off learning drums from the age of 10 and enjoyed it but it was more of a side thing than a real passion. When I was 14 I was listening to a lot of OG Ed Sheeran and all I wanted to do was make music like that, so I decided I would take singing lessons and taught myself guitar and how to write cheesy love songs, until they didn’t sound cheesy I guess.
How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
My sound has been very raw and acoustic, meaningful lyrics with not too much going on instrumentally. Lately I’m starting to enjoy making indie-pop tunes (like Mistakes) and indie-rock that are a bit more ‘involved’. So that’s something to look out for in the near future. And the reason people listen to my music is a hard question, could be because they like what they hear musically, but I’d like to say it’s because of the connection they have with my lyrics.
Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
I’m going to have to say the 1975. I have listened to their earliest stuff right through to their latest album release and they seem to always keep spitting out banger after banger.
Your new song “Mistakes” has just been released/! Describe its origin and evolution.
This song came to me around mid 2020, during the middle of lockdown. When I make songs, to figure out what other elements I could add I use my loop pedal and that’s how I came up with mistakes. I hadn’t felt ‘the feeling’ with a song for a few months and one night I sat down and played the chords for mistakes out of nowhere, chucked in a solid four-to-the-floor and later that night came up with the break riff. Took a couple of months to get all the lyrics and structure figured out though. Mistakes is about how sometimes you go through shit times and make mistakes, but everybody does it and you have to make them to grow as a person. I sing about my personal experience with it.
Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
Indeed. My wasting Time EP is almost out and the date is to be released soon.
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Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Currently that is a no. I am in the process of putting a band together and will most likely getting out into the live gigging scene around early to mid 2022. But plans do change so if you wanna be kept up to date with everything I’m doing, check out my Instagram @phin_music.
How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
When Covid hit it was somewhat convenient for me. It gave me a lot of free time to write and create music and once heavy restrictions were lifted… to get them produced and mixed as well. And now that live music is picking up again it’s almost time to get back out there, and it’s gonna be especially fun with a band behind me.
If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
I know I’ve already mentioned the 1975 but it would have to be Matty Healy. And why… well because it’s Matty Healy.
Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
All I use to want was to be able to play Wembley stadium like Ed Sheeran did for his divide tour. I use to watch videos and videos of that shit when I was younger and just be in love. But at the moment I’m just taking my opportunities as they come, But if I was say anything it would probably be to make a living off my creative ability you know… eventually get out what you’ve put in kinda thing. Oh and playing Wembley would be pretty cool I guess.
What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
Honestly, I wanna say I’ve played a lot of gigs under my PHIN name, but it’s all been solo background music for restaurants and cafés kind stuff so far. With this EP release and the next one too it’s going to be awesome to get out and play some proper live music venues with my band. Once I’ve lived it up a little I’ll get back to you.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – The 1975 (Deluxe edition)
Artist – The 1975
Movie – Interstellar
Place to visit – The Hobbiton set (in NZ)
Venue to play – The Zoo (Brisbane)
Food – Mexican
Drink – Stone & Wood
Person in History – Bob Dylan
Tattoo – I have a girl with a record head on my left arm so I’ll go with that
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Follow PHIN
Facebook – Spotify – Instagram
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Recent Press Release (below) HERE
PHIN
announces new single
‘MISTAKES’
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