SXSW Interviews: Phebe Starr

Now that SXSW is only a few weeks away, I am honestly feeling all the feels about getting this thing back to “normal” activities and seeing some live music with old friends. Everyone say a little silent prayer now that things will keep trending in the right direction… Phew. So now we move on with more interviews coming your way, today from Sydney based artist Phebe Starr. She’s coming into town for SXSW and we feel like you musically inclined peeps need to know more about her and get her on your must see list. Follow the jump for full interview and tunes from Phebe.

ATH: What’s the name of the band/group? Where are you from?

PS: Phebe Starr. I’m from Dorrigo in Australia but you have probably never heard of that place as no one lives there, it’s in the middle of nowhere where they grow potatoes amongst green rolling hillsides. These days I live in Sydney Australia.

ATH: Describe your groups sound.

PS: I make alternative electronic pop music. I love to make music on acoustic instruments and sample them to transport them into an electronic sound. I’m a massive fan of the Mellotron! They are beautiful vintage instruments, and they make such unique sounds. I also love my classical Japanese Nylon string guitar. Since I was a teenager, I’ve been playing it, and it’s warm and homely. I mainly record in studios, but I collaborate a lot with friends, so I send my music to them all over the world until it feels ready to come out.

ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2022?

PS: “Everything” my latest song just came out and in March my debut Album Heavy Metal Flower Petal will be released. It’s an album thats driven by emotions and me trying to process the world. I have been really focused on learning how to be softer. The yin. I felt like the world was crying out for more feminine energy so I’ve been trying to figure out what that is and what that looks like in my own life.

The track “Everything” that was just released came about because last year I learned about spaghettification, which is a term in astrophysics (sometimes referred to as the noodle effect). It’s the vertical stretching and horizontal compressing of objects into long thin shapes (rather like spaghetti) in a very strong non-homogeneous gravitational field; it’s caused by extreme tidal forces.

I thought it was funny but also had the feeling of how I felt at the time, like you’re giving everything to life and it’s taking everything. So that’s where the idea started.

ATH: Everyone’s been focused on the negative aspects of the last few years? What are a few good things that came about for you as an individual or the band as a whole during the last two pandemic-stricken years?

PS: I like this question because it is easy to just look at the sorrow. There are many things I’m thankful for. The first was reconnecting more with my mother. I have been traveling so much since I was 16 that I would only see her a few days a year. I got stuck at her house in the first part of the pandemic where I grew up. It’s very simple country life. We spent months together swimming, hanging and eating from her garden and getting to know one another again. I would have never had this experience without covid.

The other thing that happened that was really cool is I started restoring and modifying vintage lamps and selling them, which I’ve loved doing. I started the lamp thing because I was struggling to pay rent without any shows and it made music so hard to feel excited about. I’ve always loved lighting and now I’ve learnt so much and would like to keep learning more. I have recently learnt how to code my own lights so it will be cool to see the effects on this long term and the impact it has on my music and art. I want to incorporate this into my show more and more. I recently got a light structure for my live show: (I’ve attached an image)

ATH: Why play SXSW? What’s the draw for the band? What about this festival will bring you to Austin?

PS: I just wanted to get back to America and play some shows and Austin is always a good time with support for smaller, more unknown artists.

ATH: Lets say your band has booked an official showcase at a pop up venue somewhere in the middle of 6th street. The lineup features thrash metal, hip-hop, spoken word, and you. The sound is horrible, the lineup is not your style, and the crowd is growing antsy. How would your band deal with such a situation?

PS: In my experience a thrash metal, hip-hop, and spoken word line up seems sick! Music lovers are the best people in the world so I don’t think this sounds like a bad situation. I also have a hate for tech problems so I always make sure I can just play acoustically on any instrument. That’s how it all started to me and sometimes the most magical moments between and audience and musician happen under those circumstances.

ATH: There are tons of bands coming into town, but if you could create your own perfect festival, who would you have playing? Would it have a sick name? Where would it take place?

PS: My festival is called Dog Bless and I would put all genres maybe a similar line-up to the spoken word, thrash metal, and hip hop one, just people from everywhere sharing their art. Oh and maybe some of my favourites life Remi Wolf, Sufjan Stevens, and Dolly Parton would also be there and we would all play tunes together.

ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?

PS: I’ve just been listening to classic music this last year. I went through a huge Stevie Wonder phase, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Prince something about these times that makes nostalgia more appealing

ATH: There’s been a lot of discussion about Spotify and streaming and all that these last few months. Where does the band stand? What’s your solution?

PS: My solution is to think about quitting and buying a plot of land in the middle of nowhere with no reception and living completely off the grid so I don’t have to deal with these problems.

ATH: The band gets to create their own food truck to take on the road. What’s it called, and what are you serving?

PS: My food truck is called VINTAGE PEOPLE and it employs elderly people who want to rage, love to garden and are passionate about food. The truck is a self containing garden that grows seasonal produce and our employees make fresh farm to table innovative tasties every day. It plays classic hits. There is also a pool and mini golf fold out set so they can relax and take breaks and recover from raging.

Thanks again to Phebe for making the time to speak to us! Also, check out her latest single “Everything” below: