Tag: New single

Phillip Phillips Releases Video for New Song Dancing With Your Shadows

Phillip Phillips’ new video for “Dancing With Your Shadows” dropped yesterday, March 1. “Dancing With Your Shadows” was released on February 10. It’s a moody, darker entry to Phillip’s usually more colourful video catalog. 

Since his debut in 2012, Phillip Phillip has experimented freely with his songwriting, most clearly in his second album Behind the Light (2014), where he explored the many ways in which a song can be shaped. Collateral (2018), while still a rich, multi-genre album, pointed in the direction his music has been taking in more recent years, which is leaning into more to-the-point songs that deliver their message efficiently. Continue Reading →

Phillip Phillips’ “Love Like That” – a personal testament of love

Phillip Phillips‘ brand new single, “Love Like That,” dropped right at midnight (ET) on April 15. It’s Phillip’s first officially released new song in over four years. His last album, Collateral, was released in January 2018,  while in 2021 he was featured in Walk Off The Earth’s uplifting single “Hold On To Your Love.”

Much has happened in the past four years — a little thing called a pandemic, of course — but also some wonderful things in Phillip’s personal life: in November 2019 he and his wife Hannah (the couple wed in 2015) welcomed their son Patch.

“Love Like That” is a sweet testament of love from Phillip to Hannah and Patch. It is Phillip’s most openly personal song yet, something we can gather partially through the lyrics, but mainly through the promotional messages that alluded to very intimate moments in Phillip and Hannah’s life and that Phillip shared in the days before the release of the song.

The video of “Love Like That,” which Phillip released simultaneously on YouTube, shows old and new footage of Phillip’s relationship with Hannah and their long journey together as a couple. While “Love Like That” stands on its own, the video does bring to the fore how deeply personal the song is for Phillip and makes some of the lyrics particularly poignant.

“Love Like That” was written by Phillip with Todd Clark (“Gone Gone Gone,” “Raging Fire”), Robyn Dell’Unto, and Khalid Yassein.

Originally from Canada, Dell’Unto is a successful songwriter and producer based in Nashville, while Yassein is a member of the Canadian folk band Wild Rivers. The song was produced by Clark with additional vocal production by Dell’Unto.

With most of the songwriting team based in Nashville, the sound of “Love Like That” is modern in a Nashville kind of way: straight-to-the-point storytelling, a restraint, elegant production, and a strong focus on the vocals.

In contrast to many of Phillip’s radio-friendly singles—“Raging Fire,” “Unpack Your Heart”— drums are much more subdued (they seem to be mostly programmed at the start) while energetic claps propel the song forward. Phillip’s acoustic guitar, however, is as clear and beautiful as ever, especially during the opening bars of the song. The truth is “Love Like That” is perfectly primed for the radio, and that’s a great thing; I’m sure Phillip still has many intricate, dark, eclectic, experimental songs up his sleeve and we will be hearing those in an eventual album.

One thing that Clark’s production does as well, is highlight the quality of the writing, which is superb. Both verses and chorus are instantly memorable — I have been singing that “love like thaaaaat…” melody for three days straight — while the lyrics are specific in a way that we haven’t heard from Phillip before (“windows down going 85,” “that sweater you have been living in”) perhaps a little hint of Phillip embracing his inner-country. The song has multiple hooks and no solos–this is fresh 2022 pop and I love this directness of choice.

Upbeat, romantic, earnest, “Love Like That” falls very much in the tradition of “Home,” “Gone Gone Gone,” or “Unpack Your Heart,” — songs that tap into universal messages of love. Indeed, as the video of the song brilliantly shows, the meaning of the lyrics deepens and transcends as soon as footage of Phillip and Hannah’s son Patch is shown — a love like that is also the love of parents towards their children or the love for a spouse after they become a mother or a father.

The video of “Love Like That”— as it was released simultaneously its images are now strongly linked to the message of the song — further points to a kind of American nostalgia, where love, family, a country road, and a simple life are the ultimate goals. This is no affectation: Phillip has always embraced those values and the song demonstrates the beauty and appeal of those goals. For the listener/viewer, the song is reassuring and hopeful, especially after two years of profound tragedy due to the pandemic.

Photo via Phillip Phillips’ Twitter.

The single’s artwork is great as well. Photographed by Ryan Nolan, a Nashville-based photographer, and director, it shows Phillip against a faint blue sky and a setting sun (or rising?). He’s wearing a simple white t-shirt, blue shirt combo and multiple images of Phillip superimposing one another until we get the final one of Phillip looking down. It captures that country, nostalgic vibe, while also being elegant and refined. It’s just gorgeous.

Phillip has been writing music for the last three years and it is wonderful to see him return with such a self-assured and personal song. It’s a hint of what’s to come and we cannot be more excited about it!

Buy/stream “Love Like That” everywhere you get your music. And visit Phillip Phillips’ official site for any upcoming announcements.

Phillip Phillips Releases New Song Magnetic, Announces New Album and Tour Dates

I apologise if it may take a moment for Phillip Phillips fans to unpack that title, because all at once earlier today Phillip released a new song, announced the title and release date of his third album and a list of new tour dates!

Simply titled Collateral, Phillip’s third album will finally be released into our hands, and the world, on January 19, 2018. Soon after, on February 9th, Phillip will launch his Magnetic Tour across the US where he will be stopping at some amazing venues along the way. If this wasn’t enough, tied in with the announcement was the release of “Magnetic,” a song Phillip debuted on tour last year. Both “Magnetic” and the album announcement were accompanied by their covers. And though they are quite different in their approach, they do both feature striking images of Phillip with his guitar.

It has been quite a different experience to listen to the studio version of Phillip’s new singles “Miles” and now “Magnetic;” both of which were performed heavily during his summer tour and even earlier shows. Whereas at a show the energy of a song is magnified by the volume, the venue’s acoustics, the crowd, and obviously the presence of the musicians, listening through your headphones to a studio version is about intimacy and the discovery of musical detail and musical choices.

From the start “Magnetic” was a fan favourite, in large part thanks to its mid-tempo, instant sing-along-ability. Though the studio version is not a huge departure from the version we heard live, I was still surprised by a lot of things when I first listened to it: the bright horns opening the song, the beautiful sound of the bass and drums, that extremely well-placed guitar, and a cool effect I still have not been able to figure out. Still the best surprise is at the end, a great bit of backing vocals, by a female singer, which definitely is a departure for Phillip. This is a phenomenal recording in my opinion, and I had goosebumps all over when the full band came in the first time and Phillip’s voice soared effortlessly on the chorus. Also, there is no more avoiding it, this song is dripping in sexiness: it’s a lush, intense, sensual musical metaphor of being near that person who is simply magnetic to us, from the lyrics (“pushing and pulling me”) right to that ending with those battling (in this case) male and female vocals. Also, Phillip’s voice has never sounded more amazing.

I am so happy and excited to hear who “the new Phillip” is (as per his words) on his new album; thankfully today we know we won’t have to wait that much longer.

Follow the links below to get “Magnetic,” pre-order the new album, and see all the tour dates!

Buy or stream Magnetic.
Pre-order Collateral.
And check out the dates for the Magnetic Tour here.

Phillip Phillips Releases New Single “Miles”

To the joy of Phillip Phillips fans around the world, “Miles,” Phillip’s first single in three years, was finally released this past Friday, August 11. The release of the song, in itself a joyful event for anybody following his career, is particularly emotional as it represents the end of a long legal struggle that had prevented Phillip from putting out any new music and delayed this release for several months. It is truly momentous, making “Miles” a hugely special and significant single.

The choice of “Miles” as the new single came as a big but extremely pleasant surprise for me, since it had been a personal favourite from the moment the song was casually debuted live during a show last summer. The song had become familiar to many fans this year as well as it had also made several appearances on the set list this summer before the announcement was made. This did not in any way detract from the excitement of the announcement, on the contrary, it added to it as “Miles” had already become a favourite not just for me but for many fans.

When singles are released, it usually works the other way around: we get to know a studio version of a song and then crave hearing how its energy will be translated live. With “Miles,” having listened to it numerous times live, the pleasure is in hearing all the creative decisions that went into the studio version — in addition to a proper recording. And what a recording it is, with an impeccable but not overdone production and gorgeous details throughout. The guitar work is delicate and subtle while the drums and bass feel wonderfully organic. Phillip’s voice as well sounds warm and unvarnished, showing a vulnerability we have not heard before. The lyrics are some of my favorites he has written, evoking a deep yearning for peace and release while still finding the strength to believe in a brighter future (“we are fire waiting for a spark”). In an official message from Phillip to accompany the release of song, he said that “Miles” “is about going through change, but not being alone while it’s happening. Just knowing that there is always light after dark.” It’s a bittersweet feeling that the song conveys beautifully — as do many of my favourite songs that Phillip has written.

In a complete departure from the art design from his last album, Behind the Light, the single cover has Phillip facing us directly on a black and white photo, his guitar by his side. The image, as does the song, marks a new beginning, stripping any last hint of self-doubt or need to hide. The wait was long but oh, so worth it — we never had any doubt it would be. Follow the links to listen and to purchase “Miles,” it is available now!

Phillip Phillips’ official site.
iTunes
Amazon

Featured photo and album cover photo: Phillip Phillips’ official site and Instagram.

The Wait is Almost Over: New Phillip Phillips Single Coming Soon

Though no official announcement has been made yet, Phillip Phillips let it drop casually during a show last week that the new single is coming very soon, as soon as in the next two weeks.

Phillip was answering a question from a fan during a Q&A and indicated that the new single would come as soon as August 11th. Naturally, no mention was made of which song has been chosen as the new single, though Phillip has been incredibly generous in sharing his new music; he has debuted at least seven new songs in the last several months. Of these songs, two stand out as possible picks: the sensual, slow burning “Magnetic” and the funky “Don’t Tell Me,” both frequently played at his shows this and last summer. Of course, it could be neither – highly possible – or a completely different one from the ones he has already shared with us and even a brand new song we haven’t heard before.

Regardless, this is huge news from Phillip, who has struggled behind the scenes in the last three years with a crippling legal battle to gain control over his music and career. Though he has continued to tour extensively, this is the first glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel for the fans – a new single means a new album is coming soon, as well as, we hope, many more happy touring days for Phillip.

Check out the Q&A video below (Bonus: Watch until the end for Phillip’s mindblowing cover of Hall & Oates’ “Maneater”).

Phillip’s tour continues tomorrow in Nashville, TN.
Thank you to Liss for the video.