Having reached No. 1 on the AMRAP Airit regional charts with his debut release, “Emma” in late 2018, Brisbane-based singer/songwriter Harry Phillips is poised to launch a new track, “Unexpected” on Friday, April 26.
Produced by ARIA Award-winner Govinda Doyle (Angus & Julia Stone), it is the second single taken from his forthcoming EP, which will be released later this year.
The laid back, dreamy feel of “Unexpected” enhances the vulnerability of Harry’s lyrics, melody and that voice. He writes exceptionally catchy songs about unrequited and love and failed relationships, but manages to give each one a different vibe.
Says Harry, when asked to compare his first two singles, ‘Whilst “Emma” is the song for when you’re riding high at the party with your mates, “Unexpected” is for when your friends have gone home and that hole in your universe is staring you in the face, rain pouring outside the window.’
Both parents are professional songwriters, so Harry has always had an affinity with music. But his life changed profoundly after a bout of depression and anxiety caused by a serious sports injury, which was when he realised the importance of expressing himself through music, and he has dedicated his energy into honing his craft ever since.
Naming the great Neil Finn as one of his main musical influences – whose songs he has known off by heart since the age of four – Harry has already been recognised for his songwriting, winning two national songwriting competitions through JMC Academy, which saw him partake in APRA’s “Fifty Songs in 50 Days” writing camp in 2016, and in 2018 being selected as one of four finalists in Q Music’s Billy Thorpe Scholarship.
For “Emma”, it wasn’t only community radio that showed the love … the track spent two weeks at #1 on the Unearthed charts, and remained in the Top 10 for five weeks.
Harry performs live with a full backing band, and has been playing the Brisbane circuit for a couple of years now, at venues like The Zoo, The Foundry, The Black Bear Lodge, The Bearded Lady and more.
He will soon be announcing the date for his Brisbane single launch.
Did we tell you that Harry loves puppies? In his spare time, Harry is also an
activist and volunteers at the local Warra complex for the Animal Welfare
League, Queensland. He is also a volunteer English tutor for children who have arrived in Australia as refugees, and is currently tutoring three young siblings from Burma.
www.harryphillipsmusic.com.au