Erik
Phillips
when I think of an album that captures the feeling of hometowns and nostalgia, One by Erik Phillips does so fantastically. listening to the
songs Make or Give I am instantly reminded and
dream of better times that came with being in elementary school, bicycling
around town with childhood friends or coming home inside covered in dirt and
pine sap to my mother's mac and cheese for lunch. (which for some reason was
always the best, even though it was a box of kraft macaroni.)
Erik Phillips, formerly known as "cat be damned" and
"ugly suns" is an acoustic / indie / bedroom pop / lofi artist from
Richmond, Virginia. his first releases you make me feel ten feet tall and six songs were collections of exceptionally
moody ambient guitar/synth tracks. tracks like worship music ii invoke intense
emotions despite being only instrumental, and they are best experienced at
night in your bedroom alone with only a candle for your light. (there was some
pre-cat be damned music and band attempts which Erik can happily laugh off as
trying to emulate Modest Mouse he quickly figured out he was in over his
head), following those two releases, he released another incredible album
titled 2015 in which he branched out
from his instrumental tracks and began create more bedroom pop influenced
sounds from artists like Elvis Depressedly, Elliot Smith and Alex G by adding
in a low kick and dry snare drum complimented with a light hi-hat. He also
began to write sentimentally inspired melancholy lyrics that seem to portray a
releasing of inner thoughts and contextualizing the world as he sees it.
although 2015 does still include
some ambient tracks, a clear groundwork and direction was laid out for his next
album, One.
"the friends i make
myself / i don't talk to them / i bought myself a phone / so i can hang up on
all of them again"
-parking on the freeway - 2015
Erik Phillips - One
released in february this
year (2018), One is an album full of small short stories and characters that
can fill one's life, which is one of the reasons i am personally filled with
nostalgia while i listen it. The album is filled with well-layered acoustic
guitars, synths/pianos and lo-fi drums that are told intimately from Erik's
perspective with soft-spoken lyrics. although somewhat gloomy in tone, i view
them much more as hushed but blissful lullaby. Interstate 95 or Wrong are two strong examples
of this, instead of hearing what at face value may be interpreted as
depressing i hear a more joyful yet solemn or shy singer expressing some honest
yet still abstract thoughts or feelings that he has. a particular favorite
theme off of One and Erik's releases as a whole are the religious themes in
some of his songs, like every other person in the world Erik is uneasy and
unsure where to find the unanswered questions. it is far too easy and
commonplace to simply talk down on religion and the like instead of getting at
the heart of your feelings and thoughts and Erik does so beautifully in One.
from his previous release 2015 , a clear sense of
artistic growth can be heard, not only in incredibly cleaned up
songwriting but also in recording and production. whether it is intentional or
not, Erik's raw or bare-bones recording process delivers melodic, minimalistic and
fairly memorable songs. this minimalism in his music is in my opinion one of
One's strongest points, for he doesn't try to clutter or drown you in his
musical attempts, he presents neat, clean and well thought-out songs throughout
the album. i relate it similarly to an author or filmmaker saying something
along the lines of "if it isn't absolutely necessary to the plot, cut
it".
there is something special
to be said about my drives alone on highway 61 to and from my hometown listening
to Interstate
95 or
my winter walks home listening to Give. lately i have thought a
lot about how bewildering and simply amazing it is to think that each and every
person you meet and see out there has a life equally as complex and filled with
stories or memories as my own, and Erik Phillip's One presents a window into
another one of those equally fascinating realities for me.
you can purchase and
listen to his music at his bandcamp website below, as well as follow him on
facebook and twitter with the links below. thank you.
Bandcamp: https://erikphillips.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erikphillipsva/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/erikphillips94
