ME: We met at a The 1975 concert years ago, and since we did I felt like it was appropriate to first ask how they've inspired you
PHOEBE AXA: Right year, so I've listened to them since that first EP came out, and it's more so the idea the way that Matty writes is nonsense in a way - he brain vomits and it taught me that I can say whatever I want, as whacky as it sounds. I think arrangement wise as well, I'm so inspired by the guitar riffs, Matty as a front man is so sort of charismatic he's very out there and not afraid of change. They don't put themselves in a box, their albums are such a mix, and I think stepping out the comfort zone and evolving is what I love as them as a band, and their live shows. Visually it's incredible, he commands the stage.
M: New lyrics to one of their songs were released and as always, it seems crazy.
PA: It's nonsense, but it makes sense, and that's kind of how the human brain works, we formulate how to speak to one another but behind all that, it makes no sense.
M: So you've been doing music for a long time, do you feel the time you've put into it and hard work has been paid off?
PA: One hundred percent, growing up I didn't have a smartphone, not until college, so it meant I was fully focused on my music. Don't get me wrong, I would throw a strop when I had to play my violin, but then I got into piano and guitar and then production around thirteen and fourteen, since that when I was allowed to use a laptop. I think if you put time into anything you'll get the rewards, but at the same time I feel like I haven't stopped learning.
M: This is one is one I want to touch on twice but; one piece of advice for young artists out there?
PA: Get out there, go to gigs, go to taste maker shows, it's all the same people at these places, find out about new artists on late night radio, all our favourite artists were once them. Don't be afraid to talk to people, you're all there for the same reason. Collaborate with other people, get in to a studio session, be around people all the time! The more you do it, the more people recognise you, music is so small and I always say that. We're all here to lift each other up, that's how I like to see music.
M: You've been performing a lot since the pandemic, how has it been?
PA: Definitely my favourite part of the job! I did a show at colours, a month ago now, and it was for Abby McCarthy for Radio One and just so cool, I've played some new stuff I've been harbouring over the pandemic, got some shows next week too, it's honestly the best part. Being with the band, seeing people, meeting people, it makes me tear up when people tell you that your music has done stuff.
M: You recently released 'I Was Supposed To Be Fine', what was the response to that?
PA: It's my most unhinged piece yet, it was pretty cool, I was really nervous to release it because it was kind of an open book. I thought, how are people going to take this? But the reaction was good! It was really important to me that in my new music that I'm talking about mental health, this song is my inner monologue, like some unhinged rant you can't say to someone but let it all out. It's my first co-written piece, with a member of the Vaccines and others. At first I was feeling so turbulent, I had so much to get out of me, I said just link me up to the microphone and see what comes out. Performing it live, that was the response I needed.
M: I also noticed your Spotify wrapped earlier this year, you had over 900k streams... how did that feel?
PA: I do try not to look at numbers, I think wow these are people who are actually listening, and when I do look I see an older song still growing and climbing and that means so much to me. The fact people are connecting with my stuff is great, hopefully it keeps growing, and I love seeing all the names of playlists people put my music on.
M: You obviously mentioned doing collaborative work before, but you're friends with Millie Turner, Orla Gartland... how does it feel to not only be friends with people others recognise, but collab with them, etc?
PA: It's so awesome, these women are incredible, they produce, they write, Orla is incredible and I massively look up to her. It's brilliant to be surrounded by resilient women, and Millie and I have made some projects together and we're so close and love working together, we spend a lot of time being creative. I love that these artists wear their hearts on their sleeves, and I've always strived to be like that, so that's why it's such a big deal to me, I'm grateful that they've noticed me and like what I'm doing. Women are left at the bottom of the barrel in the industry in every aspect, but they lift me up. It's solidarity,
M: How would you describe navigating your career in todays age with social media, in a city like London?
PA: It's a mixed bag, sometimes it's great, sometimes it's disheartening. When you're writing and enjoying it, that motivates you to push forward. There's so much more I know I'm going to experience, how I feel about music is always changing, from my experience so far you just always have to be willing - it took me so long to let people help.
M: You've been a supporting act for a lot of people, who would be your dream band or musician to open up for?
PA: There's so many! Crawlers, a new band I love, they really speak to me. Wolf Alice - I don't think I'd even make it to the stage. Obviously the 1975, that would be awesome. I've already supported some awesome people that I look up to and respect so much.
M: Obviously, you've recently released a new song, but are there any more things coming up you can talk about?
PA: There are some more things coming! Some things people might not expect, but I've got a few projects. I wanna feel like I've given it my all by the end of it, I have a new exciting project coming up which is so cool.
M: Is music always going to be your end goal?
PA: My primary focus will always be music, who knows maybe one day when it's getting a bit old and it's time to pack up my guitar and go home, I might do something to do with food or acting, if they'll take me. I love food so much, I find it creative. Maybe one day, if people get sick and tired of me.
M: What do you feel your coolest experience has been so far that your music career has enabled you?
PA: I think the shows, since that's my favourite part. I played twice in one day at Latitude, I can't believe it still, but I loved every minute of it. Meeting people as well, like minded people who I didn't get to be around growing up, it's so exciting.
M: Did you ever picture yourself reaching the goals I've already reached?
PA: No, no. I always knew in my head, I will always do this, and I hope I'll continue to grow now, but I didn't think I'd sign a deal at eighteen, and I thought I'd be lost for a good five years after college. All I could think was, what do I do now? I got so lucky with how I started. I did an open mic at bcc introducing at latitude and they asked me to come back, then a few years later I was performing twice and it was awesome. I had no idea it was going to happen, it was right place right time. I feel very grateful to be doing music full-time.
M: You know I'm such a hippie and completely believe you were there, right place right time.
PA: I believe that we all have this one path and sometimes we stray from it but the universe brings us back to this one path and we may not want it, or it may not happen in the best way, but it's for the greater good.
M: You spoke about all these strong women and I wanted to ask if you feel when you have a platform that it's important to speak about issues, especially going on in todays politics?
PA: Totally, I hope that if I do get to the level I want to get to, I'll be more than vocal. We're greater in numbers, especially with women's rights these days, we all need to stand together.
M: You obviously write all of your own stuff, where do you take inspiration to write from?
PA: I think it's different every time, sometime I like to write stories about other people, or characters - I wrote a song about two characters from orange is the new black, not out yet. Sometimes even writing about the way you fantasise other peoples being, you know? It's building your own characters, I'm going introduce you to some characters soon, they represent an important part of my identity so I'm very excited about that. You can make so much up, I wrote stories as a kid so you know. That's the fun of it. No-ones going to call it out for being not real, it's free. When I think about the characters, shows, all these things we love and get attached to, we are so complex as humans, and we want what we create to be cherished and nurtured the same way. Like me with Doctor Who and Harry Potter.
M: And me with Call Me By Your Name.
PA: I think I grieved those companions. It's good character development, it's so special when you can do the same things with songs.
M: And so many artists create characters; Twenty One Pilots, Grandson, Taylor Swift, and more. Even the 1975 with their stories. You know, I have a tattoo from CMBYN, because of how connected I am with those characters, and that's where I want to be with my characters in my novels and I want to get to the point where people are like me, tattooing themselves with it.
PA: I think it's so important to feel that seen, especially as we're queer, growing up it was barely ever on TV or on the radio or spoken about. It's about creating safe spaces.
M: I completely resonate with that. I was on a plane to LA after finishing my exams and I watched CMBYN, Ladybird and The Florida project, on an eight hour flight crying my eyes out and feeling like I'm having this coming of age moment, and with CMBYN it was the first time I saw bisexuals on screen so explicitly, even if they were men, it created this space for me as a bisexual.
PA: I feel the same way about Ribs by Lorde. I was also on a plane when I first heard that song, we were landing in Spain it was night time and I saw everything glistening - it was MY coming of age moment, it made me FEEL. Now wherever I land I have to listen to it, even before I go on stage. It reminds me of why I do what I do.
M: That's me with Running Up That Hill.
PA: We both grew up with hippie mothers, I remember the first time I heard that song too. I remember seeing that Stranger Things scene and crying my eyes out purely because of that song.
M: I physically can't stop my body having a reaction to great cinema like that. To great music. I have to avoid things like that or I'll cry.
PA: Stranger Things has always been a hard watch for me because of the horror aspect of things, when I watched the new season came out I had to watch Harry Styles Crack videos on YouTube to be able to go to sleep. But I love it, because you become so attached to the characters, just like Euphoria too.
M: We create characters we want to see, for me it's queer characters, mentally ill characters, invisibly disabled characters; I didn't know what a chronic illness was until I was diagnosed with it.
PA: We are that next generation. But I think we're edging a dangerous territory with social media. We've created a cyclical society where we pick something up and drop it and it's dead to us the next day. it's the same with songs, this song is rinsed, I hate this artist now, etc. I don't think there's longevity anymore. At the end of the day, it's about impact. Our attention spans are shrinking, three second videos are trending right now. It's great for exposure, but it doesn't leave room for a rebellion or a revolution.
M: Going back to songwriting, who are your favourite lyricists?
PA: Oh! Jack Antonoff, Matty, Daughter, Taylor Swift, so awesome, my top people for sure.
M: We all know Finneas is mine.
PA: Love is Pain is hauntingly beautiful.
M: Cardigan too.
PA: I watch the video for that song over and over. The Easter eggs and layers, they're amazing.
M: You're so right. Growing up on Twenty One Pilots, you'd have hints in videos and on their site and things like that.
PA: It's immersive, people want to work for what you're going to give them. It's a whole experience and vision.
M: So, what's your favourite song at the moment?
PA: I think it's probably Chaise Longue by Wet Leg, I love how unassuming it is on stage. If I'm in a bad song, I put it on. And Angelica. And I Can't Drive by Crawlers, Smile by Wolf Alice.
M: Last one, I wanted to go back to young artists, but especially to young women, what would be your specific advice to them about their art and their confidence?
PA: This is something I'm still learning, you don't know what's going to be thrown at you. It is a mans world. Meeting and working with other women will help you. We are out there, we just aren't being given the platform. Maintain that inner self worth, we are shot down so much more than our male counterparts, there's so many female production and writing groups rising at the moment. Just know, we are out there, we can create these platforms together. Shout about it, say that's an awesome woman and I respect her.
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