Interview: Five minutes with Josephine Philip

Avant-pop songstress Josephine Philip recently released her track ‘The Clue’ on 8th October via Midnight Confessions. 

As one half of the duo Darkness Falls, Philip’s first solo release is a contemporary love song centred around the acceptance of impossible love. The track pays tribute to the Nina Simone version of Billie Holiday’s ‘Don’t Explain’, and the result is understated yet charismatic. Philip’s vocals tango elegantly through the tasteful sonic tapestry, creating a work of quiet power. 

She shares some insight into her creative process below:

Set the tone for us. Why the arts?

It started back when I was 14 and taking guitar lessons. My teacher really wanted me to sing while I was playing, and he was surprised when he heard me sing the first time. I had always liked to sing, but I didn’t know that I was actually good. When I finally discovered my voice, a new world opened up to me. I have played in many constellations all from ska music in my band Favelachic, to LSD-pop in JaConfetti, pop-noir in Darkness Falls and also done collabs and features with musicians as Trentemøller and Christian Löffler.

Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?

It’s usually the sound. It can be a good chord, a broken piano sound, or even rain. A sound with a vibe.

Does your material feature any collaborations?

No, not as is right now 🙂

What’s on your current playlist?

Catch Prichard, Tirzah, Nina Simone, Nick Cave, Lowly

Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.

This is actually the first time I’ve released something by myself as a solo artist. And with my own work, I would like to create a very intimate atmosphere. I like to be close to my audience. 

What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?

I have a very eclectic taste in regards to music, so I try to take the best of all genres and mix it together and I think that makes it sounds like nothing else but still familiar.

Take us through a day in the recording studio.

It depends a little on what part of the process I’m in. With my solo project in the writing process, a day could look like this. I meet up in the studio with my producer Lasse Martinussen. We usually meet in his studio which is in the basement of his house. He lives on the outskirts of Copenhagen, and I always bike there. We will start the day by having a cup of tea and talk about what we wanna work on and then we get started. 

Any emerging artists on your radar?

Catch Prichard, this is a great band a recently discovered. Amazing singer and amazing sound. 

What gets your creative juices flowing?

Life, my surroundings, art, music, film and literature

Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.

I have a very nice and super cosy studio with my partner Ina Lindgreen and my band Darkness Falls with lots of colourful carpets on the floor and art on the walls, and we have a ton of gear. Lost of vintage synths, guitars, my grandmothers old piano and much more. I work in the program Ableton Live.

Any side projects you’re working on?

I am the one half of the performance duo Philip | Schneider – a project that I have with singer and composer Hannah Schneider – an experimental outfit with one foot rooted in sound and the other in visual arts. We create spatial compositions mainly for the voice as choir pieces. We also have a record label – Midnight Confessions – together. 

How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?

I keep on doing my best, and I always try to challenge myself by doing new things a putting myself out there. 

Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?

Well in 2022 a full album will come

Famous last words?

Hope to see you around!

Follow Josephine Philip:
 Facebook – Soundcloud – Youtube – Instagram – Spotify