BIOGRAPHY

 

The life of every song begins with a simple story, and Robbie Phillips has proven himself a master storyteller with his debut EP, Handwritten.

 

An organic collection of stripped-down instrumentation and raw vocals, Handwritten evokes a different emotional response with every song. On Captain, crew members and passengers look to the eponymous Captain to save their sinking ship. Good Man recounts a young man’s memories of his late grandfather as he attends his funeral. Casey’s Song follows the heartbreaking story of a mother diagnosed with cancer.

 

As bleak as the stories seem, a unanimous message of hope flows through Handwritten, with every character looking to the future with optimistic anticipation. There’s a potential for growth, resolution, and peace that each narrator carries to the next song.

Part autobiographical, part fantastic invention, the EP fashions each listener into a protagonist, weaving them through scene after scene on waves of lilting violin, even piano, and steady bass. Phillips collaborated with several talented musicians in the Honolulu area to make Handwritten happen. Each added his or her own unique perspective to the tracks, an essential element to an EP that works through chronicled narratives.

 

Of course, these narratives would fail to come to life if not for Phillips’ distinctive voice. There’s an unprocessed sophistication in every note that translates to an authenticity that doesn’t come around very often.

 

Phillips is just a man with a tale or two to tell. When he sings, he’s arresting – you can’t help but listen.

Handwritten was produced by Phillips and mixed by the gifted Jules Washington, and will be available on iTunes and Spotify December 2015.