Australian artist Phoebe Go has just released the heavenly, guitar-led EP, Player.

Phoebe Go is no stranger to the music industry, beginning her career as frontperson of the indie dream-pop band Snakadaktal in 2009, her career has spanned over ten years.  After the band’s breakup in 2014, Phoebe and fellow band member Joey Clough went on to form the duo Two People. Fast forward to today, Phoebe is embarking on a totally new venture as a solo artist, unlike anything she has done before. 

Her newly released EP Player is a personal ode to the music that got her into writing in the first place and serves as an introduction to who the indie-pop singer-songwriter is as a person and artist. 

Describing her music as “Happy and sad at the same time”, the EP is a beautiful collection of stripped-back, acoustic songs showcasing her vulnerability and rawness. The sincere body of work is gut-wrenchingly honest and gives you an insight into how she overcame her fear of ‘going solo’. 

1883 Magazine caught up with Phoebe to speak about her new EP, how she came upon the decision to go solo, and what spurred her to follow a more acoustic route, sonically.

Hi Phoebe, you’ve just independently released your debut solo EP,  Player. Can you please tell us about your inspiration behind this body of work? 

Yeah, you bet! I think this EP is about being myself and stepping into my own skin, you know? Owning it, finding my confidence as a solo artist, and doing it on my own terms. I think I was always driven by the fact I love songwriting and it’s such a big part of who I am, but I was pretty daunted about losing my safety net and having nobody to hide behind. I think these songs are really true and really raw. That’s why they sound so alive to me. 

With a decade-long music career under your belt as front person of the band Snakadaktal and later as one half of the duo entitled Two People, how did you come to the decision to now go solo? And what spurred you to go down a more acoustic route?  

I guess life was just telling me it was time. It all sparked a few years ago when Joey decided to focus more on his art direction and design work which sort of put a hold on our band Two People. We’ve been writing and working together for the past ten years, so I kinda had no idea how to do it without him. It was the scariest thing ever and I think I spiralled for a bit, but I also knew I had to at least give it a go. I was like, “just write one song, and go from there” and that’s what I did. The acoustic thing probably just comes back to what I listen to most, and the type of music that got me into writing in the first place. It’s also just a reflection of my abilities. I’m pretty rubbish with production and I don’t really enjoy it, but I can pick up a guitar, strum a few chords, and put some words down. 

Your first band, Snakadaktal, was formed when you were in High School. At what age did you realise you had a passion and talent for music? Is it something you’ve always known you wanted to do? 

I think music has always meant a lot to me, even as a kid listening to mum and dad’s CDs. I was about 10 when I started writing stuff and that’s when the whole thing probably stuck. It was as if it was injected into me or something, like “Oh, it’s in my veins now and it’s never coming out.” 

Can you give us an insight into who you are as an artist – how would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard your music yet? 

I think my music is sort of happy and sad at the same time. I think it’s sort of intimate. It’s like folk music but it has this hopeful country smile too. 

Do you find you have more freedom now creating alone? Is there anything you have wanted to do with your music for a while but didn’t have the chance to before? 

I’ve always been really happy collaborating but I guess I’ve been busy for so long with my other projects that I never really had the time to think about doing something else. I think Phoebe Go is exactly what I never had the chance to do, maybe it was just a matter of time. 

You mentioned your previous single, ‘Hey’, was written in response to the passing of your cousin and writing the track gave you an outlet to express your grief over loss. Did you find it nerve-wracking to release such a personal song?

I think I feel nervous putting out any song, to be honest, especially because I write from such a personal place. But I think there’s a difference between nervous-ready and nervous-not-ready. I was ready to put this song out and the song felt complete to me. It was saying what I felt and that is such an empowering and freeing feeling. In a way, that made me feel stronger than I would have otherwise. It’s hard to explain, but for me, if I feel nervous/ready, that’s a good sign. 

We’ve noticed on Instagram that you’re a keen cyclist. Do you have any other hobbies besides that or could you share one fun fact about yourself that people might not know? 

Haha yeah. I’m a bit of a hobby person. Does Fortnite count?

Having recently supported Holly Humberstone and Hatchie on tour, did you see anything funny on tour?

I think I’d really missed touring. After one of our sets, we were outside having a beer and someone said “Phoebe Go… where is she going?”

Finally, what is one thing you know now that you wish you knew about the music industry when you first started

I kinda just wish I knew that the artist is always in charge. Especially in a room that makes us feel small or outnumbered. 

Player is out now. Follow Phoebe Go @imphoebego