Inspired #403 - philomenah
Shetlandic alternative r&b artist philomenah has just released her latest single ‘Vacant Moments’ featuring KruddTheGuru.
Produced by Minnesota native Lost Hero and mixed and mastered by Dave Lloyd (Stillhound, Kohla, Fourth Daughter) at Lost Oscillation studios in Leith, “Vacant Moments” is an exploration into chronic feelings of emptiness and the temptation of vices. Earnest lyrics sung in a tender, defeatist tone sit against a backdrop of dark, lush trap beats.
She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
PJ Harvey - I heard her 2nd album Rid Of Me at 16 and I just remember feeling like she was the coolest woman I'd ever heard. I hadn't really heard a woman in music with that much energy. She made me feel like I didn't have to hold back or try to be palatable. That album was kind of absurd in the sense of the carnal emotions running through it - lust, rage, jealousy, hysteria...it really stunned me.
Jonathan Davis - He's the lead singer of Korn which is a nu metal band I was obsessed with in my teens. The vulnerability of his songwriting stood out to me. Dealing with a dysfunctional family and the onset of mental illness as a teen, the darkness of Korn's music and lyricism was definitely a companion for me at that time and simultaneously made me feel more emboldened to explore that darkness through my own songwriting.
Bones - Bones is an independent rapper from the States who built a collective around himself of artists called TeamSESH. Their ethos has always been very anti-establishment and anti-label which I find honourable. Before Spotify all their music was just uploaded online for free download, I was always struck at their commitment to prioritising the music over the money. Bones is one of the most notable rappers in underground hip hop, period.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
It's hard to narrow it down! I love Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster has this amazing presence and she's a great example of a strong female lead that isn't in any way forced. The way she navigates sexism in the workplace and the courage she has in tackling a truly terrifying case is something that really inspires me. I also love how they explore the concept of "coveting" within that film because there's something about obsession and fixation that I find really fascinating. It's something I'm actually exploring at the moment within my songwriting.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I haven't travelled nearly as much as I'd like, hopefully that will change sometime soon. For a while, I would've said London but the older I get the more I crave peace and quiet. After living in Edinburgh for over 5 years, I feel more and more inspired by my native Shetland honestly.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
There's tons of people I could mention but I'll say Teal Swan. She's a spiritual teacher who went through some truly horrific things as a child and has somehow come out the other end thriving and dedicated to helping others. She has a really unique perspective on things and a voice that I think is incredibly valuable.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
My inspiration was chronic feelings of emptiness. It's a diagnostic criteria in the DSM for certain mental disorders and I wanted to try and articulate what it's like to feel that way. I also was inspired by childhood memories of this feeling ("as a child, I would watch shadows dancing on my wall all morning..."), and the empathy I feel towards my younger self for having experienced this at an age when I wasn't able to understand or articulate it.
How would you like to inspire people?
I'd like to inspire artists to have the confidence to be vulnerable and candid in their songwriting because that's the kind of songwriting that's helped me. I'd also like to inspire people to have greater compassion for the more tender aspects of themselves.
