All Ages
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Best known for his five-times platinum hit “Home,” Phillip Phillips has always been interested in making music that allows people to reflect on their life. Growing up in Leesburg, Georgia, Phillip first picked up guitar at age 14 and soon mastered riffs mostly by playing along to his family’s karaoke machine. He took up singing and songwriting as a teenager which led to him forming an acoustic band with his older sister and brother-in-law.
With encouragement from his family and friends, he took a break from working in his family’s pawn shop and auditioned for American Idol in summer 2011. After impressing the nation with his stellar vocal control and stage presence, Phillips emerged as the show’s season 11 winner. Premiering the same day he claimed his victory, “Home” marked the most successful coronation song of any Idol winner and the highest-ever debut on Billboard’s Digital Songschart.
Soon after his American Idol success, Phillips started working on his first full length album The World From The Side Of The Moon. Released in 2012, this album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and quickly went platinum. Shortly after his success with his debut album, Phillips released Behind The Light, his 2nd full length project, and took it on tour in 2016. Known for his high energy shows, Phillips has toured with superstar artists such as Matt Nathanson, John Mayer, the Goo Goo Dolls and even shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen at the Rock in Rio Festival.
Phillips’ 3rd studio album, Collateral, was a work in progress for many years before being released to the public. Phillips joined forces with an eclectic lineup of producers that includes Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson), Ryan Hadlock (Ra Ra Riot, Cayucas), and Nathan Chapman (Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift) to produce what would be his most soulful project yet. Included on Collateral is “Dance With Me,” a song Phillips wrote for his now wife and longtime love, Hannah. “That song was our first dance,” Phillips points out. “During the ceremony I cried like a baby the whole time and she didn’t cry at all, but when “Dance With Me” started there were definitely some tears.”
Through Covid-19, Phillips realized even more than before the importance that family has on his music and the way he writes. In 2019, Phillip and his wife Hannah welcomed their son, Patch, into the world and Phillip uncovered musical inspiration through fatherhood. “I have a new appreciation for music also through the eyes and ears of my son. He loves singing my music but so much more music as well. Hearing his voice singing lyrics I wrote is pretty special and I’m not sure how to explain it.”
Fast forward four years, one management change, a new agency and an entirely different label strategy, Phillip is ready to reintroduce himself with the release of his newest single “Love Like That.” While Phillip and his
wife Hannah are typically private people, “Love Like That” showcases the life they have built behind closed doors and brings to light the changes they have gone through as a couple. Phillip hopes that the single helps people channel the unconditional love he has for his family into their own relationships. “I would love to see other peoples life as well using their old phone videos or old camera videos using this song as well. Through their relationship with a spouse, friend, lover, whatever it is.”
While Phillips and family settle into life post-pandemic, he hopes to continue to connect with fans wherever his music takes them, out on the road or dancing in the kitchen. In Phillip’s words, we are all a little “older and wiser: and he looks forward to evolving in ways he hasn’t explored before!
