Inside Philine’s Musical Mind: Turning Fantasy into Reality.
Rising Dutch talent, philine, is not just a singer and songwriter but a true multi-instrumentalist whose music invites listeners into the depths of her imaginative mind. Her latest single, “green,” from the forthcoming EP “side-effects of living in a fantasy,” showcases her unique blend of acoustic melodies and introspective lyrics. The track features an acoustic guitar harmonizing with a soft beat, while philine’s breathy, tender vocals and vivid storytelling captivate from the first note.
In her music, philine transforms personal reflections and dream-like experiences into enchanting musical narratives. Her songs are more than just melodies; they are invitations into her vast, overactive imagination, where feelings become magical, thoughts turn into catchy tunes, and reality blends with fantasy. With a knack for turning introspection into universal themes, philine’s music resonates deeply, bridging personal tales with collective experiences.
After making a notable impact with her debut EP “so sick of myself,” which amassed millions of streams, and a successful collaboration on “Old Summers,” philine is poised for another breakthrough year. As she gears up for the release of her new EP with Nettwerk Music Group, we sit down with the artist to delve into her creative process, her journey through music, and how her deep inner life fuels her lyrical escapades.
Follow philine @philinemusic
Hi philine, please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is philine, I’m 24 years old and I’m a songwriter and artist from the Netherlands. As we speak I’m in Germany on tour with Provinz, and I’m typing this in my Airbnb.
Describe your sound in three words.
Melancholic, honest & organic
Who influenced you, and why did you choose to make music?
Music has always been a way for me to process things. I was never disciplined enough to keep a journal, so writing songs became my way of journalling. My mother always sang her own written songs for my sisters and I, so I think that she was probably the first one to inspire me to write. The older I got, the more serious it became.
Do you play any instruments?
Yes, I play piano and I’m slowly starting to learn how to play guitar.
Do you ever get nervous?
Definitely. I used to be so nervous when I had to perform that during I always questioned if I even liked it. But as soon as it was finished I got such a big kick out of it. Now that I’m a little older and have done it quite a lot, I’m able to enjoy it much more during and sometimes I can even let go of my nerves completely. But I think that at the first few seconds when I walk on stage will always be a bit shaky for me. And I can see the fun in that now too.
Tell us about your new single, “green?” What’s the story behind the song?
The song “green” was inspired by my first psychedelic trip. I went camping with my (now) girlfriend in the middle of nowhere and we had taken some mushrooms. It was my first time and we just started dating. I set an intention. I wanted to experience a connection with nature, but i had no idea what to expect.
During the trip, i felt a lot of things. it was a very calm, beautiful and light experience, & it gave me so many insights. One of them being: how i perceive the world, that’s what becomes my truth. it makes no sense to judge anyone else for their opinions, because they perceive the world in their own way, shaped by their own beliefs and experiences. in that way, we’re all connected and the same.
The song “green” has many meanings to me, but most of all, I tried to capture the feeling of this experience. When I hear it or play it live, I go back to this moment and I feel very calm again.
Can you walk us through your creative process for this single? How did the idea come to life?
I knew that I wanted to write a song about this experience, but I never really go into a session with a plan. I always let the vibe of the music decide where it’s gonna take me story wise. I was in the studio with Melle Boddaert (artist/songwriter) and Loek van der Grinten (producer) and we started with making up chords, with Melle strumming on the guitar. The song then came very easily to me and we wrote it in a couple of hours. We even used the vocals we recorded that day on the final track, there was really something in the air that day for me.
Were there any specific experiences or emotions that fueled the writing and composition of this song?
During the session we all felt very calm and chill, but I remember when I was on my way home, my producer sent me a message that he listened to our demo in his car on his way back home. He said that he became emotional when he heard it, and I think we both realized then that we created something really special that day.
How do you usually start working on a new song? Do you begin with lyrics, melodies, or a concept?
I always begin with chords, and sometimes also with a little drumloop too. I first need to create a little bit of a vibe. Then I try to feel what direction the music is taking me story wise. It’s almost always something that I’m going through at that moment, so I do already kind of before hand let the people know in what kind of a mood I am. But once we created the vibe and I get the feeling of “yeah this is good”, I start improvising melodies. When I sing, there are often words that come out that kind of shape themselves. Once I notice I hear something, I try to discover why it came out and then usually the story connects with the melody right away. It still feels like a sort of magical process, it really kind of leads itself. Sometimes I rewrite some lyrics, or make some adjustments, but I have to finish the song for the most part when the magic is there.
How involved were you in the production and arrangement of your new single, “green?”
I always work together with my producer and sometimes with an extra songwriter or guitarist in a session. I’m never behind the computer and I don’t know a lot of practical things about mixing and producing, but I do really like making up instrumental parts and I hear everything really well. It feels like something that everyone in the room is very much a part of. I’m also very precise with mixing and I’m also very specific with recording my harmonies. So yeah it’d say I’m pretty involved, but I would never call myself a producer and I’m very lucky with the people around me who bring it all together.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
I don’t know if I ever even read a book about being an entrepreneur, I prefer romantic novels haha 🙂
What advice would you give to your younger self, and why?
Everything is temporary, just be in the moment and experience everything.
How would your best friend describe you?
Probably chaotic, romantic, goofy and someone to talk to.
If you were a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
The side-effects of living in a fantasy. The world I live in is a romanticized, magnified version of it, or so I’ve come to realize for the last couple of months. It makes me a dreamer, a story teller and a writer. But everything has two sides. I’m overly dependent on my loved ones, I drown in my own thoughts and forget that I can be capable of handling life on my own. I get stuck in melancholy and nostalgia, I’m jealous of other people’s uniqueness and I’m very emotionally bouncy and all over the place. These things, to me, are the downside, or maybe the price, of the way I’m wired. They are the side-effects of the fantasy I’m living in. That’s what the EP is about as well.
What’s next for philine in 2024?
I’m releasing new music, going on tour, and will hopefully finish and write a lot more music.
What is your favorite healthy food?
I love literally everything Asian that has rice and vegetables in it. Especially Thai and Indian curry’s.
And your favorite cheat food?
Ice cream. I have no healthy boundaries when it comes to this.
How would you explain your fashion style?
Probably a little chaotic, I like clothes that are little boyish with a feminine touch. And I really love the colors green, blue and black. Usually when I find something I like, I’ll buy it two times more and wear it every week. I’m not an actual fashion icon I would say.
What is your own definition of happiness?
Being in the moment and being able to surrender to the flow of life. You can’t always be happy or high on life. Happiness to me is being able to accept every emotion that comes along and not be overruled by them.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to meet the people in my family tree that I never got to meet. To see where I came from.
What would be your dream holiday, and who would you go with?
I would go camping with a small group of friends, surrounded by nature.
Best advice ever given?
Where there’s resistance, there’s room for growth.
Do you support any charities?
I don’t think so, but I do always donate for things that cross by on the internet when it has something to do with children. Or if it’s something that moves me.
Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years?
I see myself touring in big venues all throughout the world, connecting with fans and sharing my voice and messages. Last week we opened for Provinz in Germany and played four big shows. After the last performance, I said to my band: “Okay I’m throwing it into the universe right now. I want this, I can handle this and I’m ready for it whenever it’s ready for me.” Music means the world to me, and I can only imagine my future being filled with it.
What is your favorite song to belt out in the car or for karaoke?
Michael by Remi Wolf.
What do you think of social media?
I think the huge benefit from today’s social media is how much you can do it on your own. We are less dependent on big parties than ever and it gives us the opportunity to reach and talk directly to our audience. The challenging part for me is that it becomes really easy to become obsessed with the numbers game and spend hours and hours on my phone. It requires a lot of discipline to use it well.
Where can we follow you?
philine on spotify, philinemusic on instagram 🙂
Book: favorite non-fiction: the choice by edith eger and dying to be me by anita moorja. favorite fiction: the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid
Quote: “never waste a good crisis”
Movie: nomadland
TV Series: currently: daisy jones & the six
Favorite Food: curry
Travel Destination: Vietnam