“The acoustic blues-rock chords exemplify the storytelling nature of Phil Johari's song. The astral riff unravels to leave you in pure, undulated audio ecstasy with this melodic rock piece.” Reyt Good Magazine
“Every note that makes up Phil Johari's EP is faultless… from soaring harmonies to stomach churning hooks that will leave you hooked on his sound.” Amelia Vandergast
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Coming from the small Lancashire mill town of Burnley, Phil was edged into a life he didn’t want to live, full of things he didn’t want to do, except one thing - music.
With the guitar around his neck and a pen in his hand Phil found a way to communicate. Unrelenting and prolific in his songwriting Phil has amassed a large number of songs just waiting to be put down on record. He has already made a start with his debut EP “Autumn Falls”, a collection of stories that takes you from loss to finding the sun again. Always based on true life experience, Phil writes songs from the heart that can reach the listener in many ways.
“For me music should be big and bold. I see music in colour and paint in broad strokes. I write about feelings and feelings are huge. I believe music should reflect this. The scale of a feeling is almost impossible to comprehend but I think I come close. I sometimes feel like I throw the whole paint can at it.”
Phil’s approach to music has always been creative. At the age of 12 he picked up an old Dobro guitar and started writing songs before learning anyone else’s, making everything unique and fresh. This is a way of writing that persists today, though now his influences include Pink Floyd, John Mayer, Tom Petty and Eagles. Phil continues to strive for and achieve brand new melodies and often obscure but relatable subject matter for his songs. He is currently recording his debut album at Germanium studios, Manchester, working with the finest blues, country and jazz musicians in Manchester and beyond, yet continues to produce live recordings at every opportunity along the way.
“I grew up in a town that keeps telling me to ‘Stop, conform, calm down, have a drink, be one of the herd.’ It’s not my place to do that. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I have a gift, literally given to me from some other place and I can’t sit here with it anymore. I have to get my music out there to those who “get it” and those who are searching for it.”
With local festivals secured Phil aims to build on his achievements by releasing an album up to his own exacting standards, then performing those songs at every opportunity. Phil’s songs sound great on record but are written to be performed live.
“I am not ashamed to say I listen to my own music. A lot. I make music I want to hear and music I wish my favourite bands had made but didn’t. I always throw truth in there otherwise I can’t enter the flow needed to write a truly great song. That flow-state I believe all the greats access in order to write their best stuff. There has to be truth, colour and flow.”