How Phillip Phillips Found Success Beyond American Idol
What happens after you've already achieved the dream?
Phillip Phillips captured America's heart by winning American Idol, releasing "Home"—the biggest-selling winner's single in the show's history—and touring alongside legends like John Mayer and Bruce Springsteen. But behind the success was a deeper journey: discovering that fame wasn't the finish line.
In this episode of Americana Curious, hosts Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz sit down with Phillip for one of his most candid conversations yet. He shares why Home didn't initially feel like his own song, how becoming an independent artist allowed him to reclaim his music, and why fatherhood has completely transformed the way he defines success.
Phillip also opens up about:
- The surprising truth behind recording "Home"
- Why owning his music became more important than chasing bigger fame
- Touring with John Mayer and sharing the stage with Bruce Springsteen
- How Dave Matthews shaped his unique guitar style
- Why he completely reimagines classic songs instead of simply covering them
- The balancing act of being an independent musician, husband, and father
- The stories behind his upcoming music, including songs inspired by his children
Whether you've followed Phillip since American Idol or are just discovering his music, this conversation is an inspiring reminder that sometimes the greatest success comes after redefining what success really means.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why Phillip Phillips struggled to connect with "Home" at first
• How he reclaimed ownership of his biggest songs
• What touring with music legends taught him about performing
• Why family changed his career priorities forever
• How he's approaching songwriting differently than ever before
• What success means to him today
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
02:34 – Winning American Idol and the story behind "Home"
05:14 – The pressure after massive success
08:14 – Re-recording "Home" and owning his music
11:10 – Life as an independent artist
13:23 – Fatherhood changes everything
20:19 – Behind the scenes of American Idol
23:01 – The Masked Singer and reinventing songs
32:43 – Dave Matthews' influence
38:48 – Touring with John Mayer & Bruce Springsteen
43:00 – What success means today
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Transcript
Hold on to me as we go as we roll down this unfamiliar road and although this waves stringing us along Just know you're not alone I'm gonna make this place your home Settle down it'll all be clear don't pay no mind to the demons they fill you.
Speaker B:With fear Philip Phillips first captured the.
Speaker C:World's attention by winning American Idol, and his coronation single, home became the biggest song in the show's history.
Speaker D:Showed me this, so I knew it was a good song, but the songwriter in me was just like, I don't have any connection to this.
Speaker D:Took at least a year to really get comfortable and find my own meaning towards it.
Speaker B:You have that American Idol deal versus being an independent artist.
Speaker D:I never considered myself a good singer and I still consider myself a great singer.
Speaker D:I'm an independent artist and I get to own everything.
Speaker D:Having your own hands on your material, that's very important for artists.
Speaker C:Selling more than 5.54 million copies and reaching number one on 11 Billboard charts and becoming the highest selling single ever released by an American Idol winner.
Speaker C:But since then, he's toured the world, shared stages with artists like John Mayer and Bruce Springsteen, and built a career on his own terms as an independent artist.
Speaker D:It was me, then John, and then Bruce closing out the night, and it was just such an electric feeling.
Speaker D:100,000 People, you just feed off that energy.
Speaker D:I was like, these people are not going to know any of my music.
Speaker D:They ended up knowing every song.
Speaker D:Haven't had that feeling like this in a while.
Speaker B:Raw, real road worn.
Speaker C:The artists we feature aren't chasing fame.
Speaker C:They're chasing truth.
Speaker C:I'm Ben Fanning with my co host Zach Schultz and this is Americana Curious, where we spotlight the unsung heroes of Americana music.
Speaker C:You'll get new songs, hard earned lessons, stories behind the music, and a big shot of inspiration.
Speaker C:Follow the show and rate us on Spotify and Apple and leave a review on Apple to help more people discover the power of Americana.
Speaker C:Let's get Americana curious.
Speaker B:Philip Phillips.
Speaker B:Welcome to Americana Curious, my friend.
Speaker D:Yeah, man, thanks for having me, dude.
Speaker D:Doing all right.
Speaker B:Doing great and a lot better now that I am hanging with you, man.
Speaker B:I watched you back in the day, of course, on American Idol.
Speaker B:It's like long time ago your mega hit wasn't a song that you wrote, but it really became your song.
Speaker B:And I remember the day like the confetti's popping on the stage.
Speaker B:I'm like, man, that song is great.
Speaker B:And the drummers are coming out of the like at the performance and it became the most successful American Idol track from any winner.
Speaker B:And I'm curious, from your standpoint, when did it stop feeling like a piece of music that was handed to you by, like, the television, machinery, machine there?
Speaker B:And when did it start feeling truly like it was going to be part of your personal story?
Speaker D:Yeah, man.
Speaker D:So that was really tough for me.
Speaker D:You know, I remember having all these conversations with, you know, producers and.
Speaker D:And, you know.
Speaker D:You know, Jimmy Iovine, it was more so is between he and I and talking about, you know, the songs, because I showed probably two or three songs that I'd written, and.
Speaker D:And they showed me this song, you know, and I knew it was a good song, but the songwriter in me was just like, you know, I don't have any connection to this.
Speaker D:You know, I don't.
Speaker D:I had to.
Speaker D:I don't understand.
Speaker D:I never understood that whole thing of singing other people's songs type thing.
Speaker D:And so that was a big kind of a little bit of a battle to go through.
Speaker D:And, you know, in the end, you know, I did know it was like it was still something similar to me, you know, like the guitar and, you know.
Speaker D:You know, I remember even hearing the song and, you know, I had to sing it like my old self, you know, and that song had actually been around for, like, a year.
Speaker D:And so when that came out, it was all in the vein of songs.
Speaker D:My whole first record, besides a couple of songs, are songs that I'd written before Idol, and so that whole album has that folky kind of alternative Americana thing to it.
Speaker D:So I knew that song was in the vein of what I was doing, you know, singing the song.
Speaker D:It was kind of tough.
Speaker D:I'd say it definitely took at least a year to really get comfortable and, you know, find my own meaning towards it.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker D:Because that was really tough for me, you know, when we made that first record, you know, we made it from.
Speaker D:And it was good that I'd written all of those songs beforehand because we literally started cutting guitars all the way to mastering in three weeks.
Speaker D:So there was no time to write new songs.
Speaker B:It had to be done then.
Speaker D:Had to be done.
Speaker D:That was in November.
Speaker D:It came out very fast, you know, and I still work with one of the songwriters today who actually produces my music now.
Speaker D:Most of my music anyways, now, but his name's Todd Clark.
Speaker D:He's an awesome guy.
Speaker D:Amazing songwriter.
Speaker D:Amazing.
Speaker D:Just.
Speaker D:Just a really creative guy.
Speaker D:And he's obviously become a very good friend to me over the years and kind of a mentor and.
Speaker D:And, you know, we still Talk about that.
Speaker D:Like, man, he said he still hasn't had an that much of insane experience before.
Speaker D:Like, even when we went to our making the second record, there was still a bunch of pressure, you know.
Speaker D:And, you know, that's, you know, pressure is a privilege, you know, but there's also this, you know, when I'm, you know, you're young, it's like, man, if you're feeling like you have to have that same success over and over again.
Speaker D:The first album came out when I was 22 and.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker D:And then the second one came out, I think, when I was 24, something like that.
Speaker D:So that second one, we still moved quick on.
Speaker D:And then, you know, I'm at a point in my life now, man.
Speaker D:Like, you know, I saved my money.
Speaker D:You know, I don't.
Speaker D:I'm not a big spender.
Speaker D:You know, I grew up, we didn't know.
Speaker D:We weren't poor or anything, but we didn't have a lot of money.
Speaker D:My dad owned a pawn shop.
Speaker D:My mom worked for the school system.
Speaker D:And so, you know, I've always in.
Speaker D:In my.
Speaker D:My.
Speaker D:I called my papa, my grandpa.
Speaker D:He always told me, just save your money, save your money.
Speaker D:I had this deep voice and, you know, so I don't spend anything unless I have to.
Speaker D:So now we're.
Speaker D:We're, you know, we're pretty comfortable.
Speaker D:But like, I've kind of, especially with this new music, you know, even some, you know, that last record of mine, Drift Back, but especially this new music, I've kind of not felt any pressure to deliver in a way.
Speaker D:I don't know if that makes sense, but, you know, it's like these songs have just all really organically just come out.
Speaker D:It's felt like making the first record in a way, and which I haven't had that feeling like this in a while.
Speaker D:Like, making this last one Drift Back was really great.
Speaker D:It was a lot of fun.
Speaker D:And just this one, like, you know, all these songs I've just come in, I've either written it myself or I've had, you know, which is normally the case.
Speaker D:I come in with like a chorus or reverse in a course or something.
Speaker D:We finish it.
Speaker D:But these are just.
Speaker D:They felt a little different.
Speaker D:Maybe it's just the point in my life where I'm at with being a dad and the things I'm writing about and dealing with that I haven't dealt with in the past, you know, and being a little more on the nose about what's going on in the song instead of, you know, yeah, let's definitely,.
Speaker B:Just definitely dig into that.
Speaker B:I. I did notice one thing about the song Home is that like Taylor's version you came out with Phillips version of Home4Tip was that 14 years later after, after that moment, more or less after that moment.
Speaker D:I mean, yeah, it's been probably.
Speaker D:Yeah, maybe 11 or 12 years after that because I. I think.
Speaker D:I don't think I could re record anything until 10 years after it's been out.
Speaker B:So you got to ask to get past that because that was probably like the deal with like the original record is like you can't re.
Speaker B:Re record anything right initially.
Speaker B:You have to wait this 10 years and you're like, I've been performing this song and now for Philip's version and what did that feel like to release that after all these years?
Speaker D:You know, so we re recorded Home and Gone and you know, those are obviously two of my biggest songs and I've had some success with some of the other ones.
Speaker D:But re recording those is actually a really interesting thing because you talk about Taylor, she's kind of the pioneer of it.
Speaker D:I thought that was really amazing what she did.
Speaker D:And when you listen to the tracks, I mean you can kind of hear the differences a little bit, but she kept it the same.
Speaker D:You know, I thought that was really interesting.
Speaker D:Before that happened, you're like, she going to change it up?
Speaker D:Is she going like, what is.
Speaker D:You know.
Speaker D:But it makes sense because you want to make the version that everyone knows and loves, you know, and live.
Speaker D:For me performing live, you know, we.
Speaker D:I've never used tracks or anything.
Speaker D:So when you see the live version, that's the live version.
Speaker D:But in the studio it just made sense to like, hey, let's just re record it.
Speaker D:But digging back into those tracks after not listening to them for I can't tell you how long for both of those songs it was like, holy moly, I forgot I did this on the guitar.
Speaker D:I sang it this way.
Speaker D:Or uh, you know, I remember coming up with the horn arrangement with Gone and all these things and it's like, holy crap.
Speaker D:You know, it's like it was really fun to go back and listen to it and all the little details and.
Speaker D:And honestly, even finding all of those tracks was like, hey, I need to find the.
Speaker D:You know, let's see if we can find these tracks.
Speaker D:And I can't believe how fast I found them and just digging through them like, oh my gosh, this and that.
Speaker D:And it's really, it's actually a really cool thing.
Speaker B:So it was like a walk down memory lane.
Speaker B:And what was it like the day that you released those?
Speaker D:Oh, I thought it was a.
Speaker D:It was a great feeling, you know, because I, you know, I'm an independent artist and I get to, you know, own everything, you know, since my Drift Back record and, you know, and including those Phillips versions of those songs.
Speaker D:I think it's an important thing for artists too.
Speaker D:I mean, you get to.
Speaker D:You work hard and, you know, you spend years trying to, you know, work on your craft and, you know, write music and play guitar and all those things and.
Speaker D:And then, you know, you.
Speaker D:Once you get to own it and it's yours.
Speaker D:I think that's an incredible thing.
Speaker D:You know, maybe it'll get picked up for whatever and, you know, if not, it doesn't.
Speaker D:But, you know, having having your own hands on your material I think is very important for artists.
Speaker B:What is a day in the tour life of Philip Phillips?
Speaker B:How is it different from the days of American Idol?
Speaker B:Like you have that deal versus being an independent artist?
Speaker B:Because a lot of artists will never have those two different experiences.
Speaker B:Either they've got one where they're sort of signed in and then, or one they're independent.
Speaker B:But you've experienced both.
Speaker D:I mean, some of my most amazing times, man.
Speaker D:I mean, you know, after Idle, I mean, going on tour, I never had any kind of experience like that.
Speaker D:So he's experiencing everything for the first time.
Speaker D:Going on tour with John Mayer for six months, you know, going down to South America.
Speaker D:I mean, those are some of my best memories.
Speaker D:Touring and even after that, for many years.
Speaker D:But now I have kids, you know, I'm not on.
Speaker D:On a major label and I can't.
Speaker D:I won't say I'll never be on a major, major label like, if it ever were to become an option again.
Speaker D:But, you know, right now it just doesn't make sense for me.
Speaker D:Yes, it's more of a financial cost, you know, touring, you know, recording, all those things, promotion, all that stuff.
Speaker D:But, you know, you know, I think having a really good team around you to help make sure no dollar goes, you know, you know, unused for the right thing, you know, I think that's very important.
Speaker D:So I have a really good team around me and you know, but it does change.
Speaker D:Like I said, everything that's touring is a lot more expensive these days.
Speaker D:And you know, I have a family, I have two kids, and I want to be home as much as I can now.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker D:But I still, you know, if I've gone too long with, like, I haven't played a show, and it's been a couple of months probably, and, you know, you start to forget that feeling.
Speaker D:And then I have one next week, and now, you know, I start getting nervous, and I'm, like, playing the guitar and practicing.
Speaker D:Like, I make sure I remember these things, you know?
Speaker D:And like I said, I play a different set list every time, too.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:But for the one off shows, I kind of keep it somewhat same, but still change it up, but, you know, so I get a little nervous.
Speaker D:But then when you have a great show, it's like, oh, man, this is.
Speaker D:This is why, you know, I fell in love with playing the guitar.
Speaker B:You know, becoming a father has really changed how you approach touring and how you approach your gigs and getting back home and whatnot.
Speaker B:Can you walk us through the life of an independent artist who's also a father?
Speaker D:Yeah, man.
Speaker D:I love.
Speaker D:Love my family more than anything.
Speaker D:So my family always comes first.
Speaker D:And I've always said that even two years ago, touring, like, for, you know, crew or band, it's like, hey, if y' all have something going on with family, you know, you know, we'll figure out, you know, we'll get somebody to fill in or whatever.
Speaker D:So having my two kids now, man.
Speaker D:My boy is six and a half years old.
Speaker D:His name's Patch.
Speaker D:I freaking, you know, I just love being around both of them.
Speaker D:My little girl just turned one.
Speaker D:She's the sweetest little thing in the whole world, and I just want to kiss her all the time.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:And, you know, I want to be home changing the diapers.
Speaker D:You know what I mean?
Speaker D:Like, that's.
Speaker D:I want to be home for those moments.
Speaker D:I have both kids.
Speaker D:This morning, I told my son, I said, hey, go watch them Phineas and Ferb for about, you know, 45 minutes to an hour, and my baby girl's taking a nap.
Speaker D:My wife said, you know, she's at work.
Speaker D:And, you know, I just love being at home, man.
Speaker D:Like, there's nothing like it.
Speaker D:I help.
Speaker D:I coach my kid in baseball and, you know, whatever sport he's wanting to do.
Speaker D:And, you know, I really believe right now is the best time of my life, even though it might be hard at certain times, but, you know, I'll get stuck in moments just looking at him or looking at her, and it's just like, I'll just start freaking crying, like, what's going on here?
Speaker D:You know, with my emotions and.
Speaker A:Goodness, baby oh, you get so far and you feel that your heart might break it feels so wrong when you're all alone A Little homesick.
Speaker A:A little homesick.
Speaker A:A little homesick for somebody.
Speaker A:When I said goodbye Wish I'd held my tongue I swear the minutes move like once in all these miles.
Speaker B:You're getting new content, man, for this song, for your songs.
Speaker B:No doubt.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:And I wrote a song, there's a song called Boys and Dads, you know, that'll be on this, you know, these new, new bunch of songs.
Speaker D:And, you know, it's just about, you know, being with your kids.
Speaker D:You know, obviously it's about me and my son, Patch, and.
Speaker D:Because I started writing it a little bit before my little girl was born, but, you know, about how, how fast it just goes, man.
Speaker D:And, and it's, you know, I'm on a.
Speaker D:On a plane, I'll be scrolling through my photos and I get back home after a week and a half, two weeks run.
Speaker D:And, you know, things change, you know, changes so fast.
Speaker D:I do a lot with that, you know, have been dealing a lot with that the past couple years and, and, you know, it's, it's.
Speaker D:It's a lot to try and figure.
Speaker B:Out and correct me if I'm wrong, but, like, as an independent artist, the way you make money is by touring, right.
Speaker B:By playing live gigs.
Speaker B:It's a lot harder to make a living on Spotify.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:There's no way you're making a living like your album.
Speaker B:You have to go promote this thing.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker B:You got to go make the money with the, like, with your shows, which we're all, we're all excited about.
Speaker B:I'm certainly excited about seeing you live, do this.
Speaker B:But what is your, like, how are you thinking?
Speaker B:Like, what is your.
Speaker B:What is your touring schedule going to be like, where you prioritize, like, the fuel, that energy and time you want with your family, also taking care of these other babies, which are these songs you're about to put in the.
Speaker B:Out in the world.
Speaker D:Yeah, no, it's, it's.
Speaker D:It's been an ongoing thing since my son was born, you know, trying to figure that out.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:But I think for me, you know, and it's still.
Speaker D:I mean, sometimes you don't get what you want when you go to the West Coast.
Speaker D:You've got to be gone for like two weeks at least, you know, straight.
Speaker D:And that's a long time when you have.
Speaker B:It's expensive, it's multiple time zones.
Speaker B:You got to be out there, like, make it worth it.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Money wise.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:My wife is a saint.
Speaker D:She just holds it down at the house while it, you know, while it gets tough and, you know, so I try to, you know, I'm doing things that are more on the east coast.
Speaker D:It's like, let's do it Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Friday, Saturday, Sunday, get home, you know, for the rest of the week, kind of that weekend, warrior style.
Speaker D:But for the tour coming up, it'll be like a week and a half, you know, two week runs and then home for a week, you know, week and a half, two week run, home for a week type thing.
Speaker D:And so it'll be a tough fall, you know, as far as like being away from the family.
Speaker D:But we try, I try to make it work of like being home for, you know, I'll be home for my son's birthday and you know, being home for those little moments, you know, and, and I think I'll be home for Halloween.
Speaker D:He loves Halloween.
Speaker D:So we all like Halloween in our family.
Speaker D:So it's like, man, trying to be home for that, you know, because you only get a certain amount of them when they're little kids, man.
Speaker D:Like, that's true, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I've got a 15 year old, you know, she wants to trick or treat and hang out with her friends on Halloween now versus hanging out with us.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker B:Looking back at the old pictures.
Speaker D:Happens.
Speaker D:I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be there.
Speaker B:I'm gonna be a wreck.
Speaker B:There'll be a new song, there'll be a new like, Sad dad album.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:Then my kids will probably be writing music like my dad's gone again, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Speaker B:They'll be the ones.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I was, yeah, my dad was that celebrity guy, that musician.
Speaker B:He's all the tour.
Speaker B:And you're like.
Speaker B:Well, I was, I was actually always getting home for the big holidays.
Speaker D:Exactly.
Speaker D:That's right.
Speaker D:You know, maybe hopefully they, as they get older, they'll understand it and appreciate it, you know.
Speaker D:I consider myself a good dad, you know, but there's always, you know, things to improve on and, and, but, you know, I, I, I just love them with all, everything I can.
Speaker D:Even like talking about baseball.
Speaker D:Like, you see dads with their kids, man, it's like, and I'm not saying it because he's my kid, he's a really good athlete, but it's like if he does something wrong, it's okay, man.
Speaker D:It's okay to mess up.
Speaker D:Daddy messes up all the time.
Speaker D:But you see some dads get on him hard.
Speaker D:It's like, dude, they're six.
Speaker D:Like, let's chill.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:He's like, just have fun.
Speaker D:That's What I tell my son, you know, my wife and I tell him, like, go have fun, man.
Speaker D:You're awesome.
Speaker D:I can, like, I'm a huge Adam Sandler fan and I remember seeing him in an interview say, he said that his parents, they both would tell him, like, you're the greatest.
Speaker D:You're the best.
Speaker D:Like, go do it.
Speaker D:Why can't you?
Speaker D:You know, they would just like, tell him he was the best at anything.
Speaker D:It's like, why, you know, why wouldn't I want to tell my kid he's the best at anything, you know, that he can do it.
Speaker D:Obviously, tell him you have to work hard, you know, And I tell him that, hey, if you want to be really good, you know, you got to work hard at it.
Speaker D:But I believe you can.
Speaker D:You have it in you, you know, it just depends on how hard you want to work at it.
Speaker D:And, you know, that's me, man.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker B:And thank you for bringing up mistakes and all that.
Speaker B:Like, you're trying not to make mistakes as a 20 year old in that environment on the stage.
Speaker B:But then what strikes me is they're getting into your personal stories and some of these people that are in these groups with you guys just aren't going to make it right.
Speaker B:So you're probably caught between the mistake or the thing of, hey, I'm taking care of myself to get through this competition versus how long am I going to help this person sing?
Speaker D:Well, that's my thing.
Speaker D:I never even especially been like, I never considered myself a good singer, and I still don't consider myself a great singer.
Speaker D:I just try.
Speaker D:I can change songs or write music to help make me sound the best I can.
Speaker D:And for me, being around all of those singers during that time of my life, I was very, you know, I knew I wasn't.
Speaker D:I'm a pretty competitive guy, but not in a sense of that, like more in sports, you know, but like, that was like, man, this person can out sing me any day of the week.
Speaker B:You know, you're like, I'm not Kelly Clarkson.
Speaker D:Yeah, I'm not that.
Speaker D:You know, I'm not a powerhouse boy,.
Speaker B:So I'm not Carrie Underwood.
Speaker D:So I just played to what I knew.
Speaker D:I just knew.
Speaker D:I just dug into what I knew.
Speaker D:Like, I can change a song up to make it different, you know, that maybe they can't do.
Speaker D:And, you know, they would ask me things and I was like, I've already told you, I'm really private guy.
Speaker D:My wife and I were really private family, you know, and then when they Want to get into the whole personal stories type stuff.
Speaker D:It's like, man, I don't want to.
Speaker D:I don't want to talk about anything.
Speaker B:Like, can we please focus on the singing?
Speaker B:And you're like, well, half.
Speaker B:American Idol is all about people's drama and trauma.
Speaker D:Yeah, there's plenty of it in there.
Speaker D:That's what will mean.
Speaker D:Me and my friend that were on the show, he.
Speaker D:June.
Speaker D:Hey, June.
Speaker D:He.
Speaker D:He was.
Speaker D:That's.
Speaker D:We would always talk about like, it was just like Hunger Games, man.
Speaker D:People.
Speaker D:I never really watched the show beforehand.
Speaker D:I knew about it and I'd seen some episodes, you know, obviously, but, you know, when I went out for it, I didn't know what to expect.
Speaker D:My parents just said, hey, go travel.
Speaker D:Here's some gas money.
Speaker D:Go with your sister and your brother in law.
Speaker D:Y' all go try out.
Speaker D:You know, we did, and things happen, but, you know, I didn't know what.
Speaker B:Things happened at all.
Speaker D:But like, it's, it's, it's, it's.
Speaker D:It's the Hunger Games, man.
Speaker D:People like, we're either obsessed with that show.
Speaker D:I tried out many, many times.
Speaker D:Or even the new ones that were like, you know, hey, you know, you know, we're, we're really serious about this.
Speaker D:We're gonna, you know, we're gonna win.
Speaker D:Blah, blah.
Speaker D:They'll just get way too intense.
Speaker D:Like, dude, you know, I just did this show called.
Speaker B:The Masked Singer.
Speaker B:I was gonna ask you about this,.
Speaker D:And I'd have been asked to do that a couple years ago.
Speaker D:I was like, nah, it's not the right time.
Speaker D:And then last year they asked, I was like, you know, I'm kind of taking it easy this year.
Speaker D:Like, let's just go, you know, I'll go get.
Speaker D:Make some money really quick.
Speaker D:And, and so we, I just said, yeah, I'll do it as long as I can change up the songs.
Speaker D:And, and, and, you know, that was basically my biggest thing.
Speaker D:And they said, yeah, yeah, sure.
Speaker D:So I did it just because my kid loves dressing up in Spider man or more specifically, Star wars right now.
Speaker D:And, you know, he'll make his own costumes in his hat, in his room, like tied shirts around his head and all this kind of stuff.
Speaker D:It's pretty funny.
Speaker D:And I said, you know what?
Speaker D:He'll probably laugh if you see his dad in a costume.
Speaker D:And then I told him, hey, dude, there's this show coming out.
Speaker D:And we watched it.
Speaker D:And you know, I went out for that show just because it was like, there was zero pressure.
Speaker D:But then, even then, man, the people on there, like, taking it so serious, warming up.
Speaker D:They'll, hey, you want to come in early to warm up?
Speaker D:I said, no.
Speaker D:I said, I just changed the song up.
Speaker D:I just sent it to you.
Speaker D:Like, I'll.
Speaker D:I'll.
Speaker D:I'll come in there and sing it when I need to sing it.
Speaker D:You know what I mean?
Speaker D:And it would just be long days, but, like.
Speaker D:Like, I don't need to warm up all day.
Speaker D:It's like, if I suck, I'm gonna.
Speaker D:I win either way.
Speaker D:I want to go home.
Speaker D:Like, you know what I'm saying?
Speaker D:Like, no pun intended, home.
Speaker D:It was like, what?
Speaker D:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker D:So it was zero pressure, man.
Speaker D:I just went out there to have a good time and to show my kid, like, oh, dad.
Speaker D:Dad will wear a costume.
Speaker B:Well, you did look like you're having a good time, and I went back and watched it, and, yes, you sang Dreams by the Cranberries, and you Phillips did with the change up, and you were dressed up like a Care Bear.
Speaker D:That was bizarre.
Speaker B:How in the world did you sing that, Crabber?
Speaker B:They sing it so well in a Care Bear.
Speaker D:Having the Care Bears around me.
Speaker D:I'm like, why am I here for this week?
Speaker D:What is this song?
Speaker D:And I'll be.
Speaker D:To be honest with you, I tried to get out on that song because I love that song so much.
Speaker D:I was like, I'm gonna make this so bluegrassy.
Speaker D:I was like, let's just.
Speaker D:They're gonna probably hate it because they're not gonna like bluegrass, you know?
Speaker D:And I don't love bluegrass.
Speaker D:I just love all kinds of music.
Speaker D:And me and the music producer, I told him, I sent him kind of the idea.
Speaker D:He said, yeah, he got a bunch of musicians from Nashville to cut it and listen to it.
Speaker D:I said, this is gonna be great.
Speaker D:I'll get to go home after this.
Speaker D:And then they said, this is the best one of the nine.
Speaker D:I'm like, oh, gosh, I'm gonna be here for another week.
Speaker B:Well, when I went back and watched it, I was like, actually, it's shockingly good, and it's pretty cool.
Speaker B:And it's.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was interesting.
Speaker B:And then you decided to reimagine the Spice Girls, right?
Speaker D:Honestly, that was my favorite one when they said that, because they said, aren't you going to do Spice Girls week?
Speaker D:It seemed like every week that they had these themes.
Speaker D:I was like, I think they had a Ninja Turtles theme, which I grew up with the Ninja Turtles.
Speaker D:I was like, oh, I love that.
Speaker D:It'd be great.
Speaker D:Seems like every Theme that I like, they would avoid it and they would tell me I would do the opposite of it.
Speaker D:They told me Spice Girls week.
Speaker D:And I said, are you serious?
Speaker D:I said, I don't even.
Speaker D:I said, I know one Spice Girl song and I don't even know the words.
Speaker D:I just know the melody of the hook.
Speaker D:And that really one really big one.
Speaker D:I said, I can do that one.
Speaker D:And I went through their catalog and I found too much, too much.
Speaker D:And I was messing with them and how I changed too much.
Speaker D:I was like, dang, this is actually pretty cool.
Speaker D:I said, I might have to put this one in the set list when I play shows.
Speaker D:And I sent it to the music producer.
Speaker D:I said, hey, dude.
Speaker D:I said, here's my thoughts on what the drums and all this, some strings, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker D:And he sent it to me.
Speaker D:I was like, this is exactly what I was thinking.
Speaker D:And it went over really good.
Speaker D:And I told my wife I sent her the idea before I sent anybody at the show the idea.
Speaker D:And she said, that's really good, really cool spin on it.
Speaker D:I was like, yeah, I think so too.
Speaker D:She's like, dang it, you're going to be gone for another week.
Speaker D:And I thought it would ever cool.
Speaker D:I did like that cover for sure, man.
Speaker B:So, like, if there was ever a meaning behind hey, you just.
Speaker B:Philip Phillips, that song, I think we know what it is, right?
Speaker B:Because you American Idol days, you were probably doing it even before then.
Speaker B:Do you remember the first song that you were able to take?
Speaker B:A song that people knew and truly make it your own in that way, y', all, dude.
Speaker D:So in the beginning, like, I didn't start singing until I was about 18, but I started playing guitar when I was about 14, 15.
Speaker D:And so me and my brother in law, who inspired me to play the guitar, Ben and my middle sister, I'm the baby.
Speaker D:We would play these gigs out at bars or parties or wherever and just to make some money and we would learn tons of covers.
Speaker D:So I was changing up songs all the time.
Speaker D:But I remember when I was younger, probably one of the first ones I changed up that I thought was really good.
Speaker D:It's a toss up between Thriller by Michael Jackson or Superstition by Stevie Wonder.
Speaker D:Is one of those two.
Speaker D:Was one of the first ones that I was like, oh, that's a.
Speaker D:That's a pretty.
Speaker D:That's pretty cool.
Speaker D:I like how I did that.
Speaker D:So it's for doing those two.
Speaker B:And what was the early response you got from the crowds when you would.
Speaker D:Pull those versions out yeah, they loved it and I would never look out because I would get too scared.
Speaker D:But at the end, everybody.
Speaker D:If everybody clapped at the end, I knew they were paying attention and they liked it.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:But those two have always been really solid.
Speaker D:I haven't played Superstition in years.
Speaker D:I probably wouldn't even be able to play it right now because it was.
Speaker D:I'm playing all of the movements on the guitar while singing it and I hadn't done it and I can't tell you when last time, but.
Speaker D:But yeah, Thriller.
Speaker D:I still play Thriller.
Speaker D:And that.
Speaker D:That song has evolved like crazy.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker D:That's.
Speaker D:That's always a good time, man.
Speaker B:I don't know what it is about artists like you who give us a song we know, but give us a whole new lens to experience it and why we all get so fired up about it.
Speaker D:But I love it.
Speaker D:Oh, thanks, man.
Speaker D:I appreciate it.
Speaker D:I got a new one my son likes because he likes Halloween and we would.
Speaker D:I'll try to let him listen to, like, Halloween theme music.
Speaker D:And Man Eater was one.
Speaker D:And he said, I like this song, Daddy.
Speaker D:I said, well, Daddy used to think it.
Speaker D:Daddy used to think it would be a scary song when I was younger because I saw the title of it, I thought it was somebody eating somebody.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:And I said, but so Daddy changed.
Speaker D:I said, you want to hear Daddy's version?
Speaker D:And so I let him hear my version of that song, which is completely different.
Speaker D:And I said, which one do you like better?
Speaker D:Fully thinking he's going to like the original better.
Speaker D:He said, I like yours, Daddy.
Speaker D:Yours is more creepy.
Speaker D:I was like, oh, thanks, smart, smart kid.
Speaker B:When you.
Speaker B:So now, as you.
Speaker B:So if we go to a Philip Phillips show here saying, with your new tour, what should we expect?
Speaker B:Like, are we, are we getting all Philip Phillips tunes?
Speaker B:You're going to mix in some of your own interpretations of these classics too, or how do you approach your, your sets and how do we support them?
Speaker D:Yeah, man, it's.
Speaker D:It's always been I'm playing my songs with a mixture of maybe two or three covers, you know, and, you know, it just, it'll.
Speaker D:It'll.
Speaker D:You know, I have a large catalog now as I've.
Speaker D:This will be, you know, this.
Speaker D:It's a lot of music now these days, so I try to rotate songs around every set, you know, try to play different songs and, you know, even what I did, you know, I don't even know if we're doing a meet and greet or something for this tour, but when I would do meet and greets.
Speaker D:I would play songs that they wouldn't hear that night, you know, and so it was always fun.
Speaker D:Like, sometimes I would get out there and I would ask them if they wanted to hear anything, or I would just think of a song on the spot that I hadn't played in years, and I would maybe screw it up.
Speaker D:But that's what made it fun.
Speaker D:And, you know, so there's different.
Speaker D:It'll be different songs of mine throughout each show, but, yeah, you can expect at least a couple, two or three covers in each set.
Speaker B:What do you hope people will start doing, or what would you like people to start doing at Philip Phillips shows?
Speaker B:And what would you like them to stop doing at Philip Phillips shows?
Speaker D:I would like them to start a mosh pit and just go crazy and make me feel good about myself and don't hurt anyone.
Speaker B:Wait, a mosh pit's gonna make you feel good about yourself?
Speaker B:All right, let's.
Speaker B:Let's do this.
Speaker D:I'm just kidding.
Speaker D:Just, you know, I want them.
Speaker D:I think they always have a good time, but every time there's a.
Speaker D:You know, it's a different show.
Speaker D:Sometimes, you know, I like.
Speaker D:I like when a crowd's a little more.
Speaker D:When they can get a little funny with me, you know, if they hold up signs or.
Speaker D:I would like more signs.
Speaker D:I haven't seen as many signs in the past couple.
Speaker D:Couple years.
Speaker D:I like signs, but signs of what?
Speaker B:Like.
Speaker B:Like a request or like a supportive message or, like, bring back Care Bears or what.
Speaker D:Definitely don't bring back Care Bears, but anything just surprise me, you know, or anything like that.
Speaker D:Don't.
Speaker D:And I would like for them to stop.
Speaker D:I don't know.
Speaker D:I don't know what I'd want them to stop to do.
Speaker B:Just keep going to shows.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Stop requesting American Idol tunes.
Speaker D:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker D:For sure.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:I'll get Volcanoes.
Speaker D:Can you play Volcano?
Speaker D:I'm not playing Volcano again, You know, what.
Speaker B:What influence, if I ask you, did Dave Matthews music play in your early career?
Speaker B:Influence?
Speaker D:Oh, yeah, big influence.
Speaker D:Dave is a hero of mine.
Speaker D:I've gotten to hang out with Dave a couple of times, and he's so kind and generous to me.
Speaker D:But, yeah, I mean, when I first started playing guitar, Angus Young from ACDC was my first hero, and I learned every ACDC song you could think of, and then it moved to, like, Led Zeppelin and, you know, Stevie Vaughan and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker D:Learning the songs.
Speaker D:I was never a big solo guy, but I love to learn complicated rhythms and all that.
Speaker D:And then I got to Dave, and when I got into.
Speaker D:More back into acoustic, you know, and.
Speaker D:And how he worked with the guitar, I just thought was unreal, with how he could sing certain melodies over what he was playing.
Speaker D:And I just thought that was.
Speaker D:I thought that was everything.
Speaker D:It was like, you know, an awakening for me as a musician.
Speaker D:And, you know, I definitely wouldn't be playing music, you know, like I do, or maybe even at all.
Speaker D:I'm not sure without.
Speaker D:Without him.
Speaker D:So he's.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:I mean, what a legend.
Speaker D:And like I said, he's a hero of mine.
Speaker D:And I don't ever like to meet heroes.
Speaker D:I don't have many of them, and he's one of them.
Speaker D:And I've gotten to meet him, like I said, you know, two or three times and hang out with him a couple times.
Speaker D:And he was always so kind to me and.
Speaker D:Which, you know.
Speaker D:You know, what more could you ask for?
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, I really.
Speaker B:I remember.
Speaker B:I can't remember what tune you played during the American Idol days.
Speaker D:The stone day.
Speaker B:And I mean, man, really, really incredible.
Speaker B:It's such a young age show to pull it off, man.
Speaker B:And so beautiful.
Speaker D:Yeah, I just.
Speaker B:Make it your own.
Speaker D:I learned.
Speaker B:I learned.
Speaker D:I think I learned every one of Dave's songs back in that.
Speaker B:When I was a K. Oh, man.
Speaker B:So good.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And it's interesting, like you said, like, you.
Speaker B:You don't focus on being like, what, a lead guitarist, but you're like a rhythm.
Speaker B:Like, it's like a like complicated, complex rhythm.
Speaker B:It's like a Dave style, right, that you've sort of developed.
Speaker D:Yeah, kind of something like that.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:And, you know, even the song let's Go Far, it's a very picky kind of thing.
Speaker A:For a minute I lost myself Shook it off like I never left.
Speaker A:Getting good and not being my best.
Speaker A:You're the one your family calls?
Speaker A:When it all starts cold and wrong.
Speaker A:Cause you're always the one who's strong.
Speaker A:Ain't it funny how we come right back till the blows?
Speaker A:Right in the laughs?
Speaker A:Can we stay like this tonight?
Speaker D:And if you listen to the guitar work and.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:But you know, those first couple albums, you know, maybe even some of the third, I always try to combine in.
Speaker D:You know, each album has its own.
Speaker D:I think in my person, my personal opinion has some cool rhythm stuff going on on the guitar, if you really pay attention to it and.
Speaker D:Yeah, but those first couple albums especially, I was learning.
Speaker D:I did a lot of weird tuning guitars and like, song called Tell Me a Story Was pretty awesome.
Speaker D:Cool guitar work.
Speaker D:And, you know, there's.
Speaker D:There's definitely something.
Speaker D:Man on the Moon, another one, a really funky one.
Speaker D:That was one of the first songs I'd written that I thought that was really cool song that, you know how the guitar and everything plays into it and, you know, like, I'm making my.
Speaker B:Touring life very difficult because.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, keep tuning everything.
Speaker D:Well, yeah, when I do.
Speaker D:When I do one off shows, if.
Speaker D:If we don't have.
Speaker D:We don't rent a lot of guitars, you know, a lot of people, you know, like, tell me a story or hold on, they'll be like, can you play that song?
Speaker D:Play the song.
Speaker D:And I'm like, it'll take me like 10 minutes to tune the guitar.
Speaker D:I gotta remember the tuning.
Speaker B:Yeah, you're like, I thought I was a genius in the, like, in the studio, but now I realize this is making my touring life hell.
Speaker D:Yeah, I have.
Speaker D:I have my tunings written down now in my notes and so.
Speaker D:But even then I was like, I don't want to just sit there in front of a bunch of people just tuning a guitar, trying to talk.
Speaker D:Just super awkward.
Speaker D:Like, even.
Speaker D:Even my guitar tech is like, you know, hey, do that guitar.
Speaker D:Like, what's the tuning again?
Speaker D:Or if you don't have it written down.
Speaker D:It's a lot.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Well, it also gives, like our listeners like to go to live shows and so when they come see you, you know, they can kind of.
Speaker B:Kind of zone into this.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:How the tuning and the, like your songs, if you scratch below the surface, there's a lot of complexity and artistry behind the hook, including the tuning of guitars.
Speaker D:I consider myself a musician first, more so than a singer.
Speaker D:So I mean, I love when people actually dig into the songs and listen to them.
Speaker D:And you know, like I said, those songs, people, especially early on in my career when those songs had come out, people would like, how do you play that?
Speaker D:How do you play this?
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:And then I think I've explained a few times on Instagram Live or something for Tell me a Story or a song called Fool's Dance or, you know, you know, there's quite a few of them song called Face and that.
Speaker D:Yeah, there's just a lot of weird that that song Face is a really funky one.
Speaker D:As the.
Speaker D:This kind of New Orleans kind of feel to it, in my opinion, because I'm playing the bass note.
Speaker D:It's a really low note and I can't remember.
Speaker D:I don't have that one written down on my phone.
Speaker D:I need to Revisit that.
Speaker B:You're like, man, why did I do this to myself?
Speaker B:No, it's really, really cool for people to think about, and a lot of our listeners geek out about that stuff, so I think they'll really enjoy seeing your show through that lens.
Speaker B:I wanted to back out a little bit and ask you, you know, you mentioned touring with John Mayer and I believe Chrome.
Speaker B:Wrong.
Speaker B:You mentioned South America.
Speaker B:I believe Brazil.
Speaker B:And you were.
Speaker B:Is it correct you.
Speaker B:You were sandwiched between John Mayer and Bruce Springsteen?
Speaker B:Or maybe it was you then John Mayer, then Bruce Springsteen on the same stage.
Speaker D:Yep, yep, yep.
Speaker D:It was me, then Jon, and then Bruce closing out the night.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker B:What was that like?
Speaker D:I mean, that was the definitely highlight of my career.
Speaker D:That it was.
Speaker D:It was a hundred thousand people, just a sea of people.
Speaker D:And I was.
Speaker D:I get nervous before every show, but that show, I told my wife, she was my girlfriend at that time.
Speaker D:I told her, I said, I think I might puke.
Speaker D:I'm not sure what I'm about to.
Speaker D:I don't know what's about to happen.
Speaker D:And as.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker D:And went out there and just.
Speaker D:You just feed off that energy.
Speaker D:I was like, these people are not going to know any of my music.
Speaker D:And they ended up knowing every song.
Speaker D:And it was just such an electric feeling.
Speaker D:It's kind of an outer body experience type thing of like, you just didn't want it to end.
Speaker D:And then when, you know, once it was over, everything was so great.
Speaker D:And then you watch John set and it's just, you know, again, a whole other, like, it's just.
Speaker D:You can tell.
Speaker D:It's so special.
Speaker D:And because that was his first time down there as well, and.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker D:Then Bruce, obviously, I mean, it just, you know, get to be in the same room as Bruce, like waiting backstage, all these things, it's just like, is what is going on in my life and, you know, very thankful.
Speaker D:I want to get back down to South America.
Speaker D:You know, it's, you know, obviously it could be hard with touring, but, you know, getting back down there, the fans there, it's.
Speaker D:It's completely different than Fans in the U.S. you know, we're.
Speaker D:We're really spoiled with music and shows all the time and, and they're.
Speaker D:They're not as much.
Speaker D:So when you come down there, I mean, you feel that appreciation and not for just the songs that are the singles or, or whatever.
Speaker D:So it's a really cool feeling.
Speaker B:So spending so much time with John Mayer and seeing Bruce Springsteen, you know, from like a behind the scenes.
Speaker C:What.
Speaker B:What did you pick up on in terms of how they communicate their music and their message to the audience, each one probably being a little bit different.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker D:I mean, with John, I mean, you know, he was.
Speaker D:He had just had his vocal stuff going on, vocal surgeries and whatnot, and coming kind of recovering from that and.
Speaker D:But as far as a music standpoint, I mean, his show.
Speaker D:I mean, he gave himself to the crowd each show.
Speaker D:And that's the only tour I've ever been on that me and my band and wife, like, we would watch every show.
Speaker D:There wasn't a time where we would just be like, all right, let's go to the bus and hang out, or let's go do something else.
Speaker D:We watched every show of that tour because he would play, obviously, he's genius at the guitar, and.
Speaker D:Yep, he gave himself to the crowd and how he would interact with the crowd and.
Speaker D:And it was just an honor to be able to.
Speaker D:To be on tour with him and.
Speaker D:And experience that.
Speaker D:And with Bruce, I got to see Bruce while we were in Argentina on that same run in South America.
Speaker D:He's playing a show for probably 5,000 people or something.
Speaker D:Five or ten thousand max.
Speaker D:But wow.
Speaker D:And we.
Speaker D:I watched him, like, crowd surf.
Speaker D:He got to a certain point, got back on, grabbed a.
Speaker D:Like a drink from the.
Speaker D:Like a beer from the crowd, and he just chugged it or something.
Speaker D:And I said, dude, this guy, like, the definition of just rock and roll, that I'll never be that cool.
Speaker D:It's like you're.
Speaker D:He's.
Speaker D:He was like, 60s or something at that age, you know, whatever.
Speaker D:And it's like he's shotgunning beers in Argent still so much cooler than me.
Speaker D:It's like, man, I suck.
Speaker D:And it was just such a cool thing, you know?
Speaker B:So.
Speaker D:Such a cool, cool thing to see.
Speaker D:Oh, man.
Speaker B:So good.
Speaker B:Phil.
Speaker B:This has been such a fun interview.
Speaker B:So I got a lot of questions about, you know, just so many amazing.
Speaker B:I mean, what an amazing life you've led up to this point.
Speaker B:And I can't wait to see, like, what happens next.
Speaker B:But I want to add, I would do.
Speaker B:Would like to ask you about the new album a little bit more in terms of what are your hopes for it and, like, what.
Speaker B:What are you hoping.
Speaker B:Like, how are you hoping?
Speaker B:Like, I guess, what's the response from someone listening to the album and what's the response you're hoping to get from the audiences when you perform it?
Speaker D:I mean, I hope they like it.
Speaker D:That's the biggest thing.
Speaker D:And.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker D:And, you know, maybe they have Some sort of connection.
Speaker D:You know, for me, music is so personal, you know, even now.
Speaker D:Like when I've, you know, I released a song called Homesick a couple months ago, but the song that really, let's go far, even just these past few days, couple of days, people have already written on the comments of how, you know, oh, my gosh, I'm going through this, you know, I'm connecting, I'm needed this song, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker D:And for me, when I'm able to read those comments and I even go through my messages, you know, of how people connect with the song, new or old, I love seeing that.
Speaker D:You know, I do check all of that.
Speaker D:And so please, you know, anybody listening to this, send me messages or whatever.
Speaker D:But, but, you know, I hope they, you know, they hear some sort of honesty through it and, and, and, and like you said, I hope.
Speaker D:I would love for them to, you know, maybe hear the musicality in Inside the music is in the song as well.
Speaker D:And, and then through the songs and.
Speaker D:Because, yeah, at this point in my life, these songs are very personal and, and, and very heartfelt and, and, you know, so, yeah, hope you like it.
Speaker D:And if, if.
Speaker D:If they don't like it, just, I want them to sing Ascend the song to everyone that they don't like.
Speaker D:So hopefully they have a lot of people that don't like.
Speaker D:But if you do like it, send it to everybody you do like.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Very good.
Speaker B:All right, everybody go out, stay curious.
Speaker B:Check out Philip Phillips new album coming out in September, and singles are already out there.
Speaker B:You're going to love them.
Speaker B:Thanks, Philip.
Speaker D:Appreciate you, man.
Speaker D:Thank you.
Speaker C:Thanks for joining Zach and I for this episode of Americana Curious.
Speaker C:Subscribe where you listen to your podcast so you are notified when a new episode is released.
Speaker A:Released.
Speaker C:I'm Ben Fanning, and it's been great sharing these artists and music with you.
Speaker C:Until next time, stay Americana curious.
