16 year old Phoebe is a singer and songwriter from Suffolk. Brought up in a family of musical theatre lovers, Phoebe would take any opportunity to sing and dance. From age five she learnt to play the ocarina, started to play the guitar aged seven and wrote her first song a year later.
She describes her path into music:
“I started my musical journey at the age of 7 when I took up guitar lessons at school. I was a massive Taylor Swift fan and she influenced me to take up guitar. She continues to influence my songwriting, my motivation and my passion to this day.”
At just nine years old, Phoebe entered a competition and won best newcomer, which was the start of writing music and gigging. At such an early age Phoebe overcame a lot of hurdles, not least dealing with broken guitar strings in gigs!
Mostly self-taught, Phoebe enjoys co-writing with her producer as well as playing with different sounds and musicians.
Phoebe describes her approach to songwriting:
“Songwriting has been the way that I’ve processed and expressed my emotions. I have a lot of lyrics and phrases that I have written down in my phone from moments when inspiration has just struck whether that be from an experience I’ve been having at the time or something that’s popped up in my head when I’m dwelling on my emotions. I’ll usually be at my piano or playing my guitar, fiddling around with chords trying to find a melody and craft the lyrics around it. It’s a cathartic experience that I really enjoy. I’m really glad that I get to share this with people.”
Watch Phoebe perform as part of our 2021 Autumn fundraising concert.
Phoebe has an eclectic range of musical influences from 70’s and 80’s music to rock. She would love to write music for artists like Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Orla Gartland and takes a lot of inspiration from the people in her life.
Phoebe knows that music will remain in her life and has great ambitions for her future. As she says:
“My goals for the future are to become successful with my songwriting, whether I am performing those songs or not. Performing is something I will forever enjoy and love but songwriting is my main passion.”
And she’s already making strides towards this. Last year, she released her debut EP, ‘Wreckage of Desire’.
Phoebe received The Mike Beament Award which allowed her to work with a music producer and in a recording studio. Phoebe’s mum, Claire, describes the impact this has had:
“The Award has helped so much. It’s been a lifelong dream for Phoebe to get into a recording studio and actually work with and collaborate with a producer. Steven (Phoebe’s music producer) has been amazing and supported her in every way. He’s helped her craft her songs and find a sound that fits her really well. None of this would have been possible without AYM.”
Phoebe says:
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to progress with my music career. For a young musician like myself, this really means a lot and will make such a huge difference. Being in the music industry is difficult and a lot of it comes down to opportunities as well as hard work and talent. AYM’s support will help open more doors for me. It’s given me the confidence boost that I needed to keep working hard at what I love.”
If you are, or know, a young musician like Phoebe, aged 5-17, with bags of musical potential who needs support for musical costs, AYM could help!
