Alt-pop singer-songwriter philine delivered new single “matter,” along with her brand new EP the side-effects of living in a fantasy, on November 8th. The single marks the sixth and final single of the EP, following hits like “green” and “talking to myself” released earlier this year.
philine is an imaginative storyteller through her compelling and vulnerable lyrics to her raw music style. The singer captures an essence of Phoebe Bridgers in her contemplative inner monologue through a rich indie sound similar to the likes of Julia Jacklin, Cam, ella jane, and renforshort. She explains that, while her introspection stems from animating her perception in her mind:
“I have a huge imagination, and I’m a big overthinker. I tend to live in fantasy more than reality. I get so caught up with how I perceive things and my almost movie like version of life. The upside to it is that with a mind like that, I’ll always have stories to tell.”
The track opens on full major piano chords before introducing indie pop guitars and a mid-tempo, swaying drum beat. philine sings, “I look for something to feel / Something to prove what is real / Nothing makes sense the more you think about it.” She grapples with the idea of confronting her laundry list of questions for which she “[doesn’t] have the answer.”
The chorus solidifies her real concern of isolation and the yearning for connection as she repeatedly pleads, “what can I do / I just want to matter to you.”
In the second verse, philine reflects on the idea of aging and the dread that comes with it. She struggles with the reality of not knowing how to provide for someone else when she can barely understand the life she lives now. She sings, “and when my kids ask me why / And what’s the meaning of life / Will I know how to give an explanation?”
Despite the loose ends and lingering questions, philine reassures us that she is not done learning, nor is she ready to stop learning. Ultimately, she states, “I believe in trying and guessing,” before going back into a final chorus, reiterating her comfort in knowing there is more to uncover about herself and her place in the world.
“matter” is a delicate window into the mind of philine, but her introspection follows her throughout her work. Her EP the side-effects of living in a fantasy is out now.
