philine releases new EP ‘the side-effects of living in a fantasy’
November 8, 2024 BY Emma Orland
Emerging singer-songwriter philine invites listeners to step into her imaginative and introspective world with the release of her latest EP, the side-effects of living in a fantasy, out now on all major streaming platforms. With her tender voice, evocative lyrics, and delicate melodies, philine crafts an intimate exploration of self-discovery, the blurred boundaries between fantasy and reality, and the profound complexities of human connection. Each track offers a glimpse into philine’s inner world, where stories of love, isolation, and the beauty within chaos come together to create a dreamlike yet grounded soundscape.
the side-effects of living in a fantasy is more than an EP; it’s a testament to philine’s unique storytelling and her gift for transforming introspection and overthinking into art. As she navigates the uncertainties of existence, philine connects with listeners by sharing her honest reflections, inviting them to explore the vulnerable, often chaotic spaces of self-discovery alongside her.
The EP’s final single, “matter,” encapsulates a pivotal moment in philine’s recent journey. After a year marked by profound personal experiences—including the loss of both grandmothers and a deeply reflective psychedelic experience—philine found herself grappling with existential questions about life’s meaning and purpose. “‘matter’ is about me having a little bit of an existential crisis about the meaning of life,” she explains. “After everything that happened, I felt anxious about not having any proof of what life is and how it all makes sense. matter is about asking, ‘If it all doesn’t make sense, then how do I contribute to it? And does it matter if I don’t understand it?’”
With “matter,” philine tackles universal questions in a deeply personal way, encapsulating the uncertainties that come with loss and change. The track’s poignant lyrics and soothing melodies provide a sense of solace, allowing listeners to feel connected in the face of life’s unknowns.
More about philine
When philine writes a song, she invites everyone to spend a little time inside her head. Her tender voice, delicate tunes, and vivid lyrics grab your attention right away, but it’s her wild imagination that really hooks you and, ultimately, inspires. It’s as if she’s turning her feelings into real-life magic, letting her thoughts dance around in catchy melodies and shimmering chords. After quietly buzzing out of The Netherlands, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist opens up her world on her upcoming EP, the side-effects of living in a fantasy, set to release later this year.
Early on, she recognized the power of music. Her mother, who taught music to kindergarten-age kids, was constantly singing and playing guitar around the house. Transfixed, philine began penning her own songs in Dutch, eventually shifting to English by the time she was 11. After participating in a professional songwriting competition as a teen, she recognized her path forward. “That’s when I decided I wanted to be a professional songwriter and musician,” she notes. She attended a conservatory in Rotterdam, logging countless hours in the studio with friends. She further built momentum with her debut so sick of myself EP in 2023, generating streams in the millions, while her collaboration with Melle on “Old Summers” reeled in over 1.2 million Spotify streams. Throughout 2023, she absorbed inspiration from the world around her, pouring her observations and feelings into her songwriting.
The first singles from her upcoming EP have already surpassed 1 million total streams, garnering international support on tastemaker playlists like Spotify’s Juniper, Women of Indie, Today’s Singer-Songwriters, and Herbst Chillout. Her track “green” hit #1 on Apple’s Global Breaking Singer-Songwriters chart and #1 on Spotify’s Fresh Finds: Folk. This year, she supported artists such as Lizzy McAlpine, MEAU, Provinz, Froukje, Son Mieux, and Krezip in venues across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, including 3,000-capacity spaces. A recent duet with BANNERS in Amsterdam showcased their song “Perfectly Broken,” while she also collaborated with Garrett Kato on the intimate track “Babe, I’m All Yours.”
With songs mixed by Matt Wiggins (Adele, Florence + The Machine, Lorde), produced by Loek van der Grinten (Duncan Laurence, Matt Simons, Dotan), and mastered by Robin Schmidt (The 1975, LANY, Sam Fender, Mumford & Sons), her music is crafted with top-tier expertise. Recently, her songs have received airplay on major Dutch radio stations including Radio 2, Radio Veronica, and 3FM, firmly positioning her as a rising star in the indie music scene.
