Phebe Starr

“Alone With You” by Phebe Starr

Phebe Starr - “Alone With You”

SXSW 2016 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Florence & the Machine, Banks, Lana Del Rey

Phebe Star follows a consistent path on her debut EP Zero, interplaying melancholy pop with heavy percussive moments, best displayed on key single “Alone With You”.  The track switches from plaintive organ as a backing only to flip into a tribal chorus, nailing the transition back and forth.  It’s the best produced track on Zero, taking a less-is-more approach whereas the rest of the record is rather dense.  She’s an artist with a lot of ideas, but the cool, effortless nature of the genre proves simplicity really brings the emotional dynamic Starr is reaching towards.  On “Alone With You”, the careful construction of the music allows Starr’s rich, underplayed vocals to come out in lieu of big-pop tendencies, a trend that hopefully continues with whatever the Australian artist has planned next.  Phebe Starr joined OEB recommendations Porches, MONOGEM and Chad Valley at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Friday night for her official showcase.