From Dirt to Diamonds: Phebe Starr is Creating Beauty From The Ground Up
Phebe Starr has emerged as one of Australia’s prominent voices in the Australian indie-pop scene. Known for her intricate and intimate lyrics that resonate deeply with her listeners, this singer-songwriter is inspiring her fans through her latest release ‘Dirt’. A stripped back soul that just wants others to feel in their rawest form, Phebe Starr is blending elements of electronica, indie and pop to create music filled with life’s unavoidable highs and lows.
Growing up in regional NSW, Phebe’s introduction to pop culture was bounded by distance. The limited access grew her curiosity, inevitably drawing her closer and closer to wanting to discover more. What others saw as a restriction was a blessing in disguise for her.
“I had a childhood where I was able to think and explore. It meant we were all hungry to know about the world, where it created this really interesting relationship with pop culture because I wasn't in it. I feel like there's a fish bowl and the world exists in it, and I've always been looking in at these beautiful, interesting humans that are just savaging culture and consuming it,” she tells us.
Phebe's interactions with the world created her methods of music. With an unconventional way of writing, the musician resonated with the energy of each song before the context. Her ability to unashamedly be confident and vulnerable, stemmed from her eagerness to create introspective reflections, noting that she often visualises a song before writing.
“I often find myself experiencing music as colours and visuals. Sometimes, I create mood boards or extract those colours, evoking a specific feeling. It's about tapping into the energy of the song, letting it guide the creative process,” she says. From learning her craft in music completely by ear, sparked her enjoyment to find a certain sound. An artist at heart, Phebe finds importance in creating a connection to art and music.
It doesn’t stop there. Her latest release ‘Dirt’, illustrates her ability to write with purpose. The album delves into her longing for simpler, both in music and symbolism. In an era dominated by instant digital gratification, Phebe rebels against the overwhelming automation, yearning for genuine human connection. Embracing the “dirtiness” and the past, she cherishes the raw authenticity it embodies.
“I want people to feel that raw connection, the sweaty closeness, and the hedonistic pleasure of sharing space—a richness lost in the wake of COVID and the digital age. To me, it symbolises the intimacy of human connection, reminiscent of our primal roots, our existence intertwined with the earth. This perspective harks back to my upbringing, steeped in agriculture, where I witnessed the vitality of such relationships firsthand.”
Check out her newest album ‘Dirt’ here
