Stephanie Phillips – The Last Word (2022)
With over two decades of experience in the music industry, it is safe to say that Stephanie Phillips is a music veteran – it sounds old, but it isn’t really. A knowledgeable sage in the music world, Phillips has performed across the USA sharing her enchanting melodies with various audiences. A highlight of her career was opening for EmmyLou Harris in the 1990s, but now she is performing headliner gigs at various venues. The latest addition to her well-received discography is the single ‘The Last Word’.
Known for her charming, infectious folk sound – something she calls “progressive folk” – Stephanie Phillips can lure you in with her soothing melodies, grab hold of you with her bold arrangement and send your soul soaring with the powerful lyricism. Not one to shy away from significant topics, the latest single approaches the issue of school shootings and the terrible aftermath. Penned after the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, ‘The Last Word’ is a tribute to the children taken from us. Moreover, it is, as Phillips puts it, “…a battle cry for change and should be the anthem for those who are fighting to stop the hold that guns have on this country.”
The first release from Phillips since 2020’s ‘Social Arithmetic’, ‘The Last Word’ adopts a tender folk sound from the first chord. Sweet and sincere, the poetic lyricism opens with happiness singing about the dreams of children; however, it turns quickly when she sings about how the children have been taken away from us – “…the guns have the last word”.
What I really enjoy about ‘The Last Word’ is not the poignant message interwoven in a toe-tapping melody, but how simple songs can have the most powerful impact. A simplistic acoustic single, ‘The Last Word’ merges Phillips’s warm vocals with a basic acoustic guitar. Reminiscent of the old-school songs of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Janis Ian, the retro song takes us back to the tones of yesteryear. Yet, while the vintage sound is evident, Phillips inserts a modern-day indie element adding an obscurity and edginess that is purely Stephanie Phillips.
For more from Stephanie Phillips check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
