Australian songmaker Phil Hancock was always destined to have a career in pop music. Growing up amid the bubble-gum pop era of the late 90’s while teaching himself to play his family’s rusty old upright piano, young Phil was slowly fashioning his sound into what you hear today: A special mix of Max Martin-produced pop, heartbreaking Billy Joel lyricism and a “Wizard of Oz” obsession that hints at a subtle musical theatre aesthetic.
After a glorious decade of self-releasing offbeat alt-pop and experimental dance music, songwriting with fellow rising artists and singing other people’s songs at piano bars across the country, Phil Hancock has settled into a sound that is, at last, resoundingly his. His first single out of the darkness, “Heaven” was an online viral success amassing over 3 million streams across all platforms, while his follow-up EP, “Red Flags” detailed the under-explored topic of a toxic friendship and its post-traumatic aftermath.
These songs are the true stories of his life. With a new “colourful” song collection coming in 2021, illuminating his experiences with a life-altering illness and the world or change that can blossom from that, Phil Hancock is an artist unafraid to stay colourful even during an era of real darkness.
Heartache (All I Give To You)
‘Heartache’ is a mid-tempo dancehall-infused heartbreak pop jam and features fellow Australian songmaker ZACHARY. The song is about depression and when your partner is giving you everything they have, but all you can give them back is your heartache and sadness. Written just before Covid-19 shut the world down, ‘Heartache’ is two years in the making for the pair, who have written and produced songs for each other over the years.
Lonelier
‘Lonelier’ is a nostalgic, heart-wrenching piano ballad about a long lost love, and how loneliness and isolation can bring on the false hope that perhaps love could be rekindled. Written at the front end of the COVID lockdown, it’s the second song from Phil Hancock’s upcoming 9-song collection detailing his two year journey with a life-altering illness. Written and produced by Phil himself, “Lonelier” features his signature high falsetto and a haunting string ensemble to heartbreaking effect.
Heart Beating
‘Heart Beating’ is an ode to our friends, to the people who stick with us, heal us and support us in our darkest moments. It’s the first single from an upcoming 9-song collection detailing Phil’s two year journey with a life-altering illness. Produced by fellow Brisbane artist ZACHARY, ‘Heart Beating’ is a chill, optimistic pop song with a thumping heartbeat, dark cinematic strings and an instantly charming, whirlwind pop chorus.
