PHABO, one of R&B’s finest, is an San Diego-native whose equal parts rugged, tender and self-assured sound has rapidly defined him as one of the most hailed new voices within the scene.
Latest release, Don’t Get Too Cozy, offers lyricism that paints crystal clear expressions of love, intimacy and wonder of existence. The message behind the track embodies genuinely authentic R&B, inspired by upper-echelon talents like H-Town, Boyz II Men and Jagged Edge, whilst carving out spaces that feel as nostalgic as they are contemporary.
Gaining his breakthrough moment after the release of his 2021 debut album, Soulquarius, PHABO has continuously worked with a myriad of trailblazers including Duckwrth, Khelani, Alex Vaughn and Eric Bellinger. His deeply rich sonic palette and high quality production truly sets him aside from the rest. Don’t Get Too Cozy continues to outline him as a key artist on both sides of the pond.
We sat down with the artist to chat through his early love for music, the meaning behind PHABO and next big moves…
Stream Don’t Get Too Cozy now…
Read the interview…
How did you first uncover a love for music and creating?
I discovered it around 5 or 6 years old. There was always an instrument or an instrumentalist in my house growing up. So once I caught the bug it kinda stayed on me and grew more and more each year.
What is the essence of your artistry?
I would say the essence of my artistry is being as true and authentic to my values as possible.
You’ve worked with an array of cool talents like Duckwrth and Kelhani, what have you learnt from collaborating with other artists?
I’ve learned how to let songs marinate and not to be afraid to revisit old ideas. They taught me to sit with the overall music making process more. I tend to have a bad case of demo-itis.
How are you feeling about the release of your album Don’t Get Too Cozy?
I’m feeling excited! I’m ready to give it to the people and get started on even more projects for my fans.
What’s the meaning behind the name?
I didn’t want people to feel like Soulquarius was all I had to offer. The Rollout began with my “Before I Let Her Go” EP as a fair warning that I had more music coming. So the LP is a nod to that as well as a testament for the future. Never get too Cozy with one project.
What was the creative process of the LP?
It began right after I wrapped Soulquarius. I was in the beginning of my full transition to Artist from Songwriter and a lot of my emotions were wrapped in a jaded cloud. So I bottled up a lot of these frustrations and felt the only way to grow through them was to write them out in song form and share it with the masses.
How does it differ from your debut Soulquarius?
I feel the new project is more grown and sexy. It’s also more forward and less playful. It’s my first time speaking about deep rooted insecurities and lasting heartbreak and I also had the opportunity to produce more on it so naturally the sonics have a heavier bass and 808 element that I’m excited to coin as mine.
At 18 tracks, it’s a hefty body of work – what was your thinking behind such?
I’m a storyteller and sometimes the story is limited due to the parameters the industry places on project lengths. So after much thought I decided rather than putting certain interludes and transitions at the end of my records, I made a couple their own stand alone tracks.
What are the concepts and themes for that you touch on across the LP?
Love, Loss, Joy, Pain. I have certain songs where I’m purposely overly braggadocios and others where I’ve been humbled to the core. The pendulum swings through out it’s entirety.
What do you want listeners to take away from the album?
I want listeners to have a greater understanding for my brand The Polaris Way and for my versatility as an artist.
Where do you want to take your artistry?
I want to take my artistry as high as God allows us to. I want to be a top 10 artist and make a lane for other artist who share the same grit and drive that I do.
What is next for you?
I’m gearing up for my Fall Tour run right now. Rehearsing is important to me between now and then also. I know the artistic growth will be evident.