His voice has garnered praiseworthy comparisons to Paul Simon and The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy. Phillips’ songs combine a poetic eye for detail; a strong sense of character; and a bracing, emotional honesty. Lyrical influences include Bruce Springsteen, Richard Buckner and Lucinda Williams, while the music trods a more lo-fi indie path, with nods to folk rock and chamber pop.
Recent collaborators include The Mountain Goats‘ Matt Douglas, Kate Rhudy, Chatham County Line‘s John Teer, Whiskeytown‘s Caitlin Cary, Rachel Kiel, and Schooner‘s Reid Johnson, among others from his beloved North Carolina.