Video Premiere: Josh Phillips “Already Gone” (ft. Asheville Symphony)

Here’s the latest single from Asheville, NC singer-songwriter Josh Phillips.  This gorgeous collaboration with the Asheville Symphony will be raising money for local charity, BeLoved Asheville.  At times playful, at times swelling in cinematic fashion, the Asheville Symphony orchestra deliver a wonderfully full, atmospheric sound, which gives Phillips’ plaintive, emotional vocal performance even greater intensity.  It’s a desperate song, a heartfelt and wounded response to the challenge and shock of loneliness.  The compelling and impactful reality of Phillips’ words and music are genuinely enhanced by the swirling strings and stirring percussion of the orchestra as the drama plays out.

Phillips says of the song: “This collaboration with the members of the Asheville symphony was a long time in the making, first chair cellist Franklin Keel having arranged the strings for this song on our new album. When we started doing the remix EP idea, I thought how perfect it would be to let him continue the arrangement in a grander way. And since it was such a unique and special milestone for me in my life, I thought how wonderful it would be to capture it correctly. With the help of our friends at Fiasco Productions; lights donated by the Salvage Station, a music venue sadly taken from us by the hurricane; mobile recording, and the Moon Room so graciously gave us free reign of the venue, we were able to capture this moment which is one of the proudest of my life.”

Look out for “Everything’s Good”, the forthcoming album that tracks Phillips’ journey through grief and loss before, ultimately, finding peace. The passion and heartfelt delivery are central to the album and Phillips’ style.  Phillips says of the new record: “This album is a collection of songs I’ve written over the last twenty years. Just before covid, I decided I had too many songs that I loved and felt had potential to be great and it was depressing me, having them be no more than files in a folder on a computer. I rented a studio space, got the vibe just how I liked it, and recorded this album on and off over three and half years. It is I think hands down the best music we’ve ever made together.” 

The album release has been delayed due to the devastation of Hurricane Helene.  Phillips explains: “We were going to put the album out during my favourite festival ‘LEAF’ on October 17th, but the Hurricane Helene Disaster ravaged through Western NC and changed our whole town’s timeline, and quite frankly, our town forever. It thrusted us into an alternate reality, an extremely difficult situation, and was a humbling time for all of us. But, It was also a beautiful time of real community, connectedness, and helping each other. I think we all, collectively, relearned the value of giving your time and resources to others, and that in the end, it’s the only thing we have. It is in that spirit that we decided to partner with CommunityZ RecordZ to use this album that was created in and by our community, and then give back, directly,  to the same community.”  The disaster relief fund BeLoved Asheville will benefit fromthe proceeds of “Already Gone”

About Andrew Frolish 1618 Articles
From up north but now hiding in rural Suffolk. An insomniac music-lover. Love discovering new music to get lost in - country, singer-songwriters, Americana, rock...whatever. Currently enjoying Nils Lofgren, Ferris & Sylvester, Tommy Prine, Jarrod Dickenson, William Prince, Frank Turner, Our Man in the Field...
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Telepathic

Josh Phillips is genuinely one of the most under-the-radar, humble musicians of our time. Great article and introduction to his next work. Thank you!