- Words Notion Staff
- Photographer Jonathan Rabon
Phabo takes us through his musical firsts, from seeking inspiration in Usher, to being starstruck by Kehlani and losing all his early recordings.
Delivering sultry tracks with brooding lyricism, Phabo’s the multidimensional R&B talent unafraid to speak his mind. Showered in dream-like vibrations, his back-catalogue includes releases on trendsetting record label Soulection and unique performances for COLORSXSTUDIOS. “Scorpio Moon”, his most recent single, was his chosen track for the pioneering platform, and after five months, fans finally have access to it in its purest form.
Hailing from San Diego, Phabo’s music sits in a pocket akin to the likes of Masego. Reconciling the pain of heartbreak with familiar honesty, his soulful productions, and their measured melodies, leave an endearing mark on the listener, who find comfort in his intimate messaging.
“Scorpio Moon” follows Phabo’s recent linkup with Shaé Universe. Like “Out Of Touch”, the new single flaunts his smooth brand of R&B, but the story takes on a whole other meaning. On the track, he says “Scorpio Moon” is a song that playfully mirrors the way in which people use Zodiac signs to avoid accountability for the chaos they’ve caused”. Brimming with gospel harmonies, the tune is one of his most profound to date and looks to propel him closer towards international stardom.
We caught up with Phabo to discuss his musical firsts, from seeking inspiration in Usher, to being starstruck by Kehlani and losing all his early recordings.
First song you ever made?
“Enter You” produced by Chris O’Bannon.
First song you released officially?
“Make It Right” produced by Mars Today and Krs.
First CD or record you owned?
50 Cent – ‘Get Rich Or Die Trying’.
First time you realised you wanted to be an artist?
When I discovered Usher.
First gig you went to?
Team Supreme’s 10 year celebration at the El Rey Theatre.
First time you faced an obstacle in your career?
Not backing up my hard-drive and losing all of my early song files.
First instrument you owned?
A drum set.
First time you felt like giving up?
When my dad passed.
First time you felt starstruck?
When I first met Kehlani.
First time you ticked off a bucket list goal?
When I got my first major writing placement.