Who are your biggest influences?
Gordon Lightfoot, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, Chicago, The Doors, Van Halen
What’s the craziest thing that has happened on tour?
I think the virus is the craziest thing to happen. A lot of musicians are taken back by it.
What’s your songwriting process?
I have written over 4 albums of songs including classical music. I like to start with a melody first and then build off of a creative process. If you are going to write something to touch the heart, you have to let it evolve. I started by playing ragtime music. I love those piano players.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
I am a writer too. I have written many original quotes. I think that artist are often creative at several things. People read one of my quotes and are inspired by that too. I am a certified teacher. :Dreams Keep us alive, dreams keep us growing, to give up on our dreams is to let them die,” It is one of my quotes.
Who do you sound like?
It is unique sounding. My songs are known for touching people’s hearts. Someone once said that to hear one of my songs will freeze you to listen. Bryan Adams, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, and others you can see in the music. You can hear that influence of my early ragtime playing. You can see the similarities of Simon and Garfunkel in I Remember You. The guitar solos are amazing on some of the rock songs and remind you of those classic rock bands.
What do you feel is the best song you’ve ever released and why?
Come and Stay with Me, Never Let it Die, My Love is True, White Horse Rider, I Remember You, Brand New Day, A Better World, and The World is a Beautiful Place. I like them all. I think Glory Train is an interesting song because it has different tempo, refers back to Woody Guthrie and those times.
Which musician would you like to collaborate with next and why?
Open to the idea. I have worked with many local musicians thru the years. There are many great ones out there that you don’t always here about.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far?
Working with other musicians can be interesting at times because each has their own personality. Sometimes, you can go thru a variety of emotions in the studio. The biggest problem for me is that after the Crossroads album and I could see where we were heading. I didn’t know where to go from there. I kind of got left at a place for awhile. Then, I just reflected on how I was feeling and everything started to flow from there. I was looking for a better place.
What do you enjoy most about being a musician? What do you hate most?
The world needs artists to change. We bring new ideas and thoughts to the process. I love playing the piano and creating a new piece. You just feel connected to something outside of yourself.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
would make songwriting a big emphasis. Fans want to hear new music and stories.
What inspires you? What connection do you have to your music?
I grew up in Lombard, Illinois. I often attended the Lilac Parade. My dad was a local teacher who taught American and World History. He taught me that if you were going to say something, let it mean something. I grew up around many historical quotes that later influenced him in his writing. One of the stories goes that my dad said America would be like any other empire that existed in World History. Empires come and go. I stated that the American ideals would never allow that to happen. The song “White Horse Rider” echoes this in the chorus about how American freedom was built on no courage and faith. He was looking at the future at a young age. You can see it in the music and writings as Phil was thinking about his place in history in time. His mom taught piano and his dad played all kinds of folk songs from the 50’s and 60’s that inspired social action. Peter, Paul, and Mary, Arlo Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, Glen Campbell, Beatles, Blood Sweat Tears. Phil went on to become a certified teacher and drive a trolley in downtown Chicago during the summers. It was that constant interaction with people and children that later influenced his songs and writings. Phil was influenced a lot by Gordon Lightfoot, Boston, Chicago, Cat Stevens, Bryan Adams, and the Doors. Phil’s grandfather was a commercial artist that influenced him artistically. The title song from the album “A Better World” is actually a story about Phil as a songwriter. He spent his summers up in Minnesota by a lake. The reason he wrote songs was to make the world a better place for you and I HIs dad was a teacher who said the world need not change. There was an artesian spring where the family got its drinking water in the summer. The album “A Better World” is a tapestry of his life. Dreams that never die, A Brand New Day, Our Love is true to the end of time, Irish Rose, God Bless this Child (teaching), The World is a Beautiful Place (quote), Blessed is the Light in a world of darkness, Heavenly Waters (the springs), Glory Train (following Woody Guthrie in this time), and the ending classical piece that is a reflection of my early writings of orchestra and magic. It has a feeling of Tychowski. The new album is about my life.