The world changed in early 2020; Covid-19 swept its ways across the world, and nothing’s been the same ever since.

By now, everyone has felt the impact of Covid-19 one way or another. Just about every industry in the world has undertaken new restrictions and regulations regarding the coronavirus, but none quite like Vancouver’s local music industry.

Vancouver native hip-hop artist PHILLI has experienced significant change firsthand. At 21 years old, he’s been making music for about 4 years now. These last few months have been some of the toughest yet on his output. A lack of physical collaborations with producers and fellow artists has thrown a wrench into his young career. Make no mistake; he’s still on his grind, and a relatively quiet summer has given PHILLI a lot of time for reflection.

Primarily, he’s itching for a chance to get back on stage in front of a crowd. His stomping grounds consist mainly of nightclubs in Vancouver’s downtown core, where before Covid-19, he’d perform frequently on weekends. Unfortunately, there’s still no concrete timetable for when PHILLI will see the stage again, the uncertainty of it all takes a heavy toll on the young artist. While he absolutely enjoys putting time into writing his lyrics, nothing replaces the rush PHILLI gets onstage, live in front of a crowd. It doesn’t matter whether a large crowd or intimate; he simply loves sharing his work, and energy, with an audience.

Furthermore, PHILLI misses collaborating with other local artists. He’s always looking to expand his musical horizon, and incorporate features into his work. Working creatively with partners you respect is stimulating, and one of PHILLI’s favorite parts about making music. Making music solo can become unsatisfying, but it’s allowed PHILLI to establish a primary goal for himself; work hard in preparation for a strong return.