Phil Roy’s name may not be widely known, yet like many working songwriters, much of his work is. Featured in theatrical releases, As Good As It Gets (1997), and Love and Sex (2000), he has also penned classics for some well known musicians, such as Ray Charles, Widespread Panic, Aaron Neville, and Joe Cocker. But after almost twenty years writing for hire, he was close to finished. “I was making music for everyone but myself, and I was at the end of my rope” Roy explains. “Personally and professionally -- spiritually -- I was done. Recording my own album was the last thing for me to do. I sold my motorcycle, I sold my car, I sold a piece of art…[all] just to pay for studio time. I was driven, and driven to do it.” The end results, the acclaimed grouchyfriendly in 2000, and three years later, his newest release, Issues + Options. In the midst of a recent genre explosion, that is moving well past the bare bones, folk essentials, he is a self-described “alternative singer-songwriter,” who admits to “[fitting] in a world where it is a bit more eclectic, [with] elements of folk and soul, and jazz.”
Lyrics filled with hope and love, are intricately woven with ironically subtle hints towards an understanding of pain and suffering. And there is a wisdom communicated in a way that even the cynics cannot be all that cynical. His dichotomy of positive and negative is evident in songs such as the intimate, “Undeniably Human” off the new album. An articulate wordsmith, he utilizes his instrumentation to counterbalance the lyrical imagery. “I would like people to come to my music and be in a space where they’ll feel emotional and powerful…but it’s quiet…the message is loud and clear, but the music isn’t.”
Regardless of the venue, or whether playing for a packed house or intimate, candlelit setting, the shows are always completely heart-felt. The Stone House is literally a stone house, with a large room decorated with two fireplaces and candles all around, The Fez, a basement hall with a bar accented by velvet curtains in downtown New York, and his most recent gig was simply a small community room with nooks and crannies that seem to be pleasantly surprised to have music flowing through them. And further adding spark and unique creativity to each performance, Phil usually plays with an accompanying artist - in these particular shows, an upright bass player for The Stone House and The Fez, and a keyboardist/guitarist for the private show. Each setlist varies, and develops it’s own character, though usual crowd-pleasers, “Amazing,” “Melt” and Widespread Panic fan favorite, “Hope in a Hopeless World” typically make an appearance to the delight of many.
Phil is on tour this fall, with a NYC show October 18th @ Joe's Pub and has recently been asked to perform at the historic Lincoln Center as part of the American Songbook Series early next year. See Philroy.com for more info.
