phem

Dark and vulnerable singer/producer Phem incorporated a fluid exploration of genres and moods when crafting her solo sounds. Elements of rap, moody pop, goth-tinged indie, and more abrasive electronics all informed Phem’s sonic perspectives, and she collaborated with artists like G-Eazy and gnash in addition to work on her own releases like the 2019 EP Vacumhead.
Phem was born Liv Marsico and grew up studying jazz drumming, which served as an entry for her life in music. For the majority of her late teens and early twenties, Marsico worked as a hired-gun drummer, playing with acts like Cold War Kids and Deap Valley, as well as working on music with bands of her own. In particular, Marsico formed a group called Liphemra in 2013 as an outlet for her own eclectic compositions, which leaned more toward hip-hop and experimentation. Mentorship from groundbreaking beatmaker Flying Lotus helped Marsico’s transition from Liphemra to Phem, the solo songwriting project she began in 2016. In her earliest days, Phem collaborated with rapper G-Eazy on the song “Just Friends” and “Judge Me,” a single she penned with indie electronic musician Robokid. Her first EP release was the three-song Can’t Kill Me in 2018. Lyrical themes in Phem’s music addressed her fluid sexuality and feelings of alienation and outsider status. The next year, she had a featured appearance on Gabriel Black’s “Dead Yet” single and issued her second EP, Vacumhead. The five-song release featured boundary-pushing rapper Lil Tracy on the song “Grim Reaper.” ~ Fred Thomas