Diandra Interviews Phebe Starr: Ice Tea Liberace

Readying to release Ice Tea Liberace, Phebe Starr answered a few Q’s on what this EP taught her about herself and her “animal” side. While the title may not have a “meaning,” for Phebe Star, there is meaning in having no specific thought: just pure intuition. Moving to LA, her intuition has led to a new creative process and potential, new album.

Diandra: When and where did you get the title inspiration for Ice Tea Liberace?

Phebe: Ice Tea Liberace is just a saying I made up to express the sign of the times I think I’m living in. My brain just came up with it and so I went with it. I trust instinct more than rational thought. 

Diandra: Describe a moment when you learned to be yourself is more fun?

Phebe: Eating ice cream for breakfast is fun or going to a rodeo and saying yeehaw. 
Playing in a soccer team and being hung over for every game.
Wearing pyjamas outside.
Being naked in a hot spring over looking a mountain. 

(Me: Agreed)

Diandra: How has this EP taught you who you are as a person, and what specific qualities do you feel you have seen within yourself in creating it?

Phebe: Hmmm who I am as a person? Hmmmmm I’m not sure. I’m still discovering who I am as an animal; humans are so interesting and unknown to me. Qualities? All of them. The happy, sad, brilliant, frustrating, annoying, wonderful, excited. I’m capable of feeling everything and I desire to feel everything and express every part of those qualities. 

Phebe Starr Touch XXX Offical Video

Diandra: You, often, speak against social labels. What is one label that you feel most annoyed by that is bound to you or how you are “identified”?

Phebe: My housemate told me I’m a green tree frog the other day. At first I was very angry, as I didn’t want to be labeled as that animal. Then I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to turn this amphibian stereotype into a positive’, and I did some research and it turns out frogs are pretty darn amazing. 

(Me: Look up the coqui!)

Diandra: You embrace the loss of innocence and the gain of independence. Do you feel in losing your “innocence,” in a way, you gain a path to freedom?

Phebe: To me, loss of innocence and the loss of idealism are paralleled. I’m still like a kid and I don’t think I’ll ever grow up but I’ve definitely grown in my ability to accept. Freedom is something I think can be taken away at any point so I live as free as possible so others may value it too. 

Diandra: You have said that “heartbreaks” are adult content that no one warns you about. What did heartbreak teach you about “adulthood”?

Phebe: Things can fucking suck and you can’t really control your own narrative. I often say I have nothing to prove and everything to document. I guess losing is just part of the human experience that I’m learning about whilst I’m here on earth. 

Diandra; Moving from Australia to LA, what were your first weeks like? How has the move changed your creative process?
Phebe: I came over here on a writing camp and just stayed. L.A is the bees knees and I’ve had a great time so far. It’s changed my creative process because there is sooo much to do with so many people. I don’t really question anything anymore. 

Phebe Starr – Bad News

Diandra: How do you feel this EP has been a step further as an artist and adult growing up? Did it give you ideas for an upcoming album?
Phebe: My main motivation was just to make it and put it out there. I like the idea of my imperfection being on display. I hope I look back on this music in the same way as I do a photo from high school .and I hope I laugh and say something like ‘Those were the days, we were crazy’. Yes, I’ve nearly finished the album and the next one after that!


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