Phia

Rolling Stone Magazine "...have great expectations for [Phia's] album". - Rolling Stone

Sophia Exiner is one of the most underrated of Australia's musical exports. Under her stage name Phia, Exiner creates lush, hypnotic pop music with beatboxing, a loop-pedal, a kalimba and silky smooth vocals reminiscent of Regina Spektor.

Her latest single "Do You Ever?" is a perfect representation of her skills: a bouncy, explosive song about teenage love and "kissing in-between class," laden with the sorts of jerky beats and lush vocals that are bound to make it a hit.

Having already supported the likes of Yukon Blonde, Lights and Husky and with an album due out early next year, Phia is certainly on the rise. She'll be touring Germany throughout October in support of "Do You Ever?" -- don't miss out. - Indie Shuffle

As we all know first impressions are important in all kinds of situations — when it comes to music the same formula remains. So what does the Australian-born Berlin-based singer/songwriter, Phia, do with hers? Well, simple, she drops one very intriguing song that is either going to have people loving it or absolutely hating it. So as first impressions go, that’s up to you, but for us, we are definitely intrigued here…

Probably the most appealing thing Phia does on “Do You Ever?” is the way she keeps her cadence & pitch in a constant state of flux. Moving from quirky falsettos, deeper tones and back to her normal singing voice, it’s clear that keeping her music in the normal realm of what pop music is supposed to sound like, just isn’t in the cards for Phia. It’s for this simple reason why we think “Do You Ever?” will definitely catch on with listeners.

Lookout for Phia’s debut album dropping in 2014. For now get familiar with her below and make sure you give this song more than one listen. - Hilly Dilly

Phia (Sophia Exiner) is clearly a gifted youngster, with varied songs and a voice like Kate Miller-Heidke at rest rather than full operatic swoop. With its suddenly blaring horns and martial beat, Indecision is firmly declarative for a song about not being able to make up your mind while You Played A Game On Me is toy-instrument bedroom pop of the wistful variety, Jennifer a country song and Lost At Sea a light downpour of piano, accordion and acoustic guitar. Meanwhile, Chemistry is a love song about how even if love is just an interaction between pheromones and brain chemicals it’s still pretty great. The Garden Of Youth EP is also pretty great. - Rave Magazine

It’s Wednesday, hump day, and if you’re anything like me you’re probably dragging your feet anticipating the weekend which right now feels too far away. Well allow me to brighten your mood a bit by introducing you to Phia.


This cheery Melbourne musician reminds me of a cross between Lisa Mitchell and Regina Spektor. She writes songs that are sweet and quirky and guaranteed to put a smile on your face, no matter how badly the week is treating you.

Phia’s preparing to unleash her EP Garden of Youth later this month, but she’s giving online fans a sneak peek. I particularly love the first single “Indecision,” but all the songs are so charming that it’s hard to choose.

If you’ve fallen for Phia like I have, and you’re lucky enough to live in her hometown, you can catch her spreading her positivity at the EP launch at Grace Darling on May 13.
- Sounds of Oz

"It's always exciting when you hear a great new talent. Indecision, the opening cut on Phia's debut EP, Garden Of Youth, grabs you immediately. A caller to Neil Rogers' The Australian Mood on RRR suggested it sounded like "a more indie and Australian version of Lily Allen." Jeff Jenkins
- Living In The Land Of Oz

Imagine Eddy Current’s ‘Which Way To Go’ performed by Sally Seltmann and you’ve got ‘Indecision’, a sprightly pop number from Garden Of Youth, the debut EP from Melbourne musician Phia (aka Sophia Exiner). Exiner, a classically-trained jazz pianist, describes herself as “an analytical sort of girl”, while kitchen utensils, saucepans and triangles clatter and crash around her. - MESS + NOISE