Phia is the Australian singer, songwriter and producer Sophia Exiner, based in Berlin and originally from Melbourne. She studies classical and improvised piano at university before moving to Berlin, where she develops a solo project built around voice, kalimba and loop pedal.

Background and style

In Berlin, Phia performs in small venues and builds a reputation for anonymous, self-contained live shows. Her music is described as pop with a hypnotic, joyful and danceable feel, drawing on indie pop and electronic looping. She often carries her African kalimba in her bicycle basket while moving around the city.

Breakthrough and recordings

Her track “Do You Ever?” appears on SoundCloud in late 2013 and quickly attracts more than 30,000 plays. The song also features on MTV’s Faking It and receives regular play on Berlin radio. Around the same period, she draws attention from Indie Shuffle and Rolling Stone Germany, and works with producer Josh Teicher on an album.

Performances and recognition

Phia appears on Australian and German television, including Spicks and Specks and TV Noir. She also tours and plays festivals while developing her recordings, and is noted as an Australian act gaining attention in Berlin.