Contact Phil Szarek

Frequently Asked

Q: What inspired your first single, You Can’t Stop Me Now?

Strangely, I never have a clear inspiration when I create a song. I just knew I wanted a track that reflects my journey in music. I sat down and started with the very first sound, just playing around until I found something I liked. That first sound became the foundation and inspiration for everything that followed in the track.

Q: Who are your biggest musical influences?

It might not be what you expect, and I am not sure I would call them direct influences, but I really respect artists like Daddy Yankee, Avenged Sevenfold, Ozuna, Sia, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and Tiësto. Not just for their music, but also for the impact they have made and what they have contributed to the music scene overall. I enjoy their work a lot, though I do not try to make tracks like theirs. My playlists are very diverse, and music feels different depending on the moment. It is more than just their music. It is their creativity and the careers they have built that really inspire me.

Every track I make goes like this. I start with a base I like, then tweak, delete, and redo parts. Sometimes I get stuck on little details and spend hours trying ideas, deleting, and starting over. Then—bam—I figure it out and everything just clicks. The final version usually sounds very different from the first since I didn’t have a clear idea at the start. I often end up with around ten versions, and picking one can be tricky. I guess my favorite part of making music is this process.

Q: What’s your favorite part of making music?

Q: Do you listen to your own music after it’s finished?

Yes, I do. I even listen to songs I made 10 years ago. Some melodies from back then I still really like and maybe one day I will rework them. It is fun to hear how my sound has changed and it is always a reminder of how far I have come.

Q: What’s one thing fans might be surprised to know about you?

I can’t dance at all. I can feel the music and picture the moves in my head but my body just won’t follow. Latinos seem born with that skill and I’m the total opposite. I really enjoy watching people dance though. Some people assume that because you make music you can move well, but that is definitely not me.

Here are a few questions fans often ask me