Veteran Chicago Songwriter Phil Circle's New Book, Trending Single, and Patreon.com
Chicago
songwriter Phil Circle began playing professionally in and around
Chicago at the age of 20. Now, at 52, he's here to tell you he's seen it
all and done it all, for good and bad, better or worse, richer and
poorer, and has lost no love for being an independent musician in what
he calls "The original music city."
"Whatever
happens to the big names happens to folks like me," says Phil, "you
just don't hear about it through the media when they get divorced or go
to treatment." But Phil Circle has done both. As one of few still
standing in an industry that can be rough on the best intentioned and
impossible for any but the most resilient, Phil now considers himself an
advocate for the DIY/Indie musician... "terms that weren't used when I
started," he points out.
Phil
Circle has preferred to pursue his career always on his own terms,
shunning the major record deal, playing more intimate venues, and
getting his music played on stations that push independent music.
With
eight albums and critical acclaim attached to most of them, Phil now has
a trending single entitled What I Mean. An adult contemporary ballad,
it speaks to finding hope in the darkest moments. Released in November
of 2017, it was listed by one German radio station as one of the best
singles of the year. As it continues to get picked up by new stations
every week, it's drawing new attention to Phil's older work, especially
his 2009 release Minutes To Circle, which the Illinois Entertainer
praised as proof that Phil is "one of our town's most unique voices."
Also
in 2017, Phil published his book The Outback Musician's Survival Guide:
One Guy's Story of Surviving as an Independent Musician. Says Phil,
"It's not so much a 'how-to' as a 'what happened.'" The first review
called it "a celebration of what it means to be human," as Phil traced
in it his more than 30 years in Chicago music; the ups and downs, the
joy and pain, and even some reflections on the craft and business.
52
years old, walking on a fake hip, survivor of two divorces, acute
pancreatitis, alcoholism and addiction, and a stabbing, Phil Circle
epitomizes what it means to survive. Now he also wants to point aspiring
young musicians and music entrepreneurs, or those who are fighting
jaded feelings about the industry, in a more positive direction of hope.
His latest enterprise is a page on Patreon.com designed to inspire
people to pledge any dollar amount on a monthly basis for Phil to build
on the work he does and inspire other independent musicians to keep at
it.
"I've
seen many of the people I came up with give up. They didn't need to.
Nobody needs to. Winning is a direct result of not giving up," says
Phil. His continuing dedication to Chicago's music scene and to music
education fuel his efforts at building something more.
A
dedicated veteran of Chicago's vibrant music scene, songwriter, author,
and entrepreneur Phil Circle stands quietly proud of being alive and
doing what he loves. Learn more...
Visit Phil's Patreon page at http://patreon.com/philcircle
Visit Phil's main page at http://philcirclemusic.com
Read a book review at https://beat.media/a-guide-to-the-outback-musician-s-survival-guide
Upcoming Phil Circle Chicago shows include May 5th at Uncommon Ground Edgewater and May 10th at Wishbone North.
Email philcirclemusic@gmail.com or call Phil directly at 773-936-4953
For more information or to schedule an interview, appearance, or feature.
Phil Circle
@philcircle on all social media
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