Singer-songwriter Phil Higgins releases her long-awaited second EP, Blue + Green. A genre-blending journey through indie-pop, folky introspection, and soft indie-rock, Blue + Green is a heartfelt collection of songs born between continents and crafted across years of personal transformation. I spoke with her in early July 2025, on the day of her graduation, having completed a her Music degree in Rotterdam. Written over the past four years while completing her Bachelor of Pop Music (Songwriting) at Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam, Blue + Green represents a major artistic step forward for the South African-born musician. Where her debut EP Beautiful Confusion (2020) introduced her voice, Blue + Green expands on it — layered with live band arrangements, 90s indie textures, and a poetic vulnerability that runs deep. “These five songs are love letters,” says Phil. “To friends, to nature, to strangers, and to the end of the world. They’re shaped by my time away from home, adjusting to the grey skies of Rotterdam, missing my community, but also feeling creatively lit up by new surroundings.” Each song reflects a different facet of Phil’s inner and outer world — from letting go (Yours Truly, Julie), to grappling with burnout (Empty Cup), to the longing for connection (Keep You Here), and the collective beauty of existence in the face of apocalypse (Fall from the Sky). Recorded between the Netherlands and South Africa, Blue + Green is a true collaboration across borders. Co-produced by Silas Houtman in Rotterdam and longtime collaborator Tjaart van der Walt in Johannesburg (who also handled mixing and mastering), the EP features a talented band of international musicians — including Nina van Beelen (keys), Ákos Németh (bass), Sofoklis Gkekas (drums), and Bart Versteeg (electric guitar) — all of whom Phil met during her studies. The title Blue + Green is both literal and symbolic — referencing earth, sky, and plant life, as well as the emotional duality Phil explores throughout the project: “Blue for the sadness and heaviness. Green for the curiosity and growth. Together they hold the colours of the planet, and how I feel in it.” With Blue + Green, Phil Higgins invites listeners into her evolving world — one rooted in nature, community, feeling deeply, and dreaming boldly.
