Singer, songwriter and producer Latifah Phillips opens her heart and soul o… Read Full Bio ↴Singer, songwriter and producer Latifah Phillips opens her heart and soul on Moda Spira, an album marked by an uncommon emotional honesty and melodies brimming with tenderness. Her intimate vocals are complimented by music that wraps you in its comforting warmth and draws you into the embrace of the heart’s deep core. “In Latin, moda spira means the continual act of breathing,” Phillips says. “I began writing to explore what intimacy means, in all its beautiful and maddening aspects. There are times in relationships that are so intense, you find yourself saying, ‘Just keep breathing!’ Like loving, breathing is something you have to do everyday to feel alive. Moda Spira felt like the perfect title for this project.”
The songs on Moda Spira evolved during a period of intense emotional turmoil that led Phillips to a greater understanding of her personal and musical journey. “Loving someone has deep challenges, because we’re all a mess, but it’s a worthy path. The songs flowed out of a scary, hard, complicated, wonderful, growing and loving season. I’d capture ideas on a voice memo, or record melodies walking down the street, whenever I had a moment of inspiration. After two years, I had a full record.”
As the music evolved, Phillips began collaborating with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Brooke Hamlin (Indigo Girls, Lucy Wainwright). Together, they crafted arrangements and finished writing songs that embraced ‘90s R&B, ‘80s pop and cinematic indie rock. They stayed open to finding new sounds that moved them. “We discovered a lot of new sounds and techniques,” Phillips says. “Some were terrible; some were amazing,” she laughs. “We kept the amazing stuff.”
The songs on Moda Spira follow a relationship as it moves through infatuation, passion, familiarity and tribulation, finally emerging triumphant, infused with a renewed belief and hope in the growing process of learning to love yourself and others. “She Whispers” opens the album with warm, wistful piano tones and the gentle heartbeat of a kick drum, suggesting the calm before the storm. Jordan’s aggressive guitar and a funky percussion loop back a vocal full of hopeful melancholy as Phillips embraces the light slowly emerging from the darkness. “Love is the light no shadow can touch,” Phillips says. “It’s the faith that the darkness can not consume you.”
“In the Fight” describes the dawning realization that intimacy, despite it joys, is never an easy path. “Opening yourself exposes everything, good and bad,” Phillips says. “You have to decide how to reveal the things that often go unsaid.” This tension is expressed by a swirling, multi-tracked vocal, chiming piano and cinematic washes of synthesizer. A thumping, hypnotic kick drum loop gets more and more funky as Phillips takes the song home with a fervid vocal. Ominous keyboards support Phillips on “Playback,” the darkest song on the album. “When you’re in conflict, you have to be careful about the words you say,” Phillips says. “You can apologize, but can’t unsay what has been said.” The song grows chaotic and intense as it progresses, mimicking the frustration of a quarrel, with waves of competing vocals and drum loops. The smooth groove of “Bet on Me” pays tribute to Sade and other R&B icons, with muted guitar, subtle bass and bubbly toms. “I wanted to get a sonic sensibility that referenced some of my favorite artists,” Phillips says. “I especially love Jordan’s bluesy, B.B. King style guitar solo on the coda.”
Near the end of the album, Phillip’s hushed piano drifts into “Stillness,” a classically flavored instrumental that provides a moment to reflect and absorb the emotions she’s been stirring up. The slowly unfolding, waltz-like sonata has a soothing effect, suggesting the effortless slide into peaceful, dreamless sleep.
“Shaking the Walls” is pure pop, the album’s most jubilant track. Its dreamy verses build to a soaring bridge, marked by multi-tracked, call and response vocals, accented by live tom toms that suggest the crumbling of the walls that keep lovers from making genuine connections. Phillips shows her gospel roots on “The Hard Way.” Her hushed vocal, and sustained notes from her Juno Arp, cast a hypnotic spell, as she slips into a soft moan to express feelings beyond words. The track concludes with her multi-tracked vocals, mimicking the ecstasy of a Sunday morning choir, promising unconditional support, even in life’s darkest moments. “We’d like to believe we don’t have to learn life’s lessons the hard way,” Phillips says, “but nobody’s perfect. We all learn the hard way.”
Phillips has a long resume that includes time as a solo artist and work with Page CXVI, a band that reinterprets traditional hymns, the indie rock band Autumn Film and Sola-Mi, an experimental trio. She has produced albums for indie artists, including A Boy & His Kite, helping them place “Cover Your Tracks” on the soundtrack for Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part II. Her songs have been featured on One Tree Hill, The Gates, Lifetime Films and the film The House at the End of the Street. She’s also composed incidental music for MTV and E! Moda Spira is her return to solo performing. She plans to support the album with selected dates, both alone and with multi-media pop up shows, featuring video, dancers, live painting and other surprises.
“Moda Spira is my first solo venture in ten years,” Phillips says. “The songs are all dear to me, so I gave myself permission to be vulnerable. If you’re feeling down and lost, this record will let you know that you’re not alone and help you to keep moving forward.”
The songs on Moda Spira evolved during a period of intense emotional turmoil that led Phillips to a greater understanding of her personal and musical journey. “Loving someone has deep challenges, because we’re all a mess, but it’s a worthy path. The songs flowed out of a scary, hard, complicated, wonderful, growing and loving season. I’d capture ideas on a voice memo, or record melodies walking down the street, whenever I had a moment of inspiration. After two years, I had a full record.”
As the music evolved, Phillips began collaborating with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Brooke Hamlin (Indigo Girls, Lucy Wainwright). Together, they crafted arrangements and finished writing songs that embraced ‘90s R&B, ‘80s pop and cinematic indie rock. They stayed open to finding new sounds that moved them. “We discovered a lot of new sounds and techniques,” Phillips says. “Some were terrible; some were amazing,” she laughs. “We kept the amazing stuff.”
The songs on Moda Spira follow a relationship as it moves through infatuation, passion, familiarity and tribulation, finally emerging triumphant, infused with a renewed belief and hope in the growing process of learning to love yourself and others. “She Whispers” opens the album with warm, wistful piano tones and the gentle heartbeat of a kick drum, suggesting the calm before the storm. Jordan’s aggressive guitar and a funky percussion loop back a vocal full of hopeful melancholy as Phillips embraces the light slowly emerging from the darkness. “Love is the light no shadow can touch,” Phillips says. “It’s the faith that the darkness can not consume you.”
“In the Fight” describes the dawning realization that intimacy, despite it joys, is never an easy path. “Opening yourself exposes everything, good and bad,” Phillips says. “You have to decide how to reveal the things that often go unsaid.” This tension is expressed by a swirling, multi-tracked vocal, chiming piano and cinematic washes of synthesizer. A thumping, hypnotic kick drum loop gets more and more funky as Phillips takes the song home with a fervid vocal. Ominous keyboards support Phillips on “Playback,” the darkest song on the album. “When you’re in conflict, you have to be careful about the words you say,” Phillips says. “You can apologize, but can’t unsay what has been said.” The song grows chaotic and intense as it progresses, mimicking the frustration of a quarrel, with waves of competing vocals and drum loops. The smooth groove of “Bet on Me” pays tribute to Sade and other R&B icons, with muted guitar, subtle bass and bubbly toms. “I wanted to get a sonic sensibility that referenced some of my favorite artists,” Phillips says. “I especially love Jordan’s bluesy, B.B. King style guitar solo on the coda.”
Near the end of the album, Phillip’s hushed piano drifts into “Stillness,” a classically flavored instrumental that provides a moment to reflect and absorb the emotions she’s been stirring up. The slowly unfolding, waltz-like sonata has a soothing effect, suggesting the effortless slide into peaceful, dreamless sleep.
“Shaking the Walls” is pure pop, the album’s most jubilant track. Its dreamy verses build to a soaring bridge, marked by multi-tracked, call and response vocals, accented by live tom toms that suggest the crumbling of the walls that keep lovers from making genuine connections. Phillips shows her gospel roots on “The Hard Way.” Her hushed vocal, and sustained notes from her Juno Arp, cast a hypnotic spell, as she slips into a soft moan to express feelings beyond words. The track concludes with her multi-tracked vocals, mimicking the ecstasy of a Sunday morning choir, promising unconditional support, even in life’s darkest moments. “We’d like to believe we don’t have to learn life’s lessons the hard way,” Phillips says, “but nobody’s perfect. We all learn the hard way.”
Phillips has a long resume that includes time as a solo artist and work with Page CXVI, a band that reinterprets traditional hymns, the indie rock band Autumn Film and Sola-Mi, an experimental trio. She has produced albums for indie artists, including A Boy & His Kite, helping them place “Cover Your Tracks” on the soundtrack for Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part II. Her songs have been featured on One Tree Hill, The Gates, Lifetime Films and the film The House at the End of the Street. She’s also composed incidental music for MTV and E! Moda Spira is her return to solo performing. She plans to support the album with selected dates, both alone and with multi-media pop up shows, featuring video, dancers, live painting and other surprises.
“Moda Spira is my first solo venture in ten years,” Phillips says. “The songs are all dear to me, so I gave myself permission to be vulnerable. If you’re feeling down and lost, this record will let you know that you’re not alone and help you to keep moving forward.”
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Forgive
Moda Spira Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Forgive' by these artists:
4.3 When I was underneath the bottom, I had no problems When…
Alex G Forgive yesterday, ooh I choose today, uh-huh, uh-huh No sto…
AMI-LA 真夜中の電話を 見つめてたあの頃 今でも 不意に想い出す日がある 自分を赦すこと 昔から苦手だった 気づいたらこんな遠く…
Andreas Vollenweider Let me be before the world What I am when I'm…
Andreas Vollenweider (Holiday) Let me be before the world What I am when I'm…
bbrainz forgive…
Bill Miller Seven blue stones in the desert sand A shiny gun in…
Billy & Sarah Gaines Lord, forgive me for my sins please Lord, forgive me for…
Brandon-Richard You lay upon the floor Waiting for it to end I bang…
Bryann Trejo See, in my city man, these sirens playing symphony So much…
Bubba itb Girl you gorgeous You leave me in pieces In the end There's …
Carly Simon Let me be before the world What I am when I'm…
Carly Simon (Holiday) Let me be before the world What I am when I'm…
Chike Though they broke your heart so many times oh You can't…
Covenant NZ Forgive Total lack of forgiveness Eats away the soul It will…
D. Von Score Forgive me all I know how to do is be…
David Vaters It's sometimes scary for you just to try something new You'v…
Dead Horse Dear God Accept my apology I never believed in you I only…
Dogstar Sometimes we fly away too soon Sometimes we live our lives…
Dogstar ( Keanu Reeves ) Sometimes we fly away too soon Sometimes we live our lives…
Downfall A.D Forgive me all I know how to do is be…
Feeder Shoot holes in me, then you watch me as I…
French Lead by an example As we come into this world We were…
Gnash I know you're mad when you can't even look at…
Harem Scarem Ya now I know I don't belong here in a while I'll be…
ICELANDIA Forgive me, I'm sentimental, I've got feeling Inside me, Can…
Ida You read about love in a book somewhere Then you read…
J.C. Olivier Are you ready to forgive me Baby are you listening I'm an…
jj I've got a lesson to learn About some bridges I've burned I…
K.Shinny How can you forget me I hope you find it in…
Kayleth I wait, near the crater rim And I wait, an eruption…
KJ Thomas Keep it a hundred for me don't ever change Be my…
Laurène & Louis J’ai pas envie, quand tu t’enfuis De fermer les yeux sans…
Lavender Diamond Forgive, you must forgive all To live and love Forgive, yo…
Legacy Five For sin that made my Savior bleed I hang my head…
LIEU (Ok) (One-shot, click, click, click, yeah, yeah, yeah!) Pu…
lieu - Topic Okay One shot, click click click, reload, reload Reload Put…
Lionel Peterson HMD050NOTES: This is only the audio, it's not the video. Th…
lost.empathy More than I can take Much more than I could ever…
M-Lito Body on body i'm sorry that I must let you…
Meathook Seed You radiate cold shafts of broken glass, Through my last bi…
Mickey Gilley Lonely nights when I go to bed I think of all…
Nik Day Someone did you wrong Someone [?] Someone tried to make it w…
on a sun Sinking in the depths of her warm caress But the dagger…
Porches I love you at top of the tree I lay down…
Porches (Feat.Greta Kline) I love you at top of the tree I lay down to…
Pr0files It's a miracle what you put me through Said you wanna…
Proof Barely raised by my dysfunctional fam Here I stand as a…
Rangleklods She’s counting on you To do what it takes As long as…
Rebecca Lynn Howard I always said that that'd be it That I wouldn't stick…
RJ Helton This pain goes on Deep inside my heart Changing all that I…
Roosevelt It's way too late to forgive and forget Keep wasting all…
Sacrecy Am I the one to tell the wrong from the right,…
Shadow Huntaz & Kareem When I was 9 niggas started hated on me I was…
Sharks in your Mouth I′m trapped in my own lies And I'm trying to do…
shela Kizuna nara kitsume ni musunda Ai ga hodokenu you ni Dou tte…
Sidewalks and Skeletons There's the figure so ornate Hiding with a sunken smile…
Smith & Thell feat. Swedish Jam Factory I, I've been keeping secrets from you dear There's things of…
Subliminal Merger Now everything can be changed with just one sentence. …
Sun Sun Sinking in the depths of her warm caress But the dagger…
The Happy Boys I always said that that'd be it That I wouldn't stick…
The Kooks Don't say that I never moved you Just because I saw…
The Normals CHORUS(*): Father forgive me, I do know what I've done Fathe…
The Red Clay Strays I didn't ask for this pain I got Maybe I deserved…
Time and Temperature Yo to keep it real like We are in a situation…
To The Max All your imperfections Laid out like litter on my mind Your …
Total Touch Anybody there that I can talk to? Anybody that can talk…
Trevor Hall The sun coming up on the earth Open up strong and…
Trevor Hall feat. Luka Lesson mmh, yeahmm sun coming up on the earth, open up strong and…
Vanguard A buried cradle, six feet under. A wedding dress, torn asund…
Vela-X Yeah yeah yeah Yeah I'm sorry that I couldn't make it…
Vitalij Kuprij Father, I'm going through some heavy things It seems like t…
Voicians I am forgiving you you did wrong but I did too I am…
Элэм Мне так хочется верить в то, Что ты прочтёшь эти бредни. В…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Moda Spira:
Bang It went off like bang Oh, everything it changed In that mome…
Bet on Me Baby you just gotta bet, on me Maybe you should take…
Four Letter Word I′m practicing loneliness. I'm practicing grief. And I don′t…
In the Fight In the fight, when I've lost my might To keep calm…
Playback Hold your wicked tongue Don't let it run You will live to…
Shaking the Walls I hear your echo in the wind Carrying my sails across…
She Whispers When the day is swallowed And your chest is hallow Your defe…
Terrible Love It's a terrible love and I'm walking with spiders It's a…
The Hard Way Everybody learns the hard way, baby There's no easy way, no…
Valley Every mirror will haunt you. ‘Cause there you’ll see her, he…
We Belong I don't understand how it all goes How to make sense…
We Hold On You grabbed your keys, ran out the door You couldn't take…
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