ARTIST BIO

Gene Phoa is an Adelaide-born, globally-bred indie pop rock artist known for his luminous voice, truthful storytelling and anthemic melodies.

Blending confessional lyrics with dreamy guitars, indie edge, and era-spanning textures, Gene crafts songs that reflect the seasons of love, loss and self-discovery. Punchy yet profound, raw yet relatable, and fresh yet familiar, his music invites listeners to reflect on their own journey and soundtrack their own story.

Gene’s creative journey began in childhood, but it took a detour through the world of marketing and media. After years working as a copywriter, he left his career behind to backpack through India — where a chance open mic night reawakened his love of music. That spark led him to start over again from scratch: from taking singing lessons to studying sound production to rising up the local gig circuit.

Since then, Gene has:

  • Won the lyrics award at the SCALA Festival of Original Music (2019)

  • Premiered his acoustic rom-com 500 Nights of Winter at the Adelaide Fringe (2021)

  • Performed at major events such as the OzAsia Festival and Bastille Festival

He now runs PHOA Studios — his creative home for music production, artist coaching, and creative workshops — and is developing his debut album: a 12-track indie pop rock journey through the seasons of young love, which will mark a new chapter of intentional, emotional and cinematic sound.

 

SHORT PRESS BIO

Gene Phoa is an indie pop rock artist, producer and storyteller based in Adelaide. Known for his luminous voice, truthful storytelling and anthemic melodies, Gene blends confessional lyrics with dreamy guitars and era-spanning textures. His music explores the seasons of love, loss and self-discovery — raw yet relatable, punchy yet profound. A former marketer turned musician, he’s performed at the OzAsia Festival, Bastille Festival and the Adelaide Fringe. Gene is currently working on his debut EP and album.

 

SPEAKER BIO

Gene Phoa is an indie pop rock artist, producer and speaker who shares stories at the intersection of music, creativity and self-expression. From his early days in marketing to backpacking through India and rediscovering his voice, Gene now speaks at events, festivals and organisations about finding purpose through creativity. His talks combine live music, honest storytelling and insights into building an authentic life and artistic career. Gene has performed and presented at the Adelaide Convention Centre, Playford Civic Centre, and Nexus Arts.

 
 

MEDIA

A passion for music that shines right through his words, his facial expressions and his ability to bounce between different genres.
– WeekendNotes

A strong future ahead as a music writer with gentle chord structures and melodies that help his lyrics shine.
– That Entertainment Podcast

His guitar technique is something special.
– The Advertiser

 
 
 

Let’s Create Something That Connects

Whether you're interested in booking a live performance, organising a creative collaboration, arranging a talk, or getting in touch for media and press — we'd love to hear from you.