Heralded for her “distinctively Aussie, hyperpop cross lad rap style” (Unearthed), Sidney’s staunch style set the underground ablaze on her debut in 2022. Tracing inspiration from Zyzz to Effy Stonem and Minecraft, Phillips was quickly touted as a welcome shapeshifter and innovator in the scene. Her melancholic gutter rap and distinct turn of phrase – “I’m a trans adlay” – has won over fans in Mallrat to Ninajirachi, with the firm backing of grassroots tastemakers and triple j alike, landing Feature Artist and Bars Of Steel. Member of the Stealthyn00b collective, she remains loyal to the community she wears on her polo, feeding them with a persistent stream of rapidfire mixtapes. Her influence is already referential – Sidney Phillips is a new star of the Australian rap underground.

Raised in the sticks north of Brisbane in Morayfield, now based between Gubbi Gubbi and Wurundjeri Land in Melbourne, she is a true child of the internet. Grinding her own twist on pluggnb with cloud rap and digicore – “trying to put a label on it is futile” (Junkee) – her sold out shows are fiercely packed out with young fans reaching spiritual epiphanies and shouting lyrics back with big grins. Hot off a boot-raising Golden Plains Festival debut, she has previously performed across RISING, Vivid Sydney, Soft Centre, co-headline toured with Shady Nasty and supported Allday.