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Kallan Phillips

musician · diplomat · writer
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Australian singer-songwriter and diplomat. Born in Geraldton, Western Australia.

where Marshall Islands listening ... watching ... reading ...
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This site is intentionally simple. The work is elsewhere.

Discography
2023
Spat (+5) — revisiting the debut, five years on
2022
Your Life, Your Future? — instrumental beat tape
2020
19/20 — four tracks, prog soul from Perth
2019
Undertow · Mirror's Broken — singles
2018
Spat — the debut. social anxiety, Tolstoy, Evangelion
River — single
2017
I Wanna Go
2014
Never Knew You — the first recording
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All music produced, performed, and mixed by Kallan Phillips unless noted. Available on all streaming platforms.

Writing
2024
A New Life in RMI, Diplomacy and Self Doubt — on alone time, clock watching, and starting over in the Marshall Islands
2023
Liner notes: Spat (+5) — on revisiting your own work, existentialism, and the church
2020
Three Things I've Learnt About My Addiction to Crushes
Home is Where the ??? is — on finishing a graduate program and being stuck in Canberra
2019
The Day My Brother Was Meant to Die — on my brother's near-fatal brain haemorrhage at eighteen
Fatigue, Friendship and Full-Time Work — five moves in one year
A Tale of Two Weddings
The Seven Habits of Somewhat Homesick People
Thoughts on Leaving // January 2019 — on leaving Perth for Canberra
2018
Skin Deep Soul: An Off-the-Cuff Response — on race, identity, and an encounter with Cornel West
2016
An Oral History of Lewis Taylor's Debut Album — on the making of an underrated classic
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Career
2024 —
Second Secretary
Australian Embassy, Republic of the Marshall Islands · DFAT
Development program, public diplomacy, climate policy. Acted as chargé d'affaires.
2021 — 2023
Policy Officer, Pacific Security Engagement
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade · Canberra
Pacific security policy, bilateral negotiations, cabinet submissions, intelligence.
2021
Acting Assistant Director, Atrocity Crimes / Hate Speech
Department of Home Affairs · Canberra
Security assessments, Five Eyes collaboration, staff management.
2020 — 2021
Senior Analyst
Department of Home Affairs · Canberra
Atrocity crimes and hate speech screening.
2020
Analyst, COVID-19 All Source Fusion Cell
Department of Home Affairs · Canberra
2018
MA International Relations
University of Western Australia
2015
BA Security, Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism · BA History
Murdoch University
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About

Kallan Phillips is an Australian musician, writer, and policy professional working at the intersection of culture and international affairs.

He grew up in Geraldton, Western Australia, singing in church and learning guitar by osmosis from his father and Eric Clapton records. After quitting both piano and singing as a teenager, he picked up guitar overnight, joined a band, and eventually found his way back to vocals when a church leader volunteered him to sing lead one Sunday morning.

Since then he has released multiple records of what he calls "prog soul" — bedroom-produced music that draws on funk, neo-soul, jazz, and the existentialist tradition. His work references Stevie Wonder and D'Angelo alongside Kierkegaard and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Professionally, he works in foreign affairs and is currently based at the Australian Embassy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Kallan has experience in international development, public diplomacy and broader policy development.

Contact
music
bandcamp · spotify · apple music
social
instagram
professional
linkedin