Now playing on Otherppl, a conversation with Brad Phillips. His new story collection, Essays and Fictions, is available from Tyrant Books.

The late Anthony Bourdain calls it: “Searingly honest, brilliant and disturbing. [Phillips] peels back the skin and bone and stares right into the human soul.”

Born in 1974, Phillips is also an accomplished visual artist  known for dark work that engages with themes of eroticism, depression, and mortality. His paintings display stylistic breadth, from text-based to photorealist, referring in many cases directly to his daily life. He lives in Toronto.

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Please explain what just happened.

Alanis Morissette came on the radio playing a hit from 1994, and then a very beautiful song came on.  It’s called “All I Want,” by Kodaline.  Pretty.

Please explain what just happened.

I just finished steeping my AMAZING red velvet cake tea.

What is your earliest memory?

My earliest memory is dressing up and acting out the stories that my mom would read to me.

If you weren’t an actress, what other profession would you choose?

I would produce film and TV.

Please explain what just happened?

I went to the mall and forgot to bring money, paper or plastic.  I was standing there with something I had used, and had no money to pay for it.  Had to drive all the way home.  Stupid!

What is your earliest memory?

Yesterday.  I have a terrible memory.

If you weren’t an actor, what other profession would you choose?

Lawyer, chef, astronomer, astronaut, singer, archaeologist…