Episode Details

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Independent artist. Viral filmmaker. Social media strategist. Modern-day storyteller.

On this episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with CITIZEN The Artist, also known as Phineas Peters, alongside creative collaborator and partner Grace Bennett, for a fascinating conversation about what it really takes to build a music career independently in 2026.

From the viral success of “TIME” and the now-iconic reverse-edit trend flooding social media, to the psychology behind audience engagement, visual storytelling, filmmaking, music production, and life without a label, this conversation goes deep into the creative machine behind one of the internet’s fastest-growing independent artist brands.

Adam and CITIZEN talk about:

• Building a loyal audience organically

• Why “No label, just me” became a philosophy

• The intentional rejection of AI-generated content

• The strategy behind creating trends fans actually WANT to recreate

• Balancing music, filmmaking, editing, touring, and branding

• The emotional reality of visibility and internet fame

• Why storytelling matters more than ever in music

• The relationship dynamic behind the videos millions of people watch online

• Whether radio still matters in the streaming, digital, and new media era

There’s also a full-circle moment as Grace Bennett, once an Up+Adam intern, shares what it’s like becoming part of one of social media’s most recognizable creative duos.

This is Part One of a two-part conversation.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

• Follow CITIZEN The Artist on Instagram: @citizen_theartist

• Follow CITIZEN The Artist on TikTok: @citizen_theartist 

• Follow Grace Bennett on Instagram: @grace.norah.bennett

• Listen to CITIZEN The Artist on Spotify: CITIZEN The Artist Spotify

• Watch on YouTube: CITIZEN The Artist YouTube

• More links and music: CITIZEN The Artist Beacons Page

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*Timbre Event with Cal Poly EIM Studen