When Phoebe Bridgers walked on set in Soho, New York City, this past February, she settled straight into the hot seat and exclaimed: “Oh my God, how honest are we allowed to be?” One hundred percent honest, and then some please. “Pee after sex is my favorite Mom advice by far!” she said laughing, and then everyone on set was cracking up too, silently, so as not to ruin the take.

If you’re familiar with Phoebe Bridgers’ Twitter or Instagram, you’ll know this comment to be thoroughly Phoebe: she’s outspoken and plain-speaking, both dryly humorous and laugh out loud funny. Of course in recent weeks, there hasn’t been much to laugh about and Phoebe has been using her voice to amplify the stories and causes important to her—whether that’s combatting police brutality or the Black Lives Matter movement, not to mention the rights of the black trans community, black sex workers, and more.

The LA-based 25-year-old is no stranger to speaking out, her honesty and observances can be visceral, which then feeds into the music—be it her solo work, or as part of boygenius (with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker), or in her partnership with Conor Oberst as Better Oblivious Community Center. Fittingly, her new record, Punisher (out this Friday June 19th) is a delicate balance of strength and vulnerability; lush and spare instrumentation. It’s a sonic balm and a stunning follow up to her 2018 debut Stranger in the Alps.

But let’s rewind to her shoot day where Phoebe was full of helpful advice, including a nugget about the importance of honesty in art, which she read in an interview with her almost-namesake Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Still, the piece of advice that’s served her most frequently comes from Phoebe’s childhood pal and former bandmate Haley Dahl of Sloppy Jane.

Watch Phoebe’s Best Advice—which premiered on Nylon this morning—above and binge the rest of the series—featuring everyone from Lizzo to Tierra Whack, Quincy Jones, The Killers, Kathleen Hanna, Karen O, and many more—right here.

Phoebe was keen to pose with this vacuum cleaner and we support this decision. Photo by Rebecca Miller