A boundary-breaking artist with a lengthy career, Phew has explored rock, electronic, and avant-garde sounds on her own terms since the 1970s. After leaving the pioneering Japanese punk band Aunt Sally, she worked with other innovative artists to express the different sides of her artistry. For her 1980 solo debut single, she teamed with Ryuichi Sakamoto; on 1981's Phew and 1992's Our Likeness, she worked with members of Can, proving her formidable vocals and experimental sensibilities could match that band's legacy of challenging their audience. Following 1995's sultry Himitsu No Knife, collaborations kept her busy well into the 2000s. When she returned to her solo career in the 2010s, Phew focused on experimental soundscapes woven around her distinctive vocals on uncompromising releases like 2015's A New World and 2017's Light Sleep. By the time of 2021's mesmerizing New Decade, Phew finally received the international acclaim she deserved.