Phantogram (band)

Phantogram

Phantogram in 2010
Background information
Also known as Charlie Everywhere
Origin Greenwich, New York, United States
Genres
Years active 2007–present
Labels
Associated acts Big Boi
Website www.phantogram.com
Members
  • Sarah Barthel
  • Josh Carter

Phantogram (formerly Charlie Everywhere) is an American electronic rock duo from Greenwich, New York, formed in 2007 and consisting of Josh Carter (vocals, guitars) and Sarah Barthel (vocals, keyboards).[1][2] The band name was inspired by an optical illusion called a phantogram, in which two-dimensional images appear to be three-dimensional.[3]

They described their sound as "street beat, psych pop".[4] According to Josh Carter, their music has "lots of rhythms, swirling guitars, spacey keyboards, echoes, airy vocals".[5] Carter and Barthel were inspired by artists including: The Beatles, David Bowie, Cocteau Twins, J Dilla, The Flaming Lips, John Frusciante, Serge Gainsbourg, Madlib, Sonic Youth, Yes, Kevin Shields and Prince.[6][7][8]

They write and record in a remote barn in upstate New York called Harmony Lodge.[9] The band has released two studio albums (Eyelid Movies in 2009, Voices in 2014), four EPs (Phantogram and Running From the Cops in 2009, Nightlife in 2011, Phantogram in 2013) and eight singles.

History

Carter and Barthel have been friends since junior high school. In the summer of 2007, Barthel returned home dissatisfied with pursuing a visual arts degree at Champlain college and Carter returned home after a brief stint in New York City with Grand Habit, an experimental band formed with his older brother, John. The two friends reunited and worked on finishing some songwriting ideas Carter made earlier and then finally formed the band.[10][11]

Barthel and Carter were friends growing up, but didn't play music together until after college, when Carter played Barthel some of his beats and asked her to sing on them. They played some live shows, but decided to focus the bulk of their energies on making a record. Out of the blue, Erich Cannon from Portland's Spectre Entertainment contacted them after he heard songs on their MySpace page. Cannon gave them the impetus to finish the album, and just before Phantogram decided to self-release it, a few record labels contacted them, including Barsuk, who released Eyelid Movies in February. "We were going to write the record, finish it, and release it as a demo for upstate," explains Barthel. "Then our plan was to move down to New York [City] to do the whole networking and meeting people kind of stuff. And we kind of skipped that whole thing, just because of the internet."[12]

The duo was originally called Charlie Everywhere when performing around the Saratoga Springs area on the local label Sub-Bombin Records.[10] Upon signing with BBE on 26 January 2009, they changed their name to Phantogram.[13][14]

Their self-titled debut EP was released on 12 May 2009,[15] followed in the same year by another EP, Running From the Cops. They signed with Barsuk Records in October 2009.[16] Phantogram released their debut album Eyelid Movies in September 2009 on BBE (Europe) and February 2010 on Barsuk Records (USA). The album received generally favorable reviews.[17]

From this album, they issued the singles "Mouthful of Diamonds", "When I'm Small" and "As Far As I Can See". "When I'm Small" was featured in the opening episode of MTV's adaption of Skins. It was also used in the trailer of the 2013 film Syrup, Canon's advertisement for the 650D camera, and a Gillette commercial for the Fusion ProGlide razor featuring Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. More recently it has appeared in the TV Series Suits Season 4, Episode 14 ("Derailed").[18] "Mouthful of Diamonds" also appeared in the same American adaptation of Skins in the episode "Stanley".[19] "Mouthful of Diamonds" was also featured in the films Attack of La Nina, a 2011 ski film by Matchstick Productions, and Breaking the Girls which was released in 2013.

The EP Nightlife, was released on 1 November 2011 and included the single "Don't Move". "Don't Move" was featured in the 2012 film Pitch Perfect, and the CW's adaptation of The Secret Circle. "A Dark Tunnel" Appears in an upcoming indie sci-fi film Point B.[20]

The duo collaborated with Big Boi from OutKast on three songs ("Objectum Sexuality", "CPU" and "Lines") from his second studio album, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. Phantogram are also credited as producers for the song "Objectum Sexuality". Phantogram are also featured on the song "You Lust" by the Flaming Lips from their 2013 album The Terror.

On 30 September 2013, they released the four songs EP Phantogram.[21] It was followed by their second studio album, Voices, that was released on February 18, 2014. A fifth single, "Nothing But Trouble", was released on 14 January.[22]

Phantogram collaborated with Big Boi again in 2015 resulting in the seven song EP Big Grams, which was released on September 25, 2015. The EP features production work from Big Boi, Phantogram, 9th Wonder and Skrillex.

Phantogram opened for Muse on their US tour in December 2015. They will also support the British band at European dates in 2016.

Touring

Phantogram live at The Pacific Festival (2011)

Phantogram have played and toured with The Antlers, Beach House, Metric, Minus The Bear, Caribou, Zero 7, The xx, Ra Ra Riot, School of Seven Bells, Yeasayer, Brazilian Girls, Future Islands, and The Glitch Mob. They opened for M83 at the Hollywood Bowl on September 22, 2013. In 2015 Phantogram opened for Alt-J at Madison Square Gardens in New York City and toured the west coast with Muse in December 2015. They will also open for Muse during the European leg of the Drones World Tour in April 2016.

Phantogram has played several major North American festivals including Austin City Limits, Osheaga, Coachella, Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, Treasure Island, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, LouFest, Bumbershoot, Summerfest, and Firefly.

In 2010, they enlisted drummer Tim Oakley, formerly of The Mathematicians, for their tour.[23] In 2013, the band added guitarist/synth Nicholas Shelestak to the touring crew, while Chris Carhart took over on drums.[24]

Phantogram appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2011 and 2013, and in February 2014, they performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

In media

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Single Year Peak chart
positions		 Album
US
 US Alt.
[33]
"Mouthful of Diamonds" 2009 — — Eyelid Movies
"When I'm Small" — —
"As Far As I Can See" 2011 — —
"Don't Move" — — Nightlife
"Black Out Days" 2013 — — Phantogram
"Fall In Love"[34][35] 114[upper-alpha 1] 3 Voices
"Nothing But Trouble" 2014 — —
"Black Out Days" (Re-release) — 32
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s)
"Mouthful Of Diamonds" 2010 Drew Norton
"As Far As I Can See" 2011 Ewan MacLeod
"When I'm Small" Isaac Ravishankara
"Don't Move" 2012 John Carter & Will Joines
"Black Out Days" 2013 Evan Spencer Brace
"Fall In Love" 2014 Timothy Saccenti

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Lights" 2013 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack
"K.Y.S.A." 2015 Welcome to Los Santos
"Slab of Butter (Scorpion)" Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz

Notes

  1. ↑ "Fall In Love" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did peak at number fourteen on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which is an extension of the Billboard Hot 100.

References

  1. ↑ "Phantogram Biography". AOL Music. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Amanda Gray. "Interview: Phantogram - 'We don't really write happy songs'". NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION - NBHAP.
  3. ↑ Dafoe, Taylor; Drew Litowitz (19 November 2010). "Bookmark the permalink. Interview: Phantogram". Skidmore Sec. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Phantogram - Sounds That Grab a Hold of Your Heart in a Beautiful Way". On Another Note. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Keyser, Tom (4 February 2010). "Phantogram going national, view photos of video shoot". Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "Turning Points To Always Remember: An Interview with Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel". Music Under Fire. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Javorsky, Ben (10 March 2010). "Phantogram Interview: SXSW 2010". Spinner. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  8. ↑ Grehan, Keith (3 November 2010). "Phantogram interview". Trinity News. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "Phantogram - Ghostly International". Ghostly International. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Wenzel, John (7 May 2010). "The Reverb Interview: Phantogram". The Reverb. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Swanson, Charlie (5 November 2010). "Phantogram: Dream-Pop Duo Unifies Its Vision". ALARM Press. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Coming in from the Cold". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  13. ↑ Phantogram (26 January 2009). "We are now signed to BBE records!!!". MySpace. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  14. ↑ "Phantogram Interview". Shy Anne’s Songs. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  15. ↑ Phantogram. "May 12th!!!". MySpace. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  16. ↑ Phantogram. "Hey Folks! Phantogram is now signed to Barsuk Records!!!". Twitter. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
  17. ↑ "Eyelid Movies – Phantogram". Metacritic.
  18. ↑ "Season 4 Episode 14". Retrieved February 2015.
  19. ↑ Thompson, Erin. Phantogram Polarizes Fanbase After "When I'm Small" Appeared on MTV's Skins Last Night. Seattle Weekly. February 8, 2011.
  20. ↑ "pointb". pointb. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  21. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Phantogram - EP by Phantogram".
  22. ↑ "Phantogram - Nothing But Trouble".
  23. ↑ Keck, Catie. "Phantogram, The Duo Adds A Drummer". http://ethosmagonline.com. Retrieved 10 May 2011. External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. ↑ Mary Lucia, Leah Garaas (18 October 2013). "Phantogram perform live in The Current studios". The Current from Minnesota Public Radio.
  25. ↑ "CSI Season 14 Soundtrack List (2013)". The Ultimate Source for Soundtrack Lists.
  26. ↑ ]http://www.frequency.com/video/running-man-first-video-made-in-gta-v-pc/231602755?cid=5-29574 Frequency.com: First Video Made In The GTA V PC Editor", April 13, 2015]>
  27. ↑ http://www.tunefind.com/show/suits/season-4/19750
  28. 1 2 "Phantogram". billboard.com.
  29. 1 2 "Phantogram". billboard.com.
  30. 1 2 "Phantogram". billboard.com.
  31. 1 2 "Phantogram". billboard.com.
  32. ↑ Minsker, Evan (9 December 2013). "Phantogram Announce New Album Voices, Share "Fall in Love"". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media Inc. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  33. ↑ http://www.billboard.com Billboard Chart History: Phantogram
  34. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 2014-03-07.
  35. ↑ "Fall in Love" also peaked at #10 in the US Rock Airplay charts, and #19 and US Hot Rock Songs. http://www.billboard.com/artist/331653/phantogram/chart?f=326

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