Phantogram is an American electronic rock duo from Greenwich, New York, formed in 2007
and consisting of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel.
The band name was inspired by an optical illusion called a phantogram, in which two-dimensional
images appear to be three-dimensional.
They described their sound as "street beat, psych pop".
According to Josh Carter, their music has "lots of rhythms, swirling guitars, spacey
keyboards, echoes, airy vocals".
Carter and Barthel were inspired by artists like The Beatles, David Bowie, Cocteau Twins,
J Dilla, The Flaming Lips, John Frusciante, Serge Gainsbourg, Madlib, Sonic Youth, Yes,
Kevin Shields and Prince.
They write and record in a remote barn in upstate New York called Harmony Lodge.
The band has released two studio albums, four EPs 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
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.
The duo was originally called Charlie Everywhere when performing around the Saratoga Springs
area on the local label Sub-Bombin Records.
Upon signing with BBE on 26 January 2009, they changed their name to Phantogram.
Their self-titled debut EP was released on 12 May 2009, followed in the same year by
another EP, Running From the Cops.
They signed with Barsuk Records in October 2009.
Phantogram released their debut album Eyelid Movies in September 2009 on BBE and February
2010 on Barsuk Records.
The album received generally favorable reviews.
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.
"Mouthful of Diamonds" also appeared in the same American adaptation of Skins in the episode
"Stanley".
"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.
The duo collaborated with Big Boi from OutKast on three songs 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.
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 January 14.
Barthel revealed in an interview with Variance Magazine in February 2014 that Phantogram
plans to release an EP with Big Boi.
Touring
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 also opened for M83 at the iconic Hollywood Bowl on September 22, 2013.
They have also played several major North American festivals including 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.
They appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2011 and 2013, and in February 2014, they
performed a song on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Trivia "Turn It Off" was featured in the first episode
of MTV's adaptation of Teen Wolf.
"Lights" was featured in the Catching Fire soundtrack, which was released on November
19, 2013.
"Black Out Days" was featured in the "Strangers on a Train" episode of Showtime's TV series
Shameless, 2014.
"Black Out Days" was in The CW series The Originals in the episode "Fruit of the Poisoned
Tree" on November 6, 2013.
"Black Out Days" was featured in the "Gambler's Fallacy " episode of NBC's Law & Order: SVU,
March 12, 2014 Discography
Studio albums Eyelid Movies
Voices #11; US Alternative Albums #3)) EPs
Phantogram Running From the Cops
Nightlife Phantogram
Singles Music videos
Guest appearances Notes
References
External links Official site