With a sound that merges arena rock and 1960’s soul, there’s an energy to the music made by Philadelphia based band PHNTMS – Alyssa Gambino, Adam Jessamine, Mikal Smith, and Gene Murphy – that’s hard not to get caught up in. Half of the band also identify as queer and LGBTQA related lyrics often feature heavily in their songs, as they proudly express their support for others in the community. “We openly talk about lesbian relationships in our music and we want to bring hope to anyone who is in the closet and doesn’t feel safe coming out,” explains drummer Gene. “Whether you are out as queer or not, your identity is valid and if our music helps you escape heteronormativity for a brief moment.”
The quartet have already earned themselves a considerable following thanks to support slots on tours with Kings Of Leon, The 1975 and Pale Waves among others and their highly anticipated six-track EP showcases both their talents and offers an insight as to the many bands and artists – U2, Deaf Havana and Amy Winehouse among them – that have influenced and continue to shape the music they make and share with the world.
Many of the songs PHNTMS write are also inspired by every-day situations and events/moments, such as relationships, making the band and their music extremely relatable. Their latest single “Carabelle”, which PopWrapped are delighted to premiere, is one such song, with the band saying of it: “Carabelle is what you get after a toxic relationship ends. One day, they will hear this song and it will hurt. It’s the visual of a heart breaking after spending five years traveling to a different state to make a relationship work out. That feeling of being completely in love and even though there were red flags, you still choose to be with this person. Everyone has a Carabelle. Who was your Carabelle?”
Give “Carabelle” a listen below and for more information on PHNTMS, visit their website, give their page a like on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
