Keys player Rose Barker shares her excitement: “For me, ‘Shadow Pain’ marked a pivotal moment for us as a collective. Working with Matt Peel, whose deep knowledge of synths and electronic music pushed us to explore new sonic territories, was transformative. This track remains a touchstone for us as we continue to write new material.”
Their debut single ‘Cold Call’ in 2024 garnered early support from Jericho Keys at BBC Introducing, legendary Seattle tastemakers KEXP, and Charlie Ashcroft at Amazing Radio. German rock bible VISIONS Magazine has already hailed them as Ones To Watch for 2025. With plans to hit the studio early this year, O’Phantom is gearing up to deliver their first substantial body of work.
Born from a shared passion for music and independent venues in their North East hometown, Hull, O’Phantom draws inspiration from the rugged northern landscapes. Their sound melds The Cure’s songwriting sensibilities with Broadcast’s synth use, all wrapped in a DIY attitude and Yorkshire’s gothic history, creating frenetic soundscapes of melancholic self-reflection.
What began as a cathartic songwriting exercise for songwriter Daniel Mawer at Hull’s open mic nights quickly evolved into a dynamic collective. Band members Rose, Daniel, and Rowan honed their craft at the beloved Polar Bear Music Club, where Rose and Daniel are directors. This venue became a nurturing space for incorporating friends Beth (All Gone South), Tom (Neoplastic), and Lucy (Dead Naked Hippies) into the band’s first sessions.
With the guidance of producer Matt Peel, O’Phantom embraced lo-fi songwriting sensibilities, drawing inspiration from acts like Broadcast and Stereolab, and the gothic countryside of Humberside. Early support slots with Bristol post-punks Heavy Lungs, rising Liverpool alt-rock band Stone, and Nottingham goth outfit Bloodworm set the stage for their first London headline show in December 2024.
As O’Phantom gears up to reveal more new music and live dates in the coming months, we can’t wait to see what this talented band will achieve in 2025. Keep your eyes and ears open for what promises to be an exhilarating year ahead!
For further information on the band, please visit the following links:
- https://linktr.ee/ophantom
- https://www.instagram.com/ophantomuk/
- https://x.com/ophantomuk
- https://kycker.ffm.to/shadowpain
Live dates
February 8th – Adelphi – Hull
March 18th – Polar Bear Music Club – Hull
Photo credit Jamie Collins provided courtesy of Wall of Sound PR
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