PHNTMS: The Push of the Pop-Rock Band

Talking on the phone with rock-pop trio PHNTMS’ lead singer Alyssa Gambino was like being on a call with a longtime, good friend: no introductions needed as we dove right into an easy conversation. Shooting the shit about their new single, the irritation of social media, and being an independent artist in the music industry were just a few topics we touched on. Gambino is raw; she’s real; she’s uncensored; she’s unconventional, much like PHNTMS.

On the ridge of reinvention, PHNTMS have made some major moves in the direction of a rebrand. Not that it was necessary, since their previous releases firmly and confidently stood in the landscape of arena rock meets magnetic melodies; however, the band is ready for bigger, better things, and with that comes a fresh take on its former sound.

The band started as an accidental formation between Gambino and guitarist Adam Jessamine, who were both in separate music projects at the time but decided to join forces. Bringing finished songs to a prepaid studio session, Jessamine had Gambino do what she does best and belt out over the tracks, and in that moment, PHNTMS was created.

The band released two singles in 2019, “Foreign Places” and “Hotel,” and while they loved the feeling of playing music together, they found themselves nestled in a genre that didn’t quite feel authentic. Gaining traction and attention by the 2020 release of single “Back Burner,” PHNTMS had been classified as a loud, rock-pop band with assertive guitar hooks and a hard aesthetic. 

Oftentimes, the music overwhelmed the powerhouse vocals of Gambino, and even though the band had recorded an entire album worth of music, the pandemic hit and shut down the opportunity to release and tour. This also gave the band a chance to reevaluate and drive forward what was working and shed off the excess skin of what wasn’t.

“This time, we’re doing it right,” Gambino explains as she talks about how the songwriting process has evolved. “We were all very cohesive, and I fell in love with songwriting in the process, but pop music is the hardest music to write. There’s a whole art to it, and everybody says it’s just simple, but writing in that simplistic way is super fucking hard. And to translate it into a way that people will like, and there’s a hook.”

In the fall of 2021, the band released their newest single, “Paper Flowers,” and, I must say, it delivers exactly what Gambino is referring to. As I was preparing for my conversation with her, I listened to the song no less than two dozen times, each time getting it more embedded in my mind as an exciting new direction that is going to take the band to the next level. 

The intro guitar and drum beat sucks you in, and immediately, you want to hear more. Gambino’s voice soars above the music and taps into a classic, soulful, radio-worthy vibe. The Kelly Clarkson-like, high-energy hook leans into what we love most about pop music, while the band stays true to its rock ‘n’ roll sensibilities. 

With each time the song came on repeat, I nestled into the relatable storyline of a struggling love that is either going to wilt and diminish, or come back to life and flourish. With lyrics like “Too dark to bloom / too many chances, we crack and crumble but / I’m here tonight / so hold tight ‘cause the sun is coming up” and “Are you giving in, giving out / giving up, shutting it down / or going strong?” PHNTMS tap into the feeling of an indecisive, uncertain, tug-of-war love, and I’m here for it. 

The glue that binds PHNTMS together at this stage in their career is the agreement that they are all churning out hit after hit with one goal in mind: to build the fanbase that connects to the heart, soul, and vibe of the music. The new direction is intentional, a siren’s song of straight-forward pop music that beckons listeners to eagerly devote themselves to the fandom. However, seeking that audience in the current social media vortex is only a diversion in attention, Gambino says, straying away from the music and demanding more than ever from the artists.

“I mean, we’re sitting on a bunch of songs right now, and we’re super excited, but it’s all about how you play the game. We could drop them tomorrow, but there’s so much involved in this, and we’ve just been let down so many times. The songs are there, you know, but it’s a very aggressive industry, bigger than music. Music isn’t enough anymore; it’s just a different world now, even from 2015 when we started the band,” Gambino explains.

With platforms like Instagram and TikTok, musicians, actors, and creatives have become their own paparazzi, and to be seen is to be liked. Gambino says that it’s no longer about the music first and then the persona, it’s getting people to buy into the persona and then they are willing to give the music a chance. Attention is divided on social media, and snippets of 20 seconds to one minute cover songs get far more traction than original songs that take time to swell, breathe, and crescendo. However, PHNTMS is up to the task of playing the game because they know the new songs they’re sitting on, like “Paper Flowers,” are gold.

The constant feedback loop of social media and the undelivered promises of the industry can be taxing, and Gambino relays her frustration that, while the music is strong and the band trusts that the songs are solid, they just haven’t been able to catch their break. Never being one to hold back her opinions about life, love, and the industry, she is also an out, LGBTQ artist and believes in using her art and her platform to be a positive and uplifting voice for those who need it. Shying away from who the songs are about is not her style, nor is giving up in the drive to push the music forward and get it in front of as many people as possible.

So, what keeps her going, even when it feels like PHNTMS is up against the odds and the brutal music industry, social media, and the pandemic have created roadblocks, speed bumps, and potholes in the road to success?

“There’s like this underlying, like, ‘Fuck you,’” Gambino asserts. “You have to believe in your own shit. The songs are there; they’re great. I’m my favorite band; I listen to my shit all the time, but you have to put it out in the world. I believe in my heart that people are gonna like it; you have to just keep going because if you stop and question it, you’ll give up immediately.”

The upcoming EP featuring “Paper Flowers” that is expected to release in 2022 is a list of five solid, pop bangers that continue to tap into the new PHNTMS sound. Replicating what works for the first single, the driving beats, climbing vocals, and elevated musicianship is showcased in a unique way on each track. 

Finding a producer that revealed a new style of songwriting for Gambino, Jessamine, and drummer Mikal Smith was art-changing, and the music is evidence that the band has found their stride. Now, it’s getting in front of audiences and finding that support and push from outside those who already love and believe in them.

“I feel like we’re always like a second too late; we always miss it just by a little bit. But, we’re trying. There is no solid answer. Nobody’s saying in, like, five years you’re gonna get a record deal, so just hang on. Is a record deal even a thing anymore? Why is social media shit important? Is that what people want? 

“It’s just, like, a lot of questions. You just have to keep going even if you do question it like, ‘Why am I in the industry?’ Because I absolutely love it. You have to love it so much that it’s what wakes you up every day,” Gambino says.