Formed through a shared love of music and independent venues within their North East hometown, Hull alt-indie collective O’Phantom are inspired by the rugged and isolated northern landscapes of their surroundings. Melding The Cure’s songwriting sensibilities and Broadcast’s use of synths with a keen devotion to tape music and lo-fi sounds, Yorkshire’s gothic history and the region’s DIY attitude has helped the six-piece band develop frenetic soundscapes centred around melancholic self-reflection.
What began as a cathartic songwriting exercise at Hull’s open mic nights for songwriter Daniel Mawer, quickly became a collective, keen to incorporate vintage synths and chorus pedals into their sound. Band members Rose, Daniel, and Rowan began working on material in between shifts at their much-loved local independent music venue Polar Bear Music Club, using the stage before or after events to rehearse.