Phantogram

Phantogram are an American electronic duo formed in 2007 and based in Greenwich, United States. The group consists of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter. Their music sits across trip-hop, psych-pop, ambient pop, electropop, glitch pop, indie pop, indietronica and pop rap.

Formation and members

Barthel and Carter know each other from junior high school. Barthel studies visual arts, while Carter forms the experimental group Grand Habit. They reunite in the summer of 2007 and begin developing earlier beat ideas Carter has written. The pair first perform around Saratoga Springs, New York, under the name Charlie Everywhere, with releases on the local label Sub-Bombin Records. They later adopt the name Phantogram after an optical illusion, changing it to avoid legal issues. Barthel handles vocals and keyboards, while Carter plays guitar and sings.

Recordings and releases

The duo practices and writes at a farmhouse they call Harmony Lodge. Their self-titled Phantogram EP appears in March 2009 and includes four tracks that later feature on their debut album. Later in 2009 they release Running From the Cops on BBE Records. Their first full-length, Eyelid Movies, arrives in 2009 in Europe on BBE Records and in 2010 in the United States on Barsuk Records. It receives generally favourable reviews and is supported by the singles “Mouthful of Diamonds”, “When I’m Small” and “As Fas As I Can See”. In 2011 they issue the EP Nightlife, which includes “Don’t Move”.

Collaborations and touring

Phantogram support acts including Metric, The xx, J-Live and Brazilian Girls, and tour with The Slip, Zero 7 and Minus the Bear. Barthel and Carter also cite influences including J Dilla, Serge Gainsbourg, My Bloody Valentine, Madlib, Sonic Youth, The Beatles and David Bowie.

Work with Big Boi

The duo collaborates with Big Boi of OutKast on three songs from his second studio album, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors: “Objectum Sexuality (feat. Phantogram)”, “CPU (feat. Phantogram)” and “Lines (feat. A$AP Rocky & Phantogram)”. They are also credited as producers on “Objectum Sexuality”.