PREMIERE: SONGS FOR SABOTAGE “PHANTOM”
The night was the perfect undercover. Walking past the twinkling neon light and disappearing into a narrowed street, the escape has already begun. Revolving around the theme of hitting the road, leaving the toxic past behind, the shoegazing, ethereal “Phantom” has a dark, evocative undertone.
As if walking into an American road-trip film from the last century, "Phantom” sets its scene in Hollywood, traveling between a motel, convenience store, and narrowed street. “Dressed up just like a rebel, lying next to me, cold and lonely; Out here on the dark side, this ain’t the void you’re looking for.”
Photo credit: @goodtimerickstudios
The moment of realization leads to the determination to leave under the night. The song perfectly captured the reflective moment when you light up a cigarette, driving into the night alone, and never look back.
“‘Phantom’ was inspired by two people we once knew - our former selves,” said front-woman/guitarist Lina Sophie, “…the lyrics are pulled directly from past traumas that were a result of toxic partnerships we both found ourselves in.”
Richey Rose adds, “Phantom describes the moment you realize the relationship doesn’t serve anything, and you’ve essentially trapped yourself. The lightbulb’s gone off and you’re like, ‘okay, I need to GTFO now!’ … from that second on it’s about leaving the past behind, both physically and mentally.”
There is usually no dialogue in the film when the main character leaves in the middle of the night, but a song fills up the void. The words left unsaid linger in the chilling summer breeze, in the sound of “Phantom.”