Josh and Sarah of Phantogram are back with Ceremony, a record that marks what they call a rebirth—though don’t expect them to get too sentimental about it. “We’ve been a band for ten years, and we basically put life on hold for it,” Sarah says. “But that also means putting everything on hold. Relationships, your mental health, even just having a place to call home.” After the grief-laden Three, which was shaped by the loss of Sarah’s sister, they found themselves needing to reassess. “We finally had to go, ‘Okay, let’s actually take care of ourselves so we can keep doing this forever,’” she explains. Josh adds, “We spent so much time focusing on Phantogram that we forgot what it was like to just… go to dinner. Or wash the dishes.”
With that shift came a return to their roots—recording at their own studio in Joshua Tree, embracing the isolated, no-distractions vibe. “It was a lot more like how we made our first record,” Josh says. The opener, “Dear God,” plays like a desperate prayer, though it started as a long-lost beat Josh made 15 years ago. “We’d always wanted to do something with it,” he says. That approach—mining the past to create something new—shows up again on “Into Happiness,” which features a co-writing credit from Billy Corgan. “He just vibed with us,” Josh says. “We were struggling with the bridge, and he came in with some magic.”
And then there’s the next generation taking notes—Billie Eilish has name-checked Phantogram as a major influence, even covering their songs. “That’s the wildest thing,” Sarah says. “To have a pop star who cites us as inspiration? Amazing.” Josh laughs, “It’s just cool to see an artist like that rise up, who’s real and weird and honest. If we played even a tiny part in that, I’ll take it.”
With their debut Eyelid Movies turning ten, the duo can look back and say their sound still holds up. “It doesn’t feel tied to a trend from 2010,” Josh says. “That’s what we aim for—something that still sounds fresh in 2030.” And with Ceremony, they’re proving they can move forward while staying true to themselves. “It’s been a journey,” Sarah says. “But we’re still here.”
Listen to the interview above and then check out the videos below.
