O’Phantom: Hull’s ghostly DIY collective

Hull alt-indie collective O’Phantom are about to drop their debut self-titled EP on May 9, 2025—and it’s a brooding, lo-fi dreamscape soaked in northern melancholy, cranked-up tape hiss, and synth-stained atmosphere. The EP marks a major milestone for a project born in the shadows of East Yorkshire’s windswept venues and forged in the DIY fires of late-night jam sessions and borrowed gear.

Frontman Daniel Mawer first laid the groundwork while playing acoustic songs at local staple The Adelphi, but the sound quickly outgrew its roots. “I’d been scribbling acoustic tunes, playing them down the road, and pestering Rose and Rowan to stop by after work at Polar Bear and lay down some parts,” he laughs. Those early demos became the seed of O’Phantom’s ghostly collective—a six-piece rotating cast with a taste for texture, emotion, and sonic detours.

Their EP reflects that journey perfectly: intimate beginnings stretched into widescreen post-indie soundscapes. From the haunted pulse of lead single Cold Call to the cinematic swirl of Shadowpain, the record is a self-contained mood, built on fragile synth lines, foggy guitar textures, and a visceral sense of place. The Yorkshire Moors and Hull’s rugged isolation haunt every note.

“We wanted our music—and even our name—to echo those windswept landscapes,” Mawer explains. “Keeping the lineup fluid made everyone feel ‘phantom-esque,’ like ghosts drifting in and out of the project.”

At the heart of it all is Polar Bear, the venue-slash-hangout-spot-slash-spiritual HQ for the band. It’s where members met, practiced, volunteered, and performed—often all in one night. “Working there is a part-time volunteer gig, but the payoff—getting to play at the end of your shift—is pure gold when you’re a scrappy new band,” says Mawer. That sense of community pulses through the EP, too: it’s not just a record, it’s a snapshot of a scene.

Producer Matt Peel played a huge role in shaping the sound. Known for pushing bands toward bold choices, Peel helped O’Phantom lean fully into their Broadcast and Stereolab obsessions while still honouring their scrappy, lo-fi beginnings. “My guitar playing’s rough around the edges—really raw singer-songwriter stuff—but that tension between pristine and ragged? It’s exactly what we wanted,” Mawer says of the process.

That approach makes the EP feel beautifully unpolished and emotionally direct. Tracks were written during late-night spirals and long drives through grey countryside, often touching on themes of isolation, burnout, and the quiet intensity of everyday life. “Lyrically, this EP was something I just needed to get out of my system,” Mawer shares. “A lot of it is mental health-related. Physical stuff too. It’s all there.”

Each track began life as a barebones acoustic demo before being transformed into something hazier and heavier. Peel’s influence was key. “He’s great to be around, doesn’t hide his feelings if he thinks your part’s rubbish, which we all appreciate,” says Mawer. “He doesn’t settle for anything other than making the song great, with little time for radio edits if it doesn’t benefit the song or the collective as a whole.”

The EP also showcases a collage of collaborations—with Beth from All Gone South, Tom of Neoplastic, Lucy from Dead Naked Hippies, and more contributing to the project’s ever-evolving sound. “Every new collaborator raises the bar,”Mawer says. “We’ve made lifelong friends, and as long as folks are keen, this collective can keep churning out shows and recordings indefinitely.”

O’Phantom’s early releases have already turned heads. Cold Call and Shadowpain earned airplay on Radio X, BBC Introducing, and KEXP, with VISIONS Magazine calling them Ones To Watch for 2025. Support has come thick and fast from Atwood Magazine, Soundsphere, Amazing Radio, and more—proof that this once-bedroom project has serious legs.

Now, with the EP about to drop and The Great Escape Festival already on the calendar, O’Phantom are eyeing up the country’s independent stages. They’ve warmed up with support slots for Heavy Lungs, Stone, and Bloodworm, and their first London headline show in late 2024 hinted at bigger things to come.

But despite the buzz, the heart of O’Phantom remains humble and hands-on. “I just want to make music with my friends for as long as possible,” Mawer says. “They give up so much time to be part of this crazy collective—I owe them the best shows, the weirdest recordings, and the kind of memories you can’t bottle. As long as we keep that spirit alive, I’m convinced our best days are still to come.”

O’Phantom’s self-titled debut EP is out May 9, 2025—four tracks of atmospheric, DIY alchemy. Keep your ears open.