{"id":42308,"date":"2025-05-04T17:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T21:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42308"},"modified":"2025-05-03T07:23:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T11:23:32","slug":"ophantom-hulls-ghostly-diy-collective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42308","title":{"rendered":"O\u2019Phantom: Hull\u2019s ghostly DIY collective"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Hull alt-indie collective O\u2019Phantom are about to drop their debut self-titled EP on&nbsp;<strong>May 9, 2025<\/strong>\u2014and it\u2019s 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\u2019s windswept venues and forged in the DIY fires of late-night jam sessions and borrowed gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frontman Daniel Mawer first laid the groundwork while playing acoustic songs at local staple The Adelphi, but the sound quickly outgrew its roots.&nbsp;<em>\u201cI\u2019d 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,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;he laughs. Those early demos became the seed of O\u2019Phantom\u2019s ghostly collective\u2014a six-piece rotating cast with a taste for texture, emotion, and sonic detours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their EP reflects that journey perfectly: intimate beginnings stretched into widescreen post-indie soundscapes. From the haunted pulse of lead single&nbsp;<em>Cold Call<\/em> to the cinematic swirl of<em> Shadowpain,<\/em> 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\u2019s rugged isolation haunt every note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fy5FAZfAlx0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><em>\u201cWe wanted our music\u2014and even our name\u2014to echo those windswept landscapes,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Mawer explains.\u00a0<em>\u201cKeeping the lineup fluid made everyone feel \u2018phantom-esque,\u2019 like ghosts drifting in and out of the project.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the heart of it all is Polar Bear, the venue-slash-hangout-spot-slash-spiritual HQ for the band. It\u2019s where members met, practiced, volunteered, and performed\u2014often all in one night.&nbsp;<em>\u201cWorking there is a part-time volunteer gig, but the payoff\u2014getting to play at the end of your shift\u2014is pure gold when you\u2019re a scrappy new band,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;says Mawer. That sense of community pulses through the EP, too: it\u2019s not just a record, it\u2019s a snapshot of a scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Producer Matt Peel played a huge role in shaping the sound. Known for pushing bands toward bold choices, Peel helped O\u2019Phantom lean fully into their Broadcast and Stereolab obsessions while still honouring their scrappy, lo-fi beginnings.&nbsp;<em>\u201cMy guitar playing\u2019s rough around the edges\u2014really raw singer-songwriter stuff\u2014but that tension between pristine and ragged? It\u2019s exactly what we wanted,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Mawer says of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<em>\u201cLyrically, this EP was something I just needed to get out of my system,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Mawer shares.&nbsp;<em>\u201cA lot of it is mental health-related. Physical stuff too. It&#8217;s all there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each track began life as a barebones acoustic demo before being transformed into something hazier and heavier. Peel\u2019s influence was key.&nbsp;<em>\u201cHe\u2019s great to be around, doesn\u2019t hide his feelings if he thinks your part\u2019s rubbish, which we all appreciate,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;says Mawer.&nbsp;<em>\u201cHe doesn\u2019t settle for anything other than making the song great, with little time for radio edits if it doesn\u2019t benefit the song or the collective as a whole.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EP also showcases a collage of collaborations\u2014with Beth from All Gone South, Tom of Neoplastic, Lucy from Dead Naked Hippies, and more contributing to the project\u2019s ever-evolving sound.&nbsp;<em>\u201cEvery new collaborator raises the bar,\u201d<\/em>Mawer says.&nbsp;<em>\u201cWe\u2019ve made lifelong friends, and as long as folks are keen, this collective can keep churning out shows and recordings indefinitely.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O\u2019Phantom\u2019s early releases have already turned heads.&nbsp;<em>Cold Call<\/em> and&nbsp;<em>Shadowpain<\/em> 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\u2014proof that this once-bedroom project has serious legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, with the EP about to drop and The Great Escape Festival already on the calendar, O\u2019Phantom are eyeing up the country\u2019s independent stages. They&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But despite the buzz, the heart of O\u2019Phantom remains humble and hands-on.&nbsp;<em>\u201cI just want to make music with my friends for as long as possible,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Mawer says.&nbsp;<em>\u201cThey give up so much time to be part of this crazy collective\u2014I owe them the best shows, the weirdest recordings, and the kind of memories you can\u2019t bottle. As long as we keep that spirit alive, I\u2019m convinced our best days are still to come.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4473.jpeg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"425\" height=\"412\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4473.jpeg?resize=425%2C412\" alt=\"O\u2019Phantom EP cover artwork \" class=\"wp-image-42312\" style=\"width:520px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4473.jpeg?w=425&amp;ssl=1 425w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4473.jpeg?resize=300%2C291&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>O\u2019Phantom\u2019s self-titled debut EP is out May 9, 2025\u2014four tracks of atmospheric, DIY alchemy. Keep your ears open.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Hull alt-indie collective O\u2019Phantom are about to drop their debut self-titled EP on&nbsp;May 9, 2025\u2014and it\u2019s a brooding, lo-fi dreamscape soaked in northern melancholy, cranked-up <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42308\" title=\"O\u2019Phantom: Hull\u2019s ghostly DIY collective\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[22,23,28,30,1907],"tags":[12547,3639,12546],"class_list":["post-42308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-music","category-new-release","category-news","tag-cold-call","tag-hull","tag-ophantom"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4472-e1746270861117.jpeg?fit=799%2C541&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-b0o","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25747,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=25747","url_meta":{"origin":42308,"position":0},"title":"La B\u00eate Blooms release &#8216;Lost and Found&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"June 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Fresh off the back of their latest EP I Know It's Nothing,\u00a0the Hull post-punk collective have moved fast to release a brash and bold song which portrays the plight of a modern couple seeing the world crumble around them in 2017. It's an apocalyptic world\u00a0described in La B\u00eate Blooms' new\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"La B\u00eate Blooms","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/65a40be1-39bd-4181-a9cf-f7fa83a90540.png?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43569,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=43569","url_meta":{"origin":42308,"position":1},"title":"ROTHCO share atmospheric video for \u2018You\u2019re Not The Only One\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Hull\u2019s own rising sonic provocateurs ROTHCO have just released the gripping visual for You\u2019re Not The Only One, pulled from their debut EP\u00a0\u2018Fools Gold\u2019\u2014out now via the ever-adventurous Man Demolish Records. Filmed in a single take at Hull Artist Research Initiative (HARI), the video for You\u2019re Not The Only One\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"ROTHCO press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5245.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5245.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5245.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5245.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5245.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24252,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=24252","url_meta":{"origin":42308,"position":2},"title":"Analog Candle share &#8216;Trier&#8217; via Wonderland","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Analog Candle have\u00a0shared the first single lifted from their upcoming EP, which will be out via\u00a0Wonderland. Take a listen to Trier via Soundcloud below. \u00a0 Hailing from New York City via England, Chicago, New Orleans and Boston \u2013 Analog Candle is an expressionist, avant-garde dream-pop collective formed by producer and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Analog Candle","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/002.jpg?fit=900%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/002.jpg?fit=900%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/002.jpg?fit=900%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/002.jpg?fit=900%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5225,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=5225","url_meta":{"origin":42308,"position":3},"title":"The Part Time Punks Radio Sessions release split EP","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"October 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The Part Time Punks Radio Sessions release a limited split EP by Culture Addicts faves HTRK and Tropic of Cancer with six mellow, emotional songs of desire. This radio session is similar to well-known Peel Sessions, but is the sound of the LA underground, run by local icon Michael Stock\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"HTRK Tropic of Cancer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/GI-168_1500x300.2002331.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/GI-168_1500x300.2002331.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/GI-168_1500x300.2002331.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33153,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=33153","url_meta":{"origin":42308,"position":4},"title":"Magazine Beach release debut EP \u2018Sick Day\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"January 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Magazine Beach, a DIY Indie\/Punk band from Washington DC, have released their debut EP \u2018Sick Day\u2019 via all streaming platforms and cassette. Take a listen to the EP via Bandcamp below. They started playing together in the summer of 2019 and have been playing shows in DC pretty much nonstop\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Magazine Beach press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/94D39066-1443-4BD2-B6A1-E997AD5EE34E-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/94D39066-1443-4BD2-B6A1-E997AD5EE34E-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/94D39066-1443-4BD2-B6A1-E997AD5EE34E-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/94D39066-1443-4BD2-B6A1-E997AD5EE34E-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/94D39066-1443-4BD2-B6A1-E997AD5EE34E-scaled.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35646,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=35646","url_meta":{"origin":42308,"position":5},"title":"Berlin based band GHEIST release \u2018acoustic \u2013 unusual\u2019 EP","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"February 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Berlin based trio\u00a0GHEIST\u00a0have released \u2018acoustic \u2013 unusual\u2019 EP. They have a long affinity with song writing, composition and melody; defined by their process of crafting powerful electronic music from behind a piano. 2020 presented a year like no other in modern memory, leading GHEIST to produce an EP that is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"GHEIST Press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/86C19239-DA68-429F-82B9-251A37ED87CD.jpeg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/86C19239-DA68-429F-82B9-251A37ED87CD.jpeg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/86C19239-DA68-429F-82B9-251A37ED87CD.jpeg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/86C19239-DA68-429F-82B9-251A37ED87CD.jpeg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/86C19239-DA68-429F-82B9-251A37ED87CD.jpeg?fit=1200%2C803&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42308"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42314,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42308\/revisions\/42314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}