Indie rock band Phoneboy have returned with their new single, “I Look Alive”, marking their first release since their 2023 sophomore album “Moving Out”. Accompanying the track is a music video that channels the eerie spirit of Halloween with a creative twist, making this perfect for the lead-up to October 31.
Written by the band themselves (James Fusco, Jordan Torres, Ricky Dana, and Wyn Barnum), whilst it was produced by Ayad al Adhamy, “I Look Alive” delves into the complexities of masking inner struggles, exploring the tension between outward appearances and internal battles. It’s about those moments when, despite feeling disconnected or overwhelmed, you find yourself putting on a performance, hoping no one notices what’s really going on. The track channels the raw emotion of trying to maintain composure in social situations where everything feels magnified, setting the stage for a deeper connection with listeners who have experienced similar feelings.
Talking about the track, the band said: “‘I Look Alive’ is about getting smacked in the face by your insecurities and the little lies you tell to seem like you’re not losing your mind. When you’ve convinced yourself you’re not good enough or cool enough, it feels like everybody’s eyes are on you, judging every word you say and every move you make. Sitting in the corner of a party absolutely reeling, you hide behind a cigarette, a half-empty glass, or a joke. In the moment, this works just fine but the feeling just builds inside you until it’s just too much to take. We wrote the song for anyone who’s ever felt alive on the outside while dying inside.”
This release also introduces an exciting new era for the band, as it features their newest member, Jordan Torres, on lead vocals. Torres brings a fresh dimension to the band’s signature sound, blending power-pop energy with introspective lyrics. Phoneboy’s vocal connection synergises effortlessly with the indie-rock sound, bringing a ’00s nostalgic vibe to their performance. With this new band dynamic, Phoneboy serves awesome vocal harmonies and undeniable versatility whilst also allowing all four members to shine, which begs the question: what else can we expect from them with their forthcoming album?
With Torres taking the lead on “I Look Alive”, the band wanted the music video to showcase her prominently. Reflecting on the visual, they said: “Since this is our first song that Jordan is singing lead on, we wanted the music video to put her in the spotlight and be wildly ambitious. The record also has a lot of 80s-style synths, and we all love Halloween. So 1980s zombie prom sort of made perfect sense!”
Directed by Lianne Rose Richards with Fengze Liang acting as Director of Photography, the music video is definitely very 1980s zombie prom, only they’ve flipped the script on how zombies are made, creating a unique viewing experience and an engaging narrative. We watch the four-piece band perform at the school prom (with Matthew Tiedemann on the drums although it’s Matti Dunietz who officially recorded the drums in the studio), but someone’s spiked the punch bowl with zombie-creating liquid and it’s not long until the students, who drink from the punch bowl, start to transform into zombies.
In one unique scene, they’ve changed the camera, itself, into a zombie, making us feel like we’re the ones who are chasing Jordan Torres. In the ending scene, Torres is crowned prom queen, but as she puts the crown on her head, she becomes a zombie, too. It’s almost as if she’s the one who spiked the punch bowl just so that she could get the prom queen crown.
Performance-wise, she gives it as much as she can, while Ricky Dana and Wyn Barnum impress individually both during their vocal segments and during their guitar playing, all the while James Fusco is superbly playing the bass, enriching the visual and engaging the viewers. Together, all four members shine, and although we wouldn’t want to become zombies, they make us want to be at this gig!
To celebrate the release, Phoneboy will be performing a special Halloween show in Brooklyn, NY, on October 31 at Brooklyn Made. Tickets are available now and can be purchased by clicking here; the band is set to deliver an electrifying spooky performance, plus who doesn’t like a Halloween gig? Fans can also look forward to more live shows as Phoneboy joins Good Kid as a supporting act in 2025, kicking off their tour in February.
Phoneboy Tour Dates:
2024:
- October 31, 2024 – Brooklyn Made, Brooklyn, NY
2025 (as support with Good Kid):
- February 13, 2025 – Deluxe @ Old National, Indianapolis, IN
- February 14, 2025 – Turner Hall, Milwaukee, WI
- February 15, 2025 – First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
- February 18, 2025 – The Hawthorn, St. Louis, MO
- February 19, 2025 – The Truman, Kansas City, MO
- February 21, 2025 – Ogden, Denver, CO
- February 22, 2025 – Grand at the Complex, Salt Lake City, UT
- February 24, 2025 – The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
- February 25, 2025 – Observatory, Santa Ana, CA
- February 28, 2025 – Paper Tiger, San Antonio, TX
- March 1, 2025 – White Oak Music Hall, Houston, TX
- March 3, 2025 – The Orpheum, Tampa, FL
- March 4, 2025 – The Plaza Live, Orlando, FL
- March 6, 2025 – Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, TN
- March 7, 2025 – Bogart’s, Cincinnati, OH
- March 8, 2025 – Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
With their sophomore album, “Moving Out”, under their belt and a revamped lineup, Phoneboy is pushing their sound further than ever before. “I Look Alive” reflects their growth as a band, touching on the anxieties and uncertainties of young adulthood, all while delivering an energetic anthem that is sure to resonate with listeners.
“I Look Alive”, by Phoneboy, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms. The band is gearing up to release even more brand-new music with a forthcoming third studio album set to drop in the near-future. Their versatility shines through on this latest track, so we’re excited to see them push the boundaries of indie-rock and showcase their exciting new era.