Ear Candy: Interview with PHOX

The minute we heard the smoky-sweet vocals and the lullabye melodies of PHOX, we were into it.

In the band's own words, "PHOX is a bunch of friends from the Midwestern circus hamlet, Baraboo, WI, a place where kids often drink poisoned groundwater and become endowed mutants." These mutants are doing quite well for themselves these days.

All images courtesy of Madison's brilliant Audre Rae Photography, who was swell enough to share her beautiful photo essay with us for this story. 

At first listen, it sounds as if Kimbra, Imogen Heap and Feist grafted parts of themselves onto lead singer Monica Martin's vocal chords, but the shy, dreamy quality is really all her own. Between Matteo Roberts, Davey Roberts, Matthew Holmen, Jason Krunnfusz and Zach Johnston, you have five amazing bandmates that lift her vocals up like only true friends can do. In any given song, you'll see one guitarist grabbing an oboe or another picking up a trumpet or Martin herself turning to an omnichord — it's like a carnival of instruments, talent and camaraderie.

The darling members of this six-piece band grew up together in Baraboo (of Ringling Brothers Circus fame), reconnected as adults and spent the last few years living in a house together in Madison. Though that closeness is sometimes challenging in relation to the dishes in the sink, the unique friendship that they have reflects in their music as much as their wonderful Wisconsin-ness

In the past year and change, PHOX has gone from gigging at small venues around the Midwest to playing at internationally renowned music festivals like SXSW, Lollapalooza and the upcoming Iceland Airwaves in November, which will kick off a whirlwind European tour.

PHOX is rolling through Texas right now, but bandmate Matteo Roberts was kind enough to answer a few questions for us from the road.

What's happening in PHOX world right now? Anything new and exciting on the horizon?

Touring, touring, touring. There are definitely some projects starting to surface in their early stages for us: some film, some musical, some B-sides for the current record. And trying to figure out where to live. [The Midwestival votes slightly bigger house together in Madison?]

Most bands don't live together in one house. What have been some of the highs and lows of co-habitation?

It's definitely a blessing and a curse. You can get annoyed by the smallest things: brushing teeth with mouth open, pubes in the sink or a pile of dirty cups. We suffered from standard frat-house issues. The highs, one could argue, are that it coerced us into making art. When you wake up, eat, shop, work, and sleep together, inspiration kind of forces its way into you. All of our projects/records prior to our current release were done 1-3 weeks and worked on around the clock. Much of it was improvised and done in a "oh good you just got back from work, come lay a guitar track down quick" kind of way. Also, Jordan Jensen's birthday was a highlight [Jensen directed their "Kingfisher" music video]. Wine bottles were dumped on heads, maple syrup was rubbed on bodies and tables, and nearly nude dancing ended with smashing food on the kitchen floor and cryptic permanent marker scribblings. Oops.

How do you think the Midwest (in particular Baraboo and Madison) has influenced your music? 

There is definitely influence from our surroundings. I think there were two elements that came with Baraboo being a small farm town. Firstly, there was nothing to do! The most exciting thing about that city is the Walmart, so that means fun has to come from your head and your friends. We had to start creating worlds very early on in our lives in order to stay sane. Secondly, it kept us (and still does keep us) ignorant to relevant culture. We don't have hundreds of bands nearby to compare ourselves to, and we aren't paying much attention to what's next and what's hot. We just make what feels good.

For those who want to get to know Baraboo beyond the Ringling Brothers circus history, describe your perfect day there.

A perfect day in Baraboo probably starts like this — first you have to make your way over to Log Cabin for breakfast suited for giants. Then you grab a cup of drink from Coffee Bean, and then make your way out to Devil's Lake for a hike through the bluffs. On the way home you probably stop at Ski-Hi Fruit Farm to grab some cider and caramel apples. Then you submit and go hang out at Walmart. Haha.

You guys are on the road so much. What are a few things you miss most about Wisconsin when you're on tour?

Right now, I'm missing the changing colors of autumn. Bless the sun and warmth of the Southwest and West Coast, but fall in the Midwest is a wonder. We definitely miss cheese curds... they just don't exist outside Wisconsin, and if they do, they're sorry excuses for cheese curds. Lastly, I'd say we all miss our friends and family. We have a small, but tight knit group of friends and family back home, and you sometimes wish you could disappear and teleport to a living room with the Pack on TV and a beer in hand.

Hear, hear. Thanks so much for your time, Matteo! We'll think of you the next time we're drinking a Spotted Cow.

If you'd like to listen the good stuff from PHOX, we recommend starting with these lovely tracks below and then working your way into their whole self-titled debut album, which was produced at Justin Vernon's recording studio in Fall Creek. Your ears will like it.

And, last but certainly not least, this "Slow Motion" remix from Sylvan Esso is EVERYTHING.

Do you have any other Midwestern bands that should be on our radar? Let us know in the comments!

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Words by Annie D'Souza
Photos by Audre Rae Photography