Margo Leblanc
Aug 26, 2024
Phantum Sun’s music blends the ethereal with the visceral in a lush atmospheric fusion.
Phantum Sun, a Louisiana-based band from Lafayette known for its unique sound and dependability, has recently surprised the local music scene with its unwavering work ethic and drive. But why? What started it all, and who influenced them? Who is Phantum Sun?
Phantum Sun is grunge with a bit of rock and a little alternative. They don’t have one specific category that their music falls into. The band makes music for those who appreciate the artistry of creating songs. Phantum Sun started because of Nick Cline and Alec Louviere's high school aspirations to create together. In 2023, when long-time friend Drake Lasseigne joined the two, the line-up became complete, and here we are. The trio is full of spirit and angst, shown heavily in their music. Nick is on vocals and guitar, Drake is on bass, and Alec rounds it all out on the kit.
Phantum Sun’s music balances the familiar warmth of nostalgic tones with a forward-thinking approach to composition. Lyrically, Phantum Sun is all about introspection and emotional depth. The lyrics aren’t always straightforward, but that’s part of their charm.
With three singles under their belt, the band’s latest song, ‘Robbery,’ was released in May 2024 and is reminiscent of early 90s alt-rock by The Smashing Pumpkins, Screaming Trees, and Buffalo Tom.
Mixed Alt Mag recently had the opportunity to speak with the guys from Phantum Sun about their music, aspirations, and more. Take a moment to learn what makes this band so unique below.
MAM: Thank you for speaking with me today. First, who inspired you to pursue music, and how did they influence your original songs?
Alec: Anything 80s related to rock' n’ roll got me to get up and start learning drums. Feeling the beat and sound of that era made me want to get up and do the stuff these guys were doing.
Drake: I’ve been interested in music since I was a kid but didn’t have an outlet to learn to play an instrument until middle school. I took up saxophone, but it’s not the type of music I was into. My dad loved the look and sound of the grunge movement in the '90s, so he showed me the hard bass lines of Krist Novoselic and the melody powerhouses Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. No questions what inspires me to make music.
Nick: My biggest inspirations were my love of blues, grunge, metal, and everything really. I grew up listening to Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Soundgarden, Green Day, and Alice in Chains. Eventually, I found myself fascinated with garage rock, which was my tipping point regarding sound and songwriting. All my influences have now fused to make one absurd amalgamation of tones, influences, and passion. It all ties together to make up the sound of Phantum Sun.
MAM: How would you describe writing new music and the process that goes with it?
Alec: I like to feel what the other two put together, then come in and see what fits the style we’re going for in that specific song.
Drake: Nick writes the guitar parts and lyrics, so whenever he shows them to us, I watch and listen to what he has to say and start thinking of bass lines that match to get the best bass line I can for that particular song.
Nick: I usually write many lyrics and guitar parts per day. Then, I bring the melodies, guitar parts, and lyrics to the band. After that, we jam and feel out the idea until it sounds like what we want as a unit.
MAM: Who would you love to collaborate with one day? Why that person?
Alec: I’d personally love to collaborate with Tommy Lee, just to study and learn about his drumming style.
Drake: Definitely, Dave Grohl. Dave is my favorite musician and seems to be a genuinely good guy. He knows so much about the industry that I could learn from.
Nick: I would love to collaborate with Jack White. Jack is why I picked up the guitar five years ago, and I haven’t put it down since. His guitar tone and passion for music would make for a wicked collaboration that would lead to me learning more as a musician.
MAM: Where is your favorite venue where you’ve performed so far? I know you guys have been playing shows like crazy.
Alec: I enjoy outdoor venues, partially because we can be as loud as we want; it feels freer, and the crowd tends to engage more.
Drake: The 19th Hole in Houston, Texas has been my favorite so far. The bar's vibe has been immaculate every time we’ve been there; the stage is huge, and the sound guy is amazing and does such a great job.
Nick: My favorite venue is a toss-up between Artmosphere and the 19th Hole. Both venues have shown unimaginable kindness to me and the guys. The vibe and sound of both venues keep me wanting to come back more and more every time we play there.
MAM: That’s awesome. Having the support of the venues is enormous, in my opinion. What skills have you learned along the way that help you to be productive as a musician?
Alec: After learning bits and pieces from other bands that we’ve played with, I’ve learned to practice consistently, but also being patient really helps when it comes to drumming.
Drake: To me, it’s the chemistry between Alec, Nick, and me on and off stage. It never gets tedious or tiring if you trust each other.
Nick: Practicing, trust in the process, hard work, networking, and the ability to learn from the smallest lessons are all skills that I have adopted and built on to become a more productive musician.
MAM: What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses in being musicians?
Alec: I think my strengths and weaknesses go hand in hand; it’s weird. I’m still learning as we go.
Drake: The ability to blend what Nick does on guitar and Alec does on drums into something that makes the song thicker and heavier. My weakness is my age, which is due to my lack of experience. I’ve only been playing bass since 2021.
Nick: I think my greatest strength as a musician is my never-ending sense of wonder and passion for music. It keeps me on the path of learning and evolving as a songwriter and musician. My greatest weakness is my need to be too hard on myself.
MAM: Outside of music, what other hobbies and interests do you have?
Alec: I know it’s probably not a “cool” thing to admit, but I’m a huge wrestling fan. I’m all about anything WWE. I also love puzzles, if anyone needed more proof of me being a nerd.
(laughter)
Drake: I’m a big outdoorsman. I love hunting and fishing, especially here in my home state of Louisiana. I feel so comfortable when I’m either on stage, on a boat, or in a duck blind.
Nick: Outside of music, I am deeply interested in learning about anything I can, writing, watching horror, fantasy, sci-fi, etc., reading comics (preferably DC), and whatever else sparks the ADHD fuel in my head.
MAM: What would you be doing if it weren’t for your interest in a music career?
Alec: In all honesty, I have no idea. I never really had a backup plan.
Drake: I’d probably be going to college for something related to the tech industry, but I never really had a plan B in mind.
Nick: I would be in a field related to writing. Writing has always been my second love, after music, so anything dealing with that would be great for me.
With their first tour approaching this fall, Phantum Sun continues to work hard to make a name for themselves in the local scene and beyond. If they come to your town, take a chance and see them live. You might just be a little surprised. They are a band built on hopes, dreams, and aspirations of someday making it big with raw talent and an unconditional love for music. That love fuels their drive to pursue no other life paths besides making music for the masses.
To experience the music of Phantum Sun, just hit one of the links below.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PdjxAClNtSIyvvnj2vgsU
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/phantum-sun/1710758804
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@phantumsunofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Phantum-Sun/61556703719338/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phantumsunband/
Margo Leblanc loves listening to music, writing about music, and discovering new music. Do you have a band you think she'd like? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com.