Chicago – LA band PHASES has literally gone through some phases. What started out as JJAMZ, with Z Berg (The Like), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), James Valentine (Maroon 5), Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley, The Elected, Bright Eyes), and Michael Runion, has turned into PHASES, with all original members, minus Valentine, who has been busy devoting himself to that sort of big-time project of his with Adam Levine. The band has gone from more of a dark electro-pop tone, with “Heartbeat,” to more light-hearted dance music, with “I’m In Love With My Life,” while still keeping that 80s feel, resulting in a fabulous mix of chill Cali vibes on their soon to be released debut For Life.
Best New Bands caught up with Z to talk about the transition from JJAMZ to PHASES, the making of For Life, and her 80s heroes.
First I have to ask, why the name change? Was it because you lost James? You wanted to start fresh?
It was a combination of things. Number one, JJAMZ was an acronym for all of our names, so losing a James, we could’t really in good conscious call ourselves JJAMZ anymore because we lost a fucking J. So there was that, but also, the shift in the music and the direction of the band was so dramatic that we thought it really deserved a new name.
How has the transition from a five-piece to a four-piece been?
You know, there’s kind of a symmetry to four people in a band, which can be really effective. Also, the thing is, James was always in and out because he’s in that little band called Maroon 5 (laughs), so we were always like a four-piece, with an honorary member. James is my favorite person in the world to be around, so it’s sad not having him around in the band all the time, but there is a strength in the unity and symmetry of four people.
Everyone in the band has been in and around the music industry for some time. How do you feel that affects the way you guys approach music and PHASES?
It’s funny because I’m still in my twenties, but I’ve been doing this since I was eighteen years old. I’ve spent so much time on tour, making records, and all that jazz. It makes us have, well we’ve come to the point where none of us has an ego about anything anymore. I think that’s the best thing that’s happened because we’ve all been doing this for so long… [eventually] you get to the point where all you care about is making music you love, and that’s the place where we’re at.
Well, I love your music! I’ve been listening to it a lot lately. I really enjoy “Cooler.” What inspired this song?
You know, that’s a very fun story! It started with Jason Boesel. He was driving his car – Boesel and I both drive old Mercedes – his air conditioning does not work. He was driving in the summertime, and he literally just started singing to himself, “Damn, I really wish it were cooler.” (laughs) We recorded that in the voice booth and then turned it into a real song. We all got with it. I learned the bridge… Strangely, it’s become the most random song in our set and sums up most of the relationships that I’ve had. (laughs)
My air conditioner just died in my car, so now I feel like I have to listen to that asap, in honor of this story. (laughs) I’m so addicted to “I’m In Love With My Life.” It’s such a “feel good” song, and I find myself hitting repeat, listening to it over and over. Was that your intention with this song?
This song was also an accident. That’s the great thing; so much of this record just happened by bloody chance and happenstance. We had been working on that track for a really long time. The phrase, “I’m in love with my life,” was something that Alex [Greenwald] had heard Jason saying, when we were recording a different song. Jason yelled something from the kitchen, and Alex stood up and said, “Did you just say, ‘I’m in love with my life’?” (laughs) Jason was like, “I sure didn’t,” but then we just started singing that over everything, and it became a great mantra for what we were doing. It really is. Making this record was so fun. These are my best friends.
Speaking of friends, I saw that Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. remixed ”I’m In Love With My Life.” I love them, so I was excited to see they remixed your song. How did this come to be? Are you guys friends with them or did they approach you?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are on the same label as us, and so we see them at Warner Bros., since we rehearse in the basement. We ran into them a few times and were like, “We really like your music. You guys should do something with us.” But working and rehearsing at Warner Bros. is like a sitcom because everyone is there all the time. We’ll take a break and walk upstairs and run into Jr. Jr. or we’ll walk upstairs and they’re having a Duran Duran party. Everyday there’s a weird, new exciting thing going on. It should be filmed!
You should make a music video around that! It’d be hilarious.
Yeah, seriously! Just wandering the halls and running into everybody. (laughs)
I was watching the visualizer for “Betty Blue” and was reminded of watching Jem as a child.
Oh my god, you just said my favorite thing in the entire world! Truth be told, that’s probably why I started a band in the first place! I am a product of Pippi Longstocking, Pollyanna, She-Ra Princess of Power, and Jem and the Holograms. That’s basically all you need to know about me!
You’re my new best friend! (laughs) I was going to ask what your favorite 80s cartoons were, but you pretty much answered that.
Yeah, you got it!
I can’t end this interview without asking about PHASES’ debut full-length, due out this Fall. What can you tell us about it?
The record, I can tell you, is well, I really love it! (giggles) This record is really exciting for me because it covers a broad range of subject matter. We wrote so many songs for it. We’d go into the studio and write a song every day… It covers a lot more ground than my usual, you know, we broke up, got back together, etc. I feel like there’s a lot more for everyone, a mood for everyone. It’s such a fun record to play, have a dance party or drive around to at night.
Guess I’ll have to get my air conditioner fixed then! For Life is due out September 18 and is available for pre-order on iTunes. PHASES will be touring this Fall in support of it.
A full list of tour dates can be found on PHASES’ Facebook page.
Photo Credit: Julia Brokaw
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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