Phantogram - "Someday" / "Saturday" (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Add Date: 06/05
Focus Track: 1
FCC: Clean
Formats: College
Artist Info: The first new music released by Phantogram in a year and a half, new original track “Someday” honors the memory of those lost to suicide, and the grief and hope carried every day by family and friends left behind.
Beautiful A-side “Someday” depicts the unspeakable grief, self-blame and sorrow that ensue after a loved one’s death from suicide, but ultimately also conveys a transition toward hope, and an acknowledgment that life goes on and must be lived fully by survivors… and also a message of hope and love for anyone struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts or other crises as the songs darker initial verses give way to the light of the chorus lyric: “I’m always going to miss you, I’m always going to feel you in everything that I do… oh I love you so”.
Never-before-released B-side “Saturday” is a Mark Linkous cover – his band Sparklehorse was a major early musical inspiration for Phantogram
The full backstory:
In 2016, while working on what would eventually become their album Three, Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter were crushed when they suddenly lost Sarah’s sister (and Josh’s childhood friend) Becky to suicide. Months later, returning to the studio to start the process of picking up the pieces to finish the album, they resumed work on a song they’d begun building around samples of the classic Al Green songs “I’m Still in Love with You” and “Livin’ for You” – and which the loss of Becky had imbued with new meaning for the duo…. But working on the song still proved too painful, and the song was tabled until this spring, when the band came back to it after a lengthy healing process that included beginning to speak out regularly at shows and in interviews to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to destigmatize mental illness.
Regarding the band’s ongoing involvement in the cause of suicide prevention awareness, Barthel says: “We’ve learned that when you reach out, people reach back. Our fans, our friends and family, other artists and strangers were overwhelming in their support for us, and also for each other. The stories we’ve all shared with each other have helped fend off feelings of isolation, building an ongoing community that will continue together to break down stigmas and a tendency toward silence.”
Proceeds from sales and streams of both tracks will go directly to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to support their mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Phantogram has worked with the organization before, and was honored with AFSP’s Public Awareness Award at the non-profit’s LifeSaver Gala on May 16th, 2018 in New York City.