This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist Interviews
Q&A: Phantom Limb
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 3 December 2009
Country/soul quintet Phantom Limb released their eponymous debut album in 2008, bringing together musical talents who had previously worked with the likes Massive Attack, Bugz In The Attic, Skin and Roni Size. With influences drawn from artists such as Gillian Welch, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, Phantom Limb’s sound is an amalgam of classic, southern soul, country blues and gospel, and boasts a unique vocalist in Yolanda Quartey whose voice recalls the likes of Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples. A special edition version of their debut album was released last month and the band are touring with Will Young throughout December. We spoke to them to find out more and ask the same six questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
Out of necessity. We all love to hear each other playing, so we had to start a band.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
We love timeless music, we also love good musicianship and singing. We were interested in representing all aspects of our collective tastes with cohesion.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
The basics generally arise from one or two members, and then the band as a whole make it happen. It kind of produces itself. Everybody injects the right amount of taste and flare.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
We love Gillian Welch, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Band, The Steeldrivers, Gene Clark, The Byrds, Neil Young, Crosby, Still And Nash…
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Don’t fight it, don’t get all het up on fashions and trends, let the music do its job. Music is the reason, not the bi-product of your hair cut or how skinny your jeans are. It’s like a good meal or a conversation.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
We want to finish our second album. We are touring for the rest of the year, which we are all looking forward to. That amount of time together will afford us the opportunity to write more material. We have about eight songs at the moment and we will be looking to pick from about twenty. Then more touring. We love playing shows more that anything else.
MORE>> www.myspace.com/phantomlimbrobot
