Fantom

What led to the birth of fantom?

“My alias fantom was born over a year ago. I was looking for an outlet for my creativity and since I’m obsessed with pop music, it felt like the perfect opportunity to give it a shot. The first sessions turned out pretty good and my love for music intensified with every song I wrote. I would say that fantom is a character where I dare to be a more extravert version of myself with clear influences from pop culture. It’s bold. It grabs your attention. It’s 100% myself with an extra twinkle of glitter.”

What inspired you to get into the arts and music?

“As a huge pop fan, I was always inspired by pop acts and secretly dreamed of performing too. Once I realized that I didn’t need to have the vocals of Mariah Carrey or Lady Gaga, I got in the studio and experimented with my sound. Becoming an artist is a process and I feel like I know quite well where I see myself in the future: on a stage of a festival or sweaty club. The inspiration for my monniker comes from the idea of being one person with different souls. Every song sounds different and will appeal to a different audience.”

“I grew up in a very warm, open-minded family that always supported me in any way possible. We were always very free to do what we wanted - even though my parents were a bit sceptical when I told them I wanted to make music. I think they wanted to prevent negative critics and don’t want me to be sad if this would flop. That actually motivated me even more to kick ass and here we are: my first single is finally coming out.”

Did you have any influential role models (if so, who?).

“When I was around twelve years old, I really looked up to Lady Gaga. As a young queer kid, there were not many queer role models on TV or in movies. When there was a queer character, it was often very stereotypical and I couldn’t recognize myself in them. Lady Gaga was the first act where I saw myself in. At the moment, I’m just very inspired by every person that is their true authentic selves. In a world where everybody has the need to label someone, it’s refreshing to see someone that remains 100% themselves. Musically, I think I’m currently very attracted to whatever PC Music does. They are really reinventing pop music.”

What is your creative process and what are the most important things you keep in mind when beginning a new project? Are there any recurring themes/issues you like to address within your work?

“I usually write every song before I go to the studio. I never force myself to write anything and let the process happen. Most of the time, I also have an idea how I want my song to sound and make a little playlist to illustrate my inspiration to my producer. The songs are mostly made within two hours. We’re quick and I know exactly what sound reflects the mood I want to bring across. All the lyrics are written by myself and reflect how I feel. It’s retrospective and I try to question my existence without putting a filter on my thought process. When I’m happy, I write a happy song. When I’m sad, I write a sad song.”

What advice would you give to artists starting out or to those artists who are struggling with creative blocks?

“Initially set a deadline for myself when the first song should come out and had too much expectations, which resulted in unnecessary pressure. Take your time but don’t overthink it. Be inspired by others but don’t forget who you are. It’s also super important to listen to yourself because you know what you want to tell but be open for feedback too. And if you’re making pop music, don’t take yourself to seriously. You need to have fun.”

Any other interesting facts/information we should know about you?

“I have around twenty songs ready and there’s a lot of new music coming rather soon then late. I do everything myself at the moment, so it takes a bit longer to figure every release out. It’s nice to have all the freedom at the moment but I’d love to work with a management, booker or label. I’m open for everything, as long as my creativity is respected.”