“We locked ourselves away for 36 hours, and took a trip into the darker, heavier side of our sound.”
About the track: PHANTOM is about making do with what you have, getting kicked the f’ck out of by a gang in the estate you live on, being forced to relocate, entertaining post-traumatic stress disorder for a decade, then dealing with the untimely death of your single parent. And surviving the lot of it. Asher writing PHANTOM in 2019 could only happen because Asher from 2006 is still here. The track is a celebration of that more than anything else.
“I went through my formative teenage years on the Crawford Estate in Camberwell, South East London. It was – and is still – also referred to as “C Block” by some of the residents. If you weren’t running with a gang or shotting bags, you were wasting your time, and if you tried to do anything even remotely constructive, God help you. I got caught by a gang in my own block once in 2006. My mum taught me I could get out of it if I worked hard enough, so I persisted – more for her sake than mine. “Don’t forget: you’re here forever” shortens to “Do it for her” with the right photo placements, and when mum lost her battle with cancer in 2017, I could finally stop working myself stupid to support the family – and start writing songs like PHANTOM.” – Asher Baker
Lyrics: Don’t ever get ideas above your station. Don’t forget: You’re here forever. That’s what the page read. And on November 23rd ‘17 I stopped saying that I’d do it for her. Now I’ma do it for me.”
Genre: An experimental Music Collective that encompasses elements of Grime, Rock, Electronic, Metal, Garage, Drum N Bass
Credits:
Recorded by James Routh (Sonic Boom Six, Ghouls, Screech Bats) at Rock Hard Studios, Blackpool in October 2019.
Mixed by James “Lerock” Loughrey
Mastered by Katie Tavini
Written by Asher Baker and James Routh
Performed by Asher Baker (Vocals), James Routh (Baritone / Trombone), Aiden Baldwin (Drums / Samples), Liam Carroll (Guitar) & Archi Troko (Keys)
Artwork by Aiden Baldwin
