E.G. PHILLIPS – “I AM THE ONE WHO GHOSTS”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
San Francisco-based artist E.G. Phillips presents his new single “I Am The One Who Ghosts” featuring Spanish artist Mar Vilaseca on vocals, This is the third taste of Phillips’ forthcoming Outlaw The Dead EP, mixed and produced by Chris McGrew and Billboard-charting producer Jaimeson Durr (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Hope Sandoval).
A sultry and soothing jazzy offering, this goes down so smoothly. While addressing a real social media phenomenon that is rampant in our society (BTW, the lyrics are great), one cannot help but slip into some kind of regal period jazz fantasyland when listening to this. Brilliant in every capacity, one could only hope to catch such a composition live with these particular artists – a perfect fit, leaving a fine long-lasting taste in one’s mouth.
Recorded in Studio C of Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco (AKA Wally’s HydeOut) at the former Wally Heider Studios, this is the same space where such legendary artists as Herbie Hancock, Santana, Grateful Dead, Green Day and Dead Kennedys recorded some of their most legendary releases.
” When I started writing this one, I had in mind Walter White’s infamous declaration “I am the one who knocks” in Breaking Bad. I thought this was an interesting, assertive approach from which to talk about the pattern of behavior we’ve come to describe as “ghosting”. It seems like something people are more likely to accuse others of doing or be flippant about when they do it themselves. Along the way, the song became more confessional and, as is my want, cynical,” explains E.G. Phillips.
The atmospheric instrumentation was born of that alchemy that develops between veteran musicians who have performed together many times and have created many records together, as is the case with Kevin Seal, Chris McGrew, and Christopher Fortier — all members of the progressive punk band Griddle. Fortier, in particular, is a tour-de-force here, providing some spectral David Glimor-esque riffs.
The vocals are by Barcelona native Mar Vilaseca, who’s smoky producer Chris McGrew first heard her when she was performing at the Black Cat jazz club in San Francisco. He thought she would be a good match for this track, which he felt needed some “sang’n” to complement its sparse sonic landscape and rightly so.
A tech refugee originally from the Midwest, Phillips ultimately found greener grass on the West coast. Originally from Chicago suburbs, but having also lived in East Central Illinois and Minnesota, his musical journeys have grown more adventurous since relocating to the Bay Area at the turn of the century, especially since venturing out on the open mic scene in San Francisco — finding a musical home of sorts at Bazaar Cafe.
With the steadfast backing of his band Ducks With Pants, Phillips blends lyric-driven compositions with his own special blend of whimsy and cinematic imagery, offering a wry take in dealing with the longings of the heart and the madness of existence.
Vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Mar Vilaseca was born in 1998, in Barcelona, Spain. Mar grew up in a musical environment and learned how to play and sing at a very young age. She was classically trained in piano and traditional harmony at the Conservatorio del Liceo. At 14, she started singing professionally in her father’s band, where she began her career in jazz and modern music. Mar moved to New York to study her Master of Music in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School, with Professors Wynton Marsalis, Carla Cook, Elio Villafranca, Kenny Washington, and Donald Vega among others, graduating in 2022 with the Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship Award.
As of September 6, “I Am The One Who Ghosts” is available across fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where Phillips’ back catalogue can also be explored. On November 2, Phillips will perform at The Utah Saloon in San Francisco to celebrate this release and, prior to that, at The Waypost in Portland on September 15.
SINGLE CREDITS
Mar Vilaseca — vocals
Christopher Fortier — guitars, electric bass
Kevin Seal — piano, B3 organ
Chris McGrew — percussion
Recorded at Wally’s HydeOut in Hyde Street Studio C, San Francisco
Recorded by Gary Hobish
Mixed by Chris McGrew and Jaimeson Durr
Mastered by Gary Hobish, A. Hammer Mastering
Produced by Chris McGrew
Artwork by Mario M. Noche
Written by E.G. Phillips (ASCAP)
© 2023 Ducks With Pants Music
Video footage by Mikhail Nilov
Please also enjoy E.G. Phillips’ latest two singles:
E.G. Phillips
[Single]
(Ducks With Pants Records)
Release Date: September 6, 2023
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Michael Hruska
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