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Phoebe Rings Phoebe Rings

Release Date: October 18th, 2024

TRACK LISTING

1. Chesire
2. January Blues
3. Lazy Universe
4. Spissky
5. Ocean
6. Daisy

ABOUT

Phoebe Rings is a dream-pop band offering a unique blend of introspective yearning with celestial danceable grooves. Their self-titled debut EP, a hopeful collection of musings, out October 18, 2024 on Carpark Records, is a testament to the distinctive musical style of Auckland jazz-school-trained pianist and songwriter Crystal Choi. Across six tracks, the EP is a love letter to some of the band’s influences: Studio Ghibli films, Zelda and Stardew soundtracks, Bossa Nova, Stereolab, and 90’s Korean ballads.

In 2020, the band played their first gig in a ‘funny side room’ during a festival at Auckland Town Hall. Choi’s songwriting was brought to life with Alex Freer on drums, Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent on guitar and synths, and Benjamin Locke on bass. Choi says she knew the tracks had to be recorded after the band played the songs better than she could ever imagine. And so, remotely through the COVID-19 lockdowns, the band started recording the EP.

“Daisy” is the vibrant leading single, with the shimmery refrain “Ooh-wee-a-waa” and the uplifting mantra: “When you’re next to me, the world’s full of daisies.” The swirling synths fizz on the skin like warm sun, promising growth and new starts. “Cheshire” is an Alice in Wonderland-inspired trip through the rabbit hole, pacing in anticipation. “Like a Cheshire cat, it grins and disappears in moments when you accept yourself,” explains Choi. Locke and Choi finished the lyrics one evening, huddled in the corner of a local underground music venue, with references to Murakami’s book Dance Dance Dance.

Choi grew up in Seoul, developing a palette for K-pop and retro sounds. The city-pop influence of “January Blues” shines through, with Choi crediting one of her favourite songs from the ’80s: “연극이 끝난 후 [After Play]”. The track explores her disconnect with the summer break. “In the Northern Hemisphere, January is winter,” says Choi. “I missed that a lot, and I don’t vibe with the beach.”

“Spissky,” chimes in with Choi’s lilting vocals reminiscent of childhood lullabies, inspired by a lonely-looking castle she saw on tour with Princess Chelsea in Slovakia. While “Ocean” leans into its mumble-core roots, taking a leaf from the Cocteau Twins. There’s an external shift in the EP, with “Lazy Universe” being the most energetic track, evolving with the band’s chaotic sci-fi experimentation. Asking, “Are you still waiting for a kiss?” Choi is self-critical and urgently speaks up from being passive.

The members of Phoebe Rings are cemented in the musical ecosystem, balancing other projects and full-time work. Yet Sundays will always be carved out for Phoebe Rings to dream up imaginative, world-building tunes — often with a Nintendo game soundtrack in the background as inspiration.

Carpark Records
Carpark Records

ALBUM CREDITS

Alex Freer - drums & percussion
Benjamin Locke - electric bass
Crystal Choi - vocals, synthesizers, wurlitzer, organ
Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent - guitar & slide guitar

With additional playing by:

Charmian Keay - violin
Kathleen Tomacruz - cello

Written by Crystal Choi
Recorded by Phoebe Rings, Tom Healy, Jonathan Pearce & Bob Frisbee in various studios and venues
Mixed by Tom Healy (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) & Bob Frisbee (track 5)
Mastered by Jonathan Pearce
Cover artwork '운하 雲河 - cloud river' by In Joo Park (박인주)

Special thanks to:

Jon for mastering this EP, Tom for mixing the tracks and lending us your luxurious gear, Bob for recording us live, mixing, and doing incredible sound, Charmian and Kat for lush string playing, Amanda for cute photography, Lily for merch design, Sarah and Natalie for printing merch, and In Joo for the ethereal artwork. Thanks to Carpark, and lastly, thanks to you all for listening – this truly is a dream come true :)

More Carpark Releases

Carpark Records

Phoebe Rings Phoebe Rings

Release Date: October 18th, 2024

TRACK LISTING

1. Chesire
2. January Blues
3. Lazy Universe
4. Spissky
5. Ocean
6. Daisy

ABOUT

Phoebe Rings is a dream-pop band offering a unique blend of introspective yearning with celestial danceable grooves. Their self-titled debut EP, a hopeful collection of musings, out October 18, 2024 on Carpark Records, is a testament to the distinctive musical style of Auckland jazz-school-trained pianist and songwriter Crystal Choi. Across six tracks, the EP is a love letter to some of the band’s influences: Studio Ghibli films, Zelda and Stardew soundtracks, Bossa Nova, Stereolab, and 90’s Korean ballads.

In 2020, the band played their first gig in a ‘funny side room’ during a festival at Auckland Town Hall. Choi’s songwriting was brought to life with Alex Freer on drums, Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent on guitar and synths, and Benjamin Locke on bass. Choi says she knew the tracks had to be recorded after the band played the songs better than she could ever imagine. And so, remotely through the COVID-19 lockdowns, the band started recording the EP.

“Daisy” is the vibrant leading single, with the shimmery refrain “Ooh-wee-a-waa” and the uplifting mantra: “When you’re next to me, the world’s full of daisies.” The swirling synths fizz on the skin like warm sun, promising growth and new starts. “Cheshire” is an Alice in Wonderland-inspired trip through the rabbit hole, pacing in anticipation. “Like a Cheshire cat, it grins and disappears in moments when you accept yourself,” explains Choi. Locke and Choi finished the lyrics one evening, huddled in the corner of a local underground music venue, with references to Murakami’s book Dance Dance Dance.

Choi grew up in Seoul, developing a palette for K-pop and retro sounds. The city-pop influence of “January Blues” shines through, with Choi crediting one of her favourite songs from the ’80s: “연극이 끝난 후 [After Play]”. The track explores her disconnect with the summer break. “In the Northern Hemisphere, January is winter,” says Choi. “I missed that a lot, and I don’t vibe with the beach.”

“Spissky,” chimes in with Choi’s lilting vocals reminiscent of childhood lullabies, inspired by a lonely-looking castle she saw on tour with Princess Chelsea in Slovakia. While “Ocean” leans into its mumble-core roots, taking a leaf from the Cocteau Twins. There’s an external shift in the EP, with “Lazy Universe” being the most energetic track, evolving with the band’s chaotic sci-fi experimentation. Asking, “Are you still waiting for a kiss?” Choi is self-critical and urgently speaks up from being passive.

The members of Phoebe Rings are cemented in the musical ecosystem, balancing other projects and full-time work. Yet Sundays will always be carved out for Phoebe Rings to dream up imaginative, world-building tunes — often with a Nintendo game soundtrack in the background as inspiration.

Carpark Records
Carpark Records

ALBUM CREDITS

Alex Freer - drums & percussion
Benjamin Locke - electric bass
Crystal Choi - vocals, synthesizers, wurlitzer, organ
Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent - guitar & slide guitar

With additional playing by:

Charmian Keay - violin
Kathleen Tomacruz - cello

Written by Crystal Choi
Recorded by Phoebe Rings, Tom Healy, Jonathan Pearce & Bob Frisbee in various studios and venues
Mixed by Tom Healy (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) & Bob Frisbee (track 5)
Mastered by Jonathan Pearce
Cover artwork '운하 雲河 - cloud river' by In Joo Park (박인주)

Special thanks to:

Jon for mastering this EP, Tom for mixing the tracks and lending us your luxurious gear, Bob for recording us live, mixing, and doing incredible sound, Charmian and Kat for lush string playing, Amanda for cute photography, Lily for merch design, Sarah and Natalie for printing merch, and In Joo for the ethereal artwork. Thanks to Carpark, and lastly, thanks to you all for listening – this truly is a dream come true :)

More Carpark Releases