Phantom Dawn represents the artistic alter ego of Matthew Smyth. As a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Smyth draws inspiration from a diverse array of musicians, including The Stone Roses, Tom Waits, Phoebe Bridgers, My Chemical Romance, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Beyond music, Smyth finds creative fuel in poetry, film, painting, as well as Irish mythology and Catholic iconography.
As I connected over video call with the enigmatic Phantom Dawn, there was an immediate sense of warmth and authenticity that emanated from his presence. His eyes, aglow with the passion of someone who has poured their soul into the debut single, spoke volumes about the significance of this moment. “Not at all, the pleasure’s all mine,” he greeted with genuine humility, setting the tone for a conversation. Hailing from Dublin but now rooted in the vibrant landscape of Vancouver, Smyth’s artistic evolution weaves a tale of exploration and transformation. At the heart of Phantom Dawn lies the essence of poetry, a vessel through which Smyth delves into the recesses of his ‘shadow-self’. Through themes of mental illness, fear, regret, and self-doubt, he navigates the labyrinth of human emotion, offering glimpses of hope and redemption amidst the darkness. For Smyth, every lyric is a confessional, a poignant reflection of the human condition, steeped in the enigmatic allure of artists like David Lynch and Claude Monet. In discussing his debut single, ‘Memento,’ he unveiled the poignant narrative beneath its melodies — a reflection on the bittersweet essence of reminiscence.
photo by @phantom.dawn
Hi Matthew, thank you for taking the time to talk with me! “Memento” is your debut single, combining influences from British alternative and indie rock music of the 1980s, Dream Pop, and Shoegaze. How were you able to blend these diverse elements and create your own sound?
Not at all, the pleasure’s all mine! I’ve never subscribed to the idea of committing to any one sound, so I naturally just draw on all the art I like. I’m a big fan of bands like The Stone Roses, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine and The Cure. I feel like that era of music has this beautiful, faded, distorted quality that fit the feel of ‘Memento’ really well. So in terms of the production, I leaned into style that a little.
I managed to listen to the track before its release, and it sounds quite modern yet carries a hint of melancholy. How did you achieve this delicate harmony in the songwriting process?
I think the melancholy comes from the idea of looking back at something that was special to you in the moment, but knowing now, it’s gone. There’s always a sadness in that, but I hope it comes through that you still carry the meaning of these things with you in a positive way. Which is why it’s sonically quite upbeat. I suppose that’s the struggle I’m trying to get at. The song is very bittersweet to me in that way.
Your lyrics are described as poetic and exploring your “shadow-self.” Could you share your vision of the “shadow-self” and how it is reflected in your lyrics? What emotions or thoughts are you trying to convey through this concept?
To me, that idea is all about recognising and knowing the parts of yourself that you’re afraid of. The parts you try to hide from yourself and others. I’m not sure why exactly, but I seem to explore that stuff when I’m writing. Making music is definitely therapeutic for me. It’s how I make sense of the world and my life. So in order to do that, you have to be willing to shine a light on those dark aspects. The point though, is to come to accept and overcome these things. There’s always hope in the songs somewhere.
Matthew, your move from Dublin to Vancouver undoubtedly must have influenced your creativity. How do you think these changes have affected the sound of your music since you started your musical project Phantom Dawn? Could you describe how your music has changed or evolved as a result of this move and new environment?
Personally, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s given me belief in myself to pursue this thing as a solo artist. On a logistical level, I have to be more economic when recording. The song really has to work at it’s core when you have less tools to rely on. I also try not to drive my roommates mental so I have windows where I record, so I have to know what I’m doing. Generally, I’ll make sure the song works with just an acoustic guitar and vocals, then I put my producer hat on and translate that idea into the full song. So, the songs start in a singer-songwriter way, then I almost get to write it a second time while recording all the other various parts.
photo by Ruby McKinnon
How do you approach writing songs that delve into such deep and emotional themes as mental disorders, fear, regret, loss, grief, and self-doubt?
I don’t know what it says about me that that’s where my mind tends to wander when writing! It is quite introspective, probably because I’m an emo kid at heart. I love artists like My Chemical Romance, Phoebe Bridgers and Pinegrove, so maybe it’s not so surprising. I find I write in a way that’s personal, honest and sincere, but not necessarily like you’re reading someone’s diary. There usually is elements of fiction or exaggeration in there. I think that brings the truth out more. My Grandad always says when you’re telling a story, you have to ”add a bit of colour”, so I guess I do that at times.
Your music is described as “beautifully dark,” which sounds intriguing. How do you manage to create this unique balance between introspective, sometimes dark lyrics, and at the same time, mesmerizing melodies?
Well thank you! The music that really moves me tends to be very pretty sounding, usually in a major key ect, but the lyrics are messed up. Something about the mix of beautiful music and bleak lyrics just gets me every time, so I try to bring that into a kind of Indie Rock context. I also adore pop music. So I try to do my thing, while trying to write great songs with strong melodies.
As a solo artist, do you experience any specific challenges and advantages in the creative process compared to working, for example, with a band, where everyone tries to contribute their own ideas to the song?
The main difference is I’m doing everything myself now, which is kind of scary but also exciting! I miss the moments of magic from collaborating with my friends in my old band ‘Motion Picture Sound’. But, the positives are it’s a lot quicker to get things done because the only person that has to like an idea is me. You just have to believe in what you’re doing when there’s no one else to reassure you or tell you something is cool. So if if something excites me, I try not to overthink it.
You have several releases planned for this year. Could you share which aspects of the Phantom Dawn sound will be highlighted in the upcoming singles and how they will differ from each other?
The next single is definitely more intense. It’s a lot faster too. It has a more traditional Indie Rock sound, it’s almost punk-y in a weird way. Then the one after that is a slow, folky, love ballad called ”No Need for Heaven”. I’m really excited about these ones. Each song leans into a slightly different aspect of the project, but it still sounds like the same artist, which is cool. That’s the fun part about being an indie artist, you can make whatever you want.
What is the strangest or most unusual moment related to your music that has happened to you?
Good question. Probably the instances where I write something and either don’t remember it, or think much of it at the time, then six months later you go ”ah that’s what that meant!”. It feels like you plucked it out of ether somewhere. Like the idea was always there and you just transcribed it. That’s always mad. That or just a stranger telling you that they liked your song. That’s a strange sensation still.
What specifically inspired you to name the project Phantom Dawn?
That’s exactly what I was talking about! I just wrote it down one night and knew that’s what I wanted to name the project. And now, it makes sense to me in a lot of ways. One way I think about it is that endless conflict between light and dark, not to get too ‘Zen’ or David Lynch-y on you. Phantom is also probably my favourite word in the English language so I had to fit it in the name somewhere.
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