Phoria is a groundbreaking alternative outfit led by the electronic and compositional visionary Trewin Howard and previously featuring lifelong friends Ed Sanderson on piano and synth, Jeb Hardwick as the guitarist and visual director, along with guitarist and synth player James Cheeseman and drummer Seryn Burden. The undeniable chemistry within the band fuelled their highly original sonic vision and seen them grow a devoted cult following of fans around the world.
Formed in Brighton in 2010, Phoria has spent the past 13 years carving out a distinctive space in the modern UK music scene. Their sound is immersive, beautiful and poignant, demonstrating via multiple well-received releases that track their constantly evolving and always forward-looking sonic output.
The band’s debut album, Volition, released in 2016, showcased their knack for electronic experimentation. In a surprising yet seamless shift in 2020, they embraced contemporary classical stylings with their follow-up record, Caught A Black Rabbit. A live session recorded at the iconic Abbey Road further underscored Phoria’s ability to navigate the upper echelons of the neo-classical world.
Now working as a solo artist, Trewin brings us the brand new single, “Hark (Re-Imagined),” the release follows the 3rd studio album, River Oblivion, and a sold-out performance at Union Chapel. Revisiting the track lifted from River Oblivion, “Hark (Re-Imagined)” takes the listener on a mesmerising journey. With his re-imagined version of “Hark,” Phoria crafts a truly stunning piece of contemporary classical music.
Stripping back the original and reconstructing it as an elegant instrumental piece, “Hark (Re-Imagined)” delivers an astonishingly beautiful soundscape that’s at once cinematic and fragile. Distant string lines form soft brush strokes on an atmospheric canvas as warm piano notes add a sombre aesthetic. Developing with bright plinks and quivering string leads, the minimalist intro gathers subtle pace as graceful piano toplines dance and flutter above layers of intricate strings building to a full arrangement that completely envelops you in a spectacular musical experience.
With a highly anticipated sold out show at KOKO in London next week, where Phoria will play live with Parallax Orchestra and a European spring tour set to be announced this month, Phoria is set to continue going from strength to strength on their thrilling musical adventure.
Commenting on the new release, Trewin Howard shares, “Hark involved some themes and proto-melodies that I always wanted to expand upon. Once the framing of them as a song was laid down on River Oblivion I wanted to see where they would flow if I unleashed them as an instrumental. I really enjoyed the feeling of exploring the textures of my rickety old felted piano, Sheba. Some stuff she really can’t do. But for certain tasks there’s no piano I’d rather use.”
Listen to Hark (Re-Imagined) below
More from Music
John Goldrust shares ‘Like A Phoenix’ album
Oxford-based singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer John Goldrust has spent much of his musical life exploring the space between known traditions …
New music from Serge & The Currents
Melbourne-based musician Sergio Ercole has spent more than four decades building a life around the guitar, moving between classical and …
IRONA releases new single “Marble White”
From New York to London, IRONA is an Istanbul-based artist whose music takes inspiration from a sense of place while …
