Exclusive Interview with 'FANTØMEX'

Fantomex is a Western North Carolina-based indie punk, post-harcore band with members who split their time between Asheville and Morganton. Fantomex began with longtime friends, guitarist Isaac Crouch and drummer Edwin Mericle, jamming together occasionally for years before deciding to take it a step further and start a real band in 2017. They played in two previous bands together and attended high school together. Abigail Taylor, a vocalist, entered the scene with her intense, thought-provoking lyrics, whose counterrhythms fused uniquely with the music. Soon after, Max Miller joined Fantmex and, with his snappy, quick bass lines and his ever-flowing, creative songwriting skills, completed the band. Fantomex’s music is fast, loud, and full of angsty female empowerment. It is influenced by bands like mewithoutYou, Frodus, At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta, David Bowie, The Blood Brothers, and many more. The live performances by Fantomex are hypnotic, intense performances that almost feel theatrical. They are a show that shouldn’t be missed.
Their second EP, “Terraformed,” contains four songs and will be followed by “Chimera” the following year. The songs on this album, which deal with topics like the pandemic, existential crises, the illusion of control, and finding true love, have been greatly influenced by both worldly and personal events that have occurred over the past two years.

This is the first EP that they have released with their current bassist, Max Miller. From their debut album, “Consent Agenda,” you can hear a bigger, more math-influenced shift in their sound. This change is primarily attributable to the addition of Max to the band, particularly with the two songs, “FantomCatz” and “Machine,” where he contributed most of the instrumental writing weight. Check out this EP and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
FANTØMEX:

Edwin: Isaac (guitar) and I (drums) have been good friends since we were in high school and we’ve played in a bunch of bands together in the past. After years of not playing with each other, we decided to start writing music together again, partly out of a desire to play a style that we had been unable to find in other projects we had been a part of. Thus, we formed the basis of what Fantømex is now. Abigail was singing in a bluegrass/folk band at the time. We got her to come in and test the waters on vocals. Lo and behold it turned out to be a fantastic mix. Max joined the band when our last bassist had to move town for work. He fit in like a glove! And here we are, still going at it.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
FANTØMEX:

Edwin: I have had formal training in playing percussion since I was 10 years old. I also have a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies.

Isaac: (guitar) self-taught other than a community college class in music theory.

Abigail: no formal training, just lots of church choir growing up, and lots of musical theatre.

Max: Self-taught multi-instrumentalist. Lots of at home recording drums, guitars, bass, and synths.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘FANTØMEX’?

FANTØMEX:

Edwin: We take a lot of core influence, at least when we first started, from early 2000s post-hardcore era, more specifically from mewithoutYou and At the Drive-In/The Mars Volta. As far as the name of the band, I’m just a huge comic book nerd. Fantomex is a C-list X-Men that has a lot of weird powers and back story and I just thought he was really cool. I was reading Grant Morrison’s huge “New X-Men” run at the time, and I put Fantomex on the giant list of possible band names Isaac and I made.

Abigail: My first influences were from all the r&b albums my dad would play me; a lot of Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye and Al Green, with some Bowie and Paul Simon thrown in there. I also grew up on musical theatre so I’ve got singers like Liza Minelli in my bones.

Isaac: The Mars Volta, Radiohead, MeWithoutYou, Blink 182

Max: Started with Green Day, skipped over emo 2000s music and found “mathcore” on MTV2 Head Bangers Ball and discovered The Dillinger Escape Plan, the rest is history.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

FANTØMEX:

Max: When I write with Fantømex, I go in with the thought of; A dash of Intricate rhythms balanced with approachable Alternative & Post-Punk riffs sprinkled throughout the rest of the song for Abby to take the lead.

Edwin: We write music we love. It’s loud and fast and a little unconventional…but still solid enough to dance to if you want. In my mind, I think the biggest thing that should resonate with fans is Abby’s work in the group. Her counter rhythms blow me away every time lyrics are put to a new song. And the lyrics themselves are incredible and thought-provoking. Seriously, go read along next time you listen to us.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as ROCK?
**FANTØMEX**:
Max: I would hear a song or artist that resonated with me and dig into them. Then I’d try to implement the rhythms or timbre they use and reengineer it to what I enjoy and fits Fantømex’s style. This eventually all just is dumped into my “mental bank” of styles I enjoy and want to emulate.
Abigail: Emulating other rock and punk artists and trying on different vocal styles was a major part of what I did when I first joined the band, having come from being in an Americana band. After a lot of experimentation, I feel like I have more of my own voice, informed by a wide range of influences. Somehow it all fits together in an interesting way.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
FANTØMEX:

Abigail: Music and art are all of the above, at least for me. I think what I write is just an ongoing exploration of who I am and what I’m thinking about or dealing with. And I am often personally grappling with politics, social issues, my own mental health struggles, identity, and spirituality. Writing our lyrics is super therapeutic, and I’m able to get out a lot of anger and fear about the world we live in. But it’s not always dark and serious. Some lyrics just come about from trying to amuse myself and sometimes, are simply acts of celebration.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

FANTØMEX:

Edwin: As someone who has been playing in bands, literally non-stop, since I was 16…this is the band I have always wanted to play in. It’s fun, fast, and loud. It challenges me creatively and technically. I love every bit of it. Every single member of this group amazes me with their talent and the music that comes out of them. In addition, we always have a great time together and have become a cute little family in our own right. As long as we keep doing like we are, I’m happy.

Abigail: awwwwe what Edwin said! Also, this is what I’ve always wanted to do; write and perform and collaborate. I was incredibly shy about being loud and yell-y when the guys asked to join them. I was used to trying to sound “perfect” and my time in Fantømex has really given me the confidence and freedom to let loose and get weird…and with close friends. That’s what I want out of life.
Max: Writing music is the “checkpoint” of the week for me. It doesn’t matter if I’m the only one who hears it or a bunch of audience members do, I will do it regardless as it’s my “I accomplished something this week”. When you find three other people to do that with you, you are extraordinary lucky and you bet it’s 100times better than producing music alone.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

FANTØMEX:

Edwin: Max or Isaac usually come in with a riff, or a half a song, or something of that nature, the three of us will jam on it until we get a finished instrumental version of a song. We then hand it off to Abby to put lyrics to.

Abigail: Then I fret over what the hell I’m going to write for this. (Ha) Really, I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to put lyrics to a usually already completed framework. I often mumble nonsense until I’m subconsciously led to words or a theme and start building the lyrics from there. Sometimes I have written a poem that fits with it. Sometimes the guys slap a working title on the song and it inspires the lyrics.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
FANTØMEX:

Isaac: We’ve been lucky enough to not have endured too many difficult challenges as a band. But all of us have certainly met a range of difficult challenges from loss to mental health that have shaped us, and I think shapes our music in important ways.

Max: Music is brutal as your greatest competition is yourself. Only you can dictate if you’re “good enough” and this resonates with me every time I write music.

Edwin: I agree with Isaac, we’ve actually been really lucky in our experience as a band thus far (knock on wood); however, the pandemic and not being able to play out or even get together as a band was heartbreaking and frustrating. I think Max had just joined the band and maybe only had played one show with us before we had to shut down. We adjusted and persevered and came out of that “ok” though. We released our first album. We did a lot of online concerts from our practice space. We made a music video made up of shots of our quarantined selves at home. After all that, it gives me confidence in whatever challenges await us.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

FANTØMEX:

Edwin: We’re not doing too shabby! Our last EP, “Terraformed” has gotten a lot of good press. We’ve had a great year playing shows, filled with a little tour and having an opportunity to play some of the biggest and well renowned venues in Western North Carolina!

Abigail: not to come off as cliché, but each little band moment that has passed since we’ve been playing together has been the best one for me. I feel like success is being both continually challenged creatively and enjoying what we’re doing. But releasing new music playing at some super sweet venues lately makes it *chef’s kiss* Isaac: Releasing our first record, passing the 1000 streams mark for songs online, and playing the Orange Peel in Asheville have been some major highlights!
Max: Friends and family will support you 99% of the time, but when you acquire a new fan you’ve never met or they come specifically to see your act, that always hits home with me personally.