Fantazmz

“The Mall” began as a beat I put together in 2017. The concept and lyrics were developed in collaboration with New York writer for theater and screen, Ross Wade. While the song is surreal, it is also relatable. Upon first listen, it sounds like a simple pop song. Its perspective is of someone working a dead-end job in retail with a hardcore crush on a fellow employee. This ties in with Vaporwave themes of consumerism and young love nostalgia. Both themes fit very well to the 80s driven, Neo Wave melody that runs throughout the entire song.

When the listener becomes aware of what the song is really about its complexity is enhanced. A department store mannequin is arranged to face another. “He” love’s the other mannequin but is unable to move or express his feelings. The other mannequin isn’t facing him and doesn’t even know he exists. The double entendres used throughout the chorus sound poetic when applied to the former interpretation, but quite literal in the latter:

"Wish that I could help it but I’m helpless standing petrified. Otherwise I’d make the first move. In the latest style with a smile painted on my mouth. Can I be real? A hollowness is filling me." - Vents Magazine

"Fantazmz releases its debut single "The Mall", a very chill synthwave song with a captivating story that is complex in its nature, but resonates sensitively with empathy and gets enhanced once decoding the analogy behind it. For a first release, songwriter-producer David Gagne reaches a level of serenity in terms of melodies and overall electronic music production, the sound, in general, feels natural and very modern, comparable to that of other top quality synthwave acts like The Midnight or Gunship, achieving a smooth, crisp and very present audio quality. The song also maintains a certain level of simplicity in its layers and do get elevated when the vocals kick in, which are of an extremely well crafted tonal balance and totally unapologetic to their apparent influences wich in moments remind of an old school Howard Jones and some Huey Lewis as well. Definitely a success for a debut. Give Fantazmz a listen, it's just starting and it's definitely promising." - Synthpop Your World

FANTAZMZ – “The Mall”: I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve sat down and intentionally written a reaction to a vaporwave tune on this blog. “The Mall” certainly exists on a plane that hugs the line between nostalgia and futurism. The swells within make me wonder what I’ve been missing within this genre, and remind me a bit of M83. The Peter Gabriel-esque vocals are the ideal emotional complement to the tone established by the composition, which utilizes a fade-out at the end of the song—something you don’t encounter too often these days. This NYC artist certainly carries within him an accessibility that ought to cross over to mainstream radio. - Tuned Up

NYC via LA electro artist David Gagne (aka Fantazmz), releases his second single “Just Lovers” of his debut EP Orbitizim out later this year. The single is a sun and synth soaked 80’s pop earworm that takes you away to a California boardwalk walking hand in hand in young love, being euphoric in the uncertain certainty of new feelings.

“I wrote the lyrics with long-time writing partner, James Walsh. I tracked most of the instrumentation at my home studio in Brooklyn, NY. Brian Stanley played the driving, picked bass line, tracking his part in a hotel room somewhere in Eastern Europe. Brian plays with L.A. based band The Years, as well as American singer-song- writer, LP. Michael McInnis mixed the tracks at Michael McInnis Productions in Portland, Maine.” - Daily Beat

Fantazmz är en musiker från New York. Med singeln Just lovers tar han oss tillbaka till sommaren 1988 med sin synthiga produktion och helt underbara puls som löper igenom låten. Den känns som hämtad från soundtracket till en komedi från den tiden. Med andra ord blir det svårt att lyssna på denna utan att känna en härlig våg av nostalgi som sköljer över en.

Just lovers är skriven tillsammans med James Walsh och följer upp singeln The mall som släpptes tidigare i somras. Båda låtarna kommer finnas med på Fantazmz kommande EP Orbitizm.

ENGLISH VIA GOOGLE TRANSLATE

Fantazmz is a New York musician. With the single Just lovers he takes us back to the summer of 1988 with his synthetic production and absolutely wonderful pulse that runs through the song. It feels like taken from the soundtrack to a comedy from that time. In other words, it becomes difficult to listen to this without feeling a wonderful wave of nostalgia that flushes over one.

Just lovers is written with James Walsh and follows up the single The Mall which was released earlier this summer. Both songs will be featured on Fantazmz's upcoming EP Orbitizm. - POPMUZIC

Although this is early work under the name Fantazmz do not let that fool you-Gagne is neither inexperienced nor naive about his sound, with credits under his belt including working alongside LA band The Years to name one of many. His musicianship simultaneously summons nostalgia and looks to the future.

Fitting, then, that as he follows up summer-love-style vibes with a break-up track, the Brooklyn via LA-based pop artist returns to a more tried-and-true method of songwriting: raw honesty (with himself and with his subject). Mellotron surges and sweeping strings form a mold for Gagne’s pointed but tongue-in-cheek lyrics, these belied by their earnestness. One can tell that it still stings and can feel the regret and that maybe, if things were different, one wouldn’t have to quit after all. An accomplished visual artist as well Gagne is responsible for the cover art of Hard To Quit. - Fame Magazine

NYC Neo-80’s Artist FANTAZMZ Releases Break Up Song, “Hard to Quit” - BRASH! Magazine