Gold Star sends out a haunting plea on new single ‘Phantom Sam’
Gold Star releases the new single ‘Phantom Sam.’ The track, produced by and featuring Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs, arrives self-released and continues the Los Angeles songwriter’s long-running presence in the city’s underground music scene.
‘Phantom Sam’ leans into Gold Star’s weathered Americana style, shaped by Marlon Rabenreither’s guitar work, harmonica, and subdued vocal delivery. The single blends classic influences with a contemporary production approach, guided by Granduciel’s contributions on guitar, synth, bass, Wurlitzer, and keys. Engineered by Austin Asvanonda at One Cue Studio, mixed and mastered by Rick Parker, and supported by additional engineering from Jake Supple at Big Bad Sound, the track unfolds with layered textures and a steady, reflective pulse. Jordan Odom (bass, vocals), Mikey Whiteside (piano, organ, Wurlitzer), and David Kohn (drums, percussion) round out the instrumentation.
“There are a lot of things I have difficulty saying, and songwriting sometimes has this ability to vocalize and work through emotions and situations that I am ill-equipped to deal with in my day-to-day life. I don’t usually sit down and decide to write a song about a certain person or event; often the words and sentiments kind of pour out, and it’s only after some time that it becomes clear to me what I am trying to say or why. “Phantom Sam” is a plea to a good friend, a message that says “you are not alone” and “I love you,” things of that nature; it’s all the words that are sometimes hard to say.
“I had some demos and shared them with Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs, and he had me come down to his studio–this track seemed to resonate with him in particular, and we cut it there with his help and musical contributions. I have always admired the way his records sounded and the way his music has such classic influences, yet still feels really contemporary and I hoped to accomplish something similar with the production on ‘Phantom Sam.'”
‘Phantom Sam’ is available now on all streaming platforms.
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