Although they make an urbane sound big enough for a fast-paced city, dark-pop duo Phantogram are pretty firm in their small town roots. Hailing from the tiny town of Saratoga Springs, New York, this twosome composed of guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel have formulated a sinister sonic aesthetic that would be the perfect soundtrack to a highly stylized Hitchcockian thriller. On their slinky debut Eyelid Movies, Carter and Barthel incorporate urban trip-hop beats, dreamy shoe gaze, and moody psychedelia, proving that Phantogram’s musical point of view is as unique as their creepy-cool moniker. Recording all of their material in an out-of-the-way barn they’ve dubbed the Harmony Lodge, these two make beautiful noise without the distractions of the urban sprawl. We recently caught up with Josh Carter to discuss the Phantogram live experience, their barn-cum-studio, and the appeal of their out-of-the-way hometown.

What is it about a rural/non-city environment that helps you two ignite the songwriting process?
With less distractions it’s easier for us to stay focused on working on music together. There’s not much going on in the country. Plus it’s cheaper for us to work in the middle of nowhere. Also, we can make a lot of noise pretty late at night, without bothering any neighbors.

What would one find at the Harmony Lodge? How does this space help to get your creative juices flowing?
Harmony Lodge is a small barn in Easton, New York. It is cluttered with speakers, amplifiers, chords, samplers, tapes, a couple guitars, records, guitar pedals, keyboards, a drum kit, xylophones, and a bunch of percussive instruments. It’s a great place for us to be creative, with a few toys to tinker with.

What can we expect from a Phantogram live show experience?
You can expect a lot of texture, color, and energy.

Is there a particular story or meaning behind the name Phantogram? How did the name come about?
When we were thinking of different band names, we wanted to incorporate some kind of ghostly imagery. I came up with the idea Phantogram, and after looking up the definition it felt like a good description for us as a band. We’re a two-piece band that creates a large, stereophonic sound, and a phantogram is basically a two-dimensional image that creates the illusion of being 3-D.

How would you describe the sound of Phantogram to someone who has never heard you before?
A blend of gritty beats, swirling guitars, spacey synths, looping, chopped-up sampling, and dreamy indie-pop.

Are there any over-arching sonic or lyrical themes on Eyelid Movies?
There are themes of desolation and hopelessness, with a glimmer of light at the end of a deep, dark tunnel.

Do you have a favorite song on the album? If so, which one and why?
Songs that we favor from the album change quite frequently. We rarely listen to the album, because we play the songs from it every night on tour. But if we had to pick, maybe “When I’m Small” or  “Futuristic Casket” or “10,000 Claps.”

What is the future of Phantogram?
Hopefully good health, hundreds of shows, and many, many albums.