motel void

MOTEL VOID: I couldn’t find much information about your project on the internet. Could you introduce yourself in a few sentences? Where are you from? And how long have you been making music?

PHANTOM SUGAR: So my name is Stevie Zita and I’m from Toronto. I’ve been writing music under my own name since 2018, but Phantom Sugar is a new lo-fi guitar driven band I’ve started. Reliving my childhood fantasy of making simple, 4 piece rock music.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new single ‘TOO PSYCHO’. It’s been fourth single this year. Will they be part of your new record? Or will you continue with releasing singles?

PHANTOM SUGAR: TOO PSYCHO is the first of a string of singles leading to an EP that will be coming out sometime within the year. Still experimenting with this new concept and seeing where it takes me.



MOTEL VOID: Could you tell us more about the recording and writing process of your singles?

PHANTOM SUGAR: I have very limited equipment. Everything I make comes straight out of my bedroom, so writing comes from the isolation of that confined space. Initially, the songs are just chord progressions created on either a guitar or piano. From that initial progression, the ideas just all stem and snowball from there. At that point it’s just tackling any idea that comes, and mining them down to the final song.

MOTEL VOID: Who and what is your biggest inspiration right now?

PHANTOM SUGAR: Lately I’ve been revisiting early albums that I was infatuated with in my late elementary, early high school days. Bands like QOTSA, The Strokes, The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arctic Monkeys etc. I feel like I’ve put those groups aside for some reason, and re-listening to all the amazing music from that period of my life has really inspired me.

MOTEL VOID: Your other plans for 2024?”

PHANTOM SUGAR: Keep the songs coming as they may, and try to get them out to the world.