Phantom

Phantom by Sara Diana is a dramatic, emotionally resonant dance pop anthem that conveys a bold storyline while still being a dance banger that wouldn't feel out of place in a thumping 3am club.

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The first word that comes to mind is energy. The track has a heavy, almost spooky, ethereal weight that it carries brilliantly from beginning to end. The energy is contagious, compelling you to nod your head as you're immersed in the creeping dance pop vibes. The juxtaposition of fast and slow, heavy and light is emphasised in the rhythm, which drives the track with confidence and injects a level of anxiety and tension, pushing the beat into a speeding pace. The rhythmic intensity contrasted with the ethereal vocals makes each side more powerful.

The harmonies are another really well utilised aspect of the track. They emphasise the vocals and lift them in a way that's really impactful, and beyond building up the lead, they do a great job of reinforcing the dark, heavy tone. They have a gritty, textural crunch that contrasts with the flowing feel of the lead vocals. I'm not sure what the vocal effect is, but it works really well, both in providing a point of difference between the harmonies and the leads and in emphasising that eerie atmosphere.

The vocal acts like a guiding light within the melodic and rhythmic miasma of the track. These two sides of order and chaos play off each other really nicely. The high register melodic strings aren’t played often, but restraint if anything makes them more powerful.

The structure works brilliantly. Sections like the chorus come through with real impact, emphasising the texture and rhythm. In the verses, tension is created by the higher-register elements, which set up what's to come with a fantastic melodic build into the chorus.

Overall, this is a powerful, energetic and dramatically interesting commercial pop anthem. You can enjoy it on one level as a dance song, and on another engage with the emotional themes and the way the vocals deliver them. I’m excited to see what Sara Diana does next.  Check out their other great work below!