Embark on a haunting audio journey with Phavor’s lastest EP “Petals”

New Jersey based duo “Phavors” released their first EP “Petals” last May. The four track EP combines vocals reminiscent of Billie Eilish against a backdrop of Joni Mitchell style acoustic guitar that erupts into a more complex arrangement of sound.

The standout track on “Petals,” is “Waste Time,” a five-minute swelling of tranquil vocals with steady guitar strums in the back. What makes this track the best is the harmony of singers Phil Marflak and Kayla DeRosa’s vocals that, when combined, create a beautiful balance of melodies. 

The track remains entirely cohesive despite it taking several different directions with its sound. The acoustic breaks provide the breath between the sweeping instrumentals. Each track also blends perfectly into one another without there ever being a lull between the tracks, making the EP almost one dream sequence of a song.

The production is also quite strong, with layers of orchestral sounds over the acoustic instrumentals in the background. While one may think that this could be overwhelming, Phavors finds the ideal balance between acoustic and synth which is only aided by singer DeRosa’s dream-like vocals. 

A prime example of this is the track “Water is Still.” It is, for the most part,  instrumental, but it still takes the listener on an audio journey with the crescendos of guitar, only to end with haunting vocals.

The duo impressively blends all of these elements without the sounds being overpowered by one another. Each serves as an enhancer. 

The EP is short but worth the entire listen. It allows the listener to drift off in a trance guided by DeRosa’s impressive vocal performance and the unique instrumentals Marflak arranged.

You can listen to “Petals” on Spotify or follow Phavors on Instagram @phavorsmusic.