“KATANA” is Phantom Sugar‘s second release of the year, adding to his catalogue of singles and a 2024 EP. The new track takes influence from a number of indie pop artists with sonics reminiscent of Vance Joy, AJR, and the like.
Coming in at just over two minutes, “KATANA” is a short and breezy take on the genre with plenty of energy behind the strained vocals and saturated guitar backing. Taking the literal phrase of “back stabbing” to whole new levels of conspicuousness, the track is about having a sword in your back after being betrayed, with the hook echoing “I’ve got a sharp katana / Deep in my back / You called it instant karma / I call it a trap.”
“KATANA” is cut and dry without experimentation or anything pushing boundaries sonically or lyrically. For fans of the genre, it’s another track to sing along and bounce your head to without digging in too much emotionally. It is clean and well produced with a relatively catchy hook. I think the finished song accomplished what it set out to be.
Stream “KATANA” below and follow Phantom Sugar on Spotify.
Follow Phantom Sugar: Spotify