Phonofly

If you're looking for a band that fits the mold, you won't find it in Phonofly. One of these things is not like the other – each member of the San Francisco-based four-piece possesses a distinctly different musical background and none of them feels the need to bend their style to fit Phonofly's sound. So what are they – rock, neo-soul, ska? Well, a little bit of each, culminating in what the Monterey Herald calls a "unique pop experience." Singer/lyricist Steph Stolorow formed the band in early 2005 with the initial idea of combining rock and urban sounds, in part influenced by her stint as DJ BubLRap – thus electric guitar and sampling coalesced into a backdrop for Stolorow's varied delivery in the early stages of the band. Her delivery still varies – "smooth, grooving, lush vocals" (indie-music.com) that can go from ethereal melody weaving to sultry lounge singing to rhyme spitting all in one set – indicative of the varied styles which embody the group as a whole. But, Phonofly's sound has evolved into something that no hybridized genre can peg down, and the diverse lineup boasts just one of the original lineup's members besides Stolorow – Doug Major's unique progressions and impressive solo work continue to texture Phonofly's soundscape, and his writing collaborations with Stolorow have produced some of the group's most popular songs, such as the single "Natural Disaster," set to release in early 2008. Justin Miller's driving bass lines have been described as "more studied than what you'd expect to hear from a local multi-genre outfit" (East Bay Express) and his background in funk and R&B shines through in being just that. Miller also takes credit for recruiting drummer Jayme Arredondo, whose reggae-inspired backbeat provides the "swagger and danceable rhythm needed to support [Phonofly's] sound" (Performer Magazine). Phonofly's music, in a sense reflective of the vibrant population of their Bay Area home base, is refreshingly rich in its creativity and can be heard on their debut album, "What You Seek." If you like your rock "with a twist" (indie-music.com), this you will find in Phonofly.