The change in seasons has us calling out for new music, and Dublin band Phoeno have more than delivered the goods with an exciting debut album.

The duo comprises vocalist Adam Matthews and composer Liam Corbett, and their sound is a transformative blend of alternative pop, synth, and big-hitter production values. Phoeno are no strangers to the Dublin gigging scene, and now, with their debut album Comfort in the Knowing, kitchen discos everywhere just got an upgrade. Indeed, with crisp, clear vocals, a warm and life-affirming sound and heartfelt vulnerability sprinkled throughout, it’s one we will have on repeat for the foreseeable future.

The album lands on Friday, March 27, and to celebrate its release, Phoeno are hosting a very special live launch in Lost Lane on Saturday, April 11. Ahead of both, we caught up with the duo to hear all about how Comfort in the Knowing came to be.

Can you tell us a bit about Phoeno and your origin as a band?

Phoeno really began during lockdown, when everything went quiet. Dublin felt frozen, and in a way, so did we. During that time, we started running together in the Phoenix Park. We’d talk about music, life, what we hadn’t done yet, what we still wanted to say. Slowly, those conversations turned into ideas, and those ideas became the songs you hear now.

We rented a tiny industrial unit in Dublin 15 to work out of. It was absolutely freezing, so naturally, we called it “The Fridge.” We spent six years there writing, experimenting, scrapping things, starting over. It was just the two of us, building this world from scratch.

What were the main inspirations behind Comfort in the Knowing?

A big part of it was finally committing to our own musical ambitions. Music had always been central since we were young, but this was the first time we consciously set out to make a record we’d want to live with.

Because it was just the two of us, we naturally leaned into electronic territory – drum machines, synths and samples, while our indie guitar and pop background probably widened the palette a bit. You’ll hear echoes of Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears in the sound, bands like Wild Beasts and Nine Inch Nails in the atmosphere and tension, but it’s all anchored in an accessible pop sensibility. There’s beauty in it, and there’s darkness too. Probably reflecting where we were in the world at the time.

Was anything surprising in the making of this album?

The biggest surprise was how long it took, and how much that ultimately helped it.

At the start, we had to face the fact that we were unhappy with the music we were making – it’s hard to admit that to yourself. We spent long stretches sitting in the silence where nothing works. Some tracks went through completely different lives before they became what they are now. But once we broke through that wall, everything shifted. Most of the album arrived from that point on with a clarity we hadn’t felt before.

Another surprise was how much vulnerability crept in. We didn’t set out to make a record about grief, isolation or our inner lives. But when you’re working in a stripped-back room for years, you can’t really hide from yourself. The emotional core became unavoidable.

What is your process for making music and did it vary from one track to another?

It definitely varied. Sometimes Corbo would bring in a fully formed musical idea; other times, Adam would arrive with near-complete lyrics. But most often, it was about getting whatever was in our heads into the room and seeing what stuck.

Because of the electronic foundation, workflow was important – finding a rhythm we could live inside for a while. Sometimes a synth would carry a mood, and the melody would grow out of that. Other times it started with a piano, guitar or vocal idea, and we’d build the world around it.

With just the two of us, the process was open and honest; a lot of back and forth, a lot of tearing things down and rebuilding them. The one constant was that we chased feeling first. If it didn’t move us in that little cold room, it wasn’t making the record.

What can people expect from the launch event happening on April 11?

April 11 at Lost Lane feels like a release in every sense. This album was born in isolation, so getting to play it live, in an open space, feels like the end chapter of that journey and the beginning of another. It’s a night of celebration, sending the music out into the city and the wider world. We’ll be playing pretty much the whole album live with some surprises in there, too. 

Phoeno’s debut album Comfort in the Knowing will be released on March 27 across all digital streaming platforms.