Self-Funded Album ‘I’ve Been Here Before’ Marks Arrival of Emerging Toronto Band
TORONTO — Toronto indie rock trio Phantasia has released “King Of All My Dreams,” the debut single from its newly launched album I’ve Been Here Before, a project the band says reflects nearly two years of live performance, songwriting refinement, and independent production work.
The song, written by vocalist and guitarist Ethan Flynn nearly nine years ago, serves as the opening track and lead single for the album, now available on major streaming platforms. For the band — made up of Flynn, bassist Mario Prifti, and drummer Michael Colangelo — the release represents the culmination of an unusually deliberate creative process built around live performance and collaborative development.
“There’s a kind of stubborn hope in it,” Flynn says, “even though it might not be healthy.”
A Song Years in Development
“King Of All My Dreams” centres on themes of longing and emotional uncertainty, exploring the experience of waiting for someone who may never return. The lyrics balance vulnerability with persistence, underscored by a dynamic musical structure that shifts between complex rhythms and more direct melodic passages.
“I just don’t know what to do / when my dreams, they all come true / but I’m nothing without you.”
The track opens with verses structured around an unconventional 7/8 time signature before transitioning into a more accessible 4/4 rhythm during the chorus. The arrangement reflects the emotional tension at the heart of the song while maintaining a polished indie rock sound grounded in live instrumentation.
Live Performance Shaped the Album’s Sound
Before entering the studio, Phantasia spent roughly a year testing material in front of audiences across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. According to the band, more than 40 songs were auditioned during live performances, with tracks regularly rewritten, retitled, or rearranged based on how they evolved on stage.
That extended preparation allowed the trio to approach recording with confidence in both the songs and the chemistry between the musicians.
By the time the band entered RHC Music with engineer Jon Savard, the members say they had already established the sound they wanted to capture on record.
Recorded Live Off the Floor in Two Days
The album was recorded instrumentally live off the floor over the course of just two days, a production approach that avoided click tracks, metronomes, or locked tempos. Instead, the musicians performed together in real time, relying on instinct and interaction to shape each track organically.
“It lets the song breathe in a more human way,” Flynn explains.
The recording process aimed to preserve the energy and spontaneity of the band’s live performances while maintaining studio-level clarity. The final production features a stripped-down instrumental approach centred on guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, with mixing and mastering handled by Taraz Yazdani.
Independent Approach Defines the Project
Phantasia officially formed in March 2024 after Prifti contacted Flynn about expanding Flynn’s solo material into a full collaborative project. Colangelo later joined the group, completing the lineup that would eventually produce I’ve Been Here Before independently.
Without label backing or outside financing, the trio funded the album themselves while balancing rehearsals, performances, and studio sessions.
“After lord knows how many gigs, rehearsals, and a chunk of studio time, I’m proud of what we’ve done,” Prifti says. “This is the first ever album that I was part of writing, conceptualising, and releasing. First of many more, I should hope, but it may always be the most memorable.”
The release arrives at a time when many emerging Canadian artists are increasingly relying on self-funded production models and grassroots live performance strategies to build audiences in a competitive independent music landscape.
Building Momentum in Toronto’s Indie Scene
While still early in its career, Phantasia’s emphasis on live musicianship and collaborative recording distinguishes the band within Toronto’s indie rock community. The group’s decision to refine songs extensively through live shows before recording reflects a traditional development model that has become less common in an era dominated by digital-first releases and home studio production.
For Phantasia, however, the process appears central to the identity of the album itself.
I’ve Been Here Before is positioned not simply as a debut release, but as the documentation of a band shaped through repetition, experimentation, and performance. “King Of All My Dreams” serves as the project’s introduction — a track nearly a decade in the making and, according to the band, the clearest representation yet of the sound they have spent the last two years developing.