Best New Music New Music Reviews

Phoneboy Elevate Their Indie Rock on ‘Heartbreak Designer’—Album Out Now + Tour Dates

  • April 28, 2025
  • 2 min read
  • 173 Views
[addtoany]
Phoneboy Elevate Their Indie Rock on ‘Heartbreak Designer’—Album Out Now + Tour Dates
Phoneboy, Heartbreak Designer, indie rock, AWAL, album review, I Look Alive, Wyn Barnum, 2025 tour, new music, band review

Phoneboy’s third album Heartbreak Designer (out now via AWAL) finds the New Jersey trio sharpening their indie-rock edge with newfound introspection. Recorded between hardwood floors, van seats, and empty Brooklyn apartments, the record captures two years of restless creativity and late-night grit.

Opening with the explosive lead single “I Look Alive,” Phoneboy balance high-voltage hooks and reflective lyricism—“I don’t just survive, I look alive,” Wyn Barnum declares over propulsive guitars. From the shimmering, emo-tinged “Moving Out” to the tender balladry of “All This Time,” the band explores love, loss, and self-discovery at every turn. Ricky Dana’s punchy drumming locks in with James Fusco’s melodic bass lines, while newcomer Jordan Torres adds lush keyboard textures and harmonies that deepen the group’s sound.

Heartbreak Designer is both a step forward in production—sleeker, more polished—and a return to Phoneboy’s kinetic roots. It’s an album that demands repeat listens, revealing hidden hooks and emotional truths with each spin.

Phoneboy Headline Tour Dates:

May 2 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage

May 3 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall

May 4 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle

May 6 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern

May 7 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

May 9 – Austin, TX @ Parish

May 10 – Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips

May 12 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad

May 13 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge

May 14 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

May 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy

May 17 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone

May 19 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall

May 20 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos

May 21 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl

May 23 – Spokane, WA @ District Bar

May 25 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club

May 27 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater

May 29 – Des Moines, IA @ xBK

May 30 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

May 31 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch

June 1 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s

June 3 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird

June 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry

June 6 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom

June 7 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

June 14 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

Share Button
About Author

Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc.In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year.In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever.In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization.2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.