{{Short description|American indie pop supergroup}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Phases | image = Phases 07 13 2016 -7 (28553684955) (cropped).jpg | caption = Phases performing at The Grove at Farmers Market in July 2016 | landscape = yes | origin = Los Angeles, California, United States | alias = JJAMZ {{small|(2009–2015, 2021)}} | genre = {{Flat list| * Indie pop * indie rock * Synthpop }} | years_active = {{hlist|2009–2016|2021}} (unofficial hiatus) | spinoff_of = {{hlist|Phantom Planet|Rilo Kiley|Maroon 5|The Like|Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band}} | label = {{hlist|Warner|Dangerbird}} | past_members = Z Berg<br />Alex Greenwald<br />Michael Runion<br />Jason Boesel<br />James Valentine }} '''Phases''' (formerly known as '''JJAMZ''' and pronounced ''juh-jamz'')<ref name="Introducing… JJAMZ">{{cite web|last=Costello|first=Carly|title=Introducing… JJAMZ|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,10036676,00.html|publisher=Carly Costello|accessdate=July 15, 2012}}</ref> was an American indie pop supergroup from Los Angeles, California,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=JJAMZ 'Never Enough'|date=April 3, 2012 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/jjamz-never-enough-20120403|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=July 16, 2012}}</ref> formed in 2009 and composed of Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley/Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Michael Runion, Z Berg (The Like), and until 2015, James Valentine (Maroon 5), after whose departure the band adopted their current moniker, before quietly going on hiatus in late 2016, followed by a one-off reunion in 2021.
==Background== [[File:Maroon 5 11 19 2016 -49 (30423863924) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The band, then-known as JJAMZ, featured Maroon 5's James Valentine until 2015, after which the band rebranded to Phases. He later participated in the band's 2021 one-off reunion where they reverted their name to JJAMZ.]] thumb|right|Phases in a press photo in March 2015 {{multiple image | perrow = 2 | total_width = 275 | align = right | direction = | image1 = Z Berg Webster Hall July 21 2015 (IMG 7894).jpg | image2 = Alex Greenwald at Webster Hall in July 2015 (23779734745) (cropped).jpg | footer = Z Berg (left) and Alex Greenwald (right) performing with Phases at Webster Hall in July 2015 | footer_align = center }} JJAMZ was started at karaoke night at Guys in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wasser|first=Alexi|title=JJAMZ' First Kiss|date=January 27, 2009 |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/jjamz-first-kiss#_|accessdate=July 16, 2012}}</ref> The band name is an acronym using the first letter of each member's name. The group was a means of escape from each member's respective bands at a time when things seemed hectic for each member. "JJAMZ started at an interesting time in all of our lives. We all needed some kind of escape from relationships or our other bands. It was a tumultuous time, and the lyrics just came out. It was like word vomit. I can't remember," said Z Berg <ref>{{cite web|last=Wasser|first=Alexi|title=JJAMZ' First Kiss|date=January 27, 2009 |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/jjamz-first-kiss#_|accessdate=September 24, 2012}}</ref> in one of their first interviews as a band.
The band played their first concert at the Echo Plex on January 27, 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bronson |first=Kevin |date=2009-02-12 |title=Visceral reactions and valentines: The Like, Rockville |url=https://buzzbands.la/2009/02/12/visceral-reactions-and-valentines-the-like-rockville/ |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=buzzbands.la |language=en}}</ref> and went on to release their debut album, ''Suicide Pact'', on July 10, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bronson |first=Kevin |date=2009-02-12 |title=Visceral reactions and valentines: The Like, Rockville |url=https://buzzbands.la/2009/02/12/visceral-reactions-and-valentines-the-like-rockville/ |access-date=2026-02-08 |website=buzzbands.la |language=en}}</ref> The album's songs were featured in the television shows: "Get What You Want" in ''Awkward'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Awkward – The Other Shoe|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/awkward/season-2/12092|work=Tunefind|accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref> "Heartbeat" in ''Pretty Little Liars''<ref>{{cite web|title=Pretty Little Liars – Burn This|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/pretty-little-liars/season-6/28862|work=Tunefind|accessdate=August 26, 2018}}</ref> and "Cleverly Disgusted" in ''90210''.<ref>{{cite web|title=90210 – Up in Smoke|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/90210/season-4/9462|work=Tunefind|accessdate=September 2, 2018}}</ref> To support this release, the band opened for The Hush Sound during a brief tour in October 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-08 |title=The Hush Sound Reunion Tour – REVIEW |url=https://www.digitaltourbus.com/features/the-hush-sound-reunion-tour-review/ |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Digital Tour Bus |language=en}}</ref>
Following James Valentine's departure from the band, the name of the band was changed to Phases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bronson |first=Kevin |date=2009-02-12 |title=Visceral reactions and valentines: The Like, Rockville |url=https://buzzbands.la/2009/02/12/visceral-reactions-and-valentines-the-like-rockville/ |access-date=2026-02-08 |website=buzzbands.la |language=en}}</ref> In early 2015, the band signed with Warner Records and on May 12, 2015, released their first new music under their new name. "I'm in Love with My Life", "Betty Blue", and "Cooler" were all released on the same day, with a music video directed by Ethan Tobman for "I'm in Love with My Life" released simultaneously. "I'm in Love with My Life" was featured in ''The Sims 4: Perfect Patio Stuff'''s official launch trailer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veo2qww_HSA |title=The Sims 4: Perfect Patio Stuff: Official Trailer |publisher=YouTube |date=June 16, 2015 |accessdate=September 1, 2016}}</ref> as well as the television shows ''Orange Is the New Black''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/orange-is-the-new-black/season-4/31543|title=Orange is the New Black – It Sounded Nicer in My Head|work=Tunefind|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref> and ''Faking It''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/show/faking-it-2014/season-3/30061|title=Faking It – Let's Hear It for the Oy|work=Tunefind|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>
The band has been on an unofficial hiatus since their last show in late 2016. They reunited for a performance under the JJAMZ lineup for the Z Berg & Friends Christmas Prom on December 4, 2021.
==Band members== {{col-begin}}
'''Former''' * Z Berg – lead vocals <small>(2009–2016, 2021)</small>, keyboards <small>(2012–2016, 2021)</small> * Alex Greenwald – guitar <small>(2009–2015, 2021)</small>, vocals <small>(2009–2016, 2021)</small>, bass and keyboards <small>(2015–2016)</small> * Michael Runion – bass and occasional vocals <small>(2009–2015, 2021)</small>, guitar and backing vocals <small>(2015–2016)</small> * Jason Boesel – drums and backing vocals <small>(2009–2016, 2021)</small> * James Valentine – guitar <small>(2009–2015, 2021)</small>
'''Touring''' * Sam Sugarman – guitar <small>(2012)</small> {{col-end}}
==Discography==
'''Studio albums''' * ''Suicide Pact'' {{small|(as JJAMZ)}} (2012) * ''For Life'' (2015)
'''EPs''' * ''Afterparty'' (2016)
==Singles== * "I'm In Love with My Life" (2015) [#35 Alternative Songs, #4 Dance Club Songs]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Official website}} *{{YouTube|channel=UCOTqjY2m-YJjtudHk_JM7hw}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Indie pop groups from Los Angeles Category:Musical groups established in 2009 Category:American supergroups Category:Synth-pop groups Category:Dangerbird Records artists