While most assume that Nashville is all honky tonks and country music, there is a whole underground world of pop, rap, Americana, rock, blues and soul music coming out of Music City. Helping to lead the pop pack is Jake Germany, better known as Phangs.
As an avid soccer fan it made for a natural connection between Phangs and Nashville Soccer Club. While born to make music, Phangs’ first love was soccer and he received his first soccer ball in the hospital the day after he was born. He grew up competing in Tyler, Texas and began playing organized soccer at 4-years old, making his way to play soccer at Oklahoma Baptist University and at the Olympic Development Program. On top of a full-time schedule of a college athlete, Phangs was busy making music every day working to pursue his aspirations of being a pop artist. After being asked to perform with one of his favorite bands during Vans Warped Tour during the offseason, he was hooked and ultimately quit school to move to Nashville and pursue music full-time.
We asked Phangs why he chose Nashville over LA or New York to pursue a career in pop music. He said that Music City has a great “infrastructure and resources” and there is a “freedom and kind of uncharted territory that [he] gets to create in here.”
“Nashville is a supportive community of people trying to make the coolest stuff possible,” he continued. “Being from a small town, there was no chance I was going to jump into one of those giant cities before Nashville.”
You can catch Phangs’ music on any of the streaming platforms and on Nashville SC’s DJ of the Month playlists found on Spotify. Phangs new album “Who’s Gonna Break Your Heart Tonight” will be released on August 14th. This summer, Phangs had the opportunity to collaborate with the talented Bonnie McKee for his upcoming album. McKee’s impressive songwriting resume includes, “Teenage Dream," "Roar,” “California Girls” by Katy Perry, “Dynamite” by Taio Cruze, and various cuts by Britney Spears, Kesha, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson and Adam Lambert. Needless, to say Phang’s first single, “When I’m All Alone," off the new album drops June 19th is a must-listen.
Phangs in a Snapshot
Music Genre:
Pop
Soccer Position: Foward
Favorite NSC Player: Alan Winn
Favorite All-time Player: Cobi Jones, Cristiano Ronaldo
Best soccer memory: Going to Chicago in 1999 to see the USWNT play and getting to meet them (including Mia Hamm) during an open training session. Also, bumping into Cobi Jones in LA
Most influential artist: Michael Jackson
Current favorite artist: James Bay
Dream music collaboration: Bonnie McKee
Favorite Nashville pop venue: The Basement East or Mercy Lounge
Social Handle: @thisisphangs
New Music: June 19th
