Who is Phase Three? An exclusive interview with Viterbo’s hot new band

April 23—Platinum Edition’s Spring Celebration once again packed Viterbo’s Fine Arts Center full of show choir fans equipped with high energy and a desire to be entertained. As per usual, the show was spectacular, but after their second appearance in a Platinum Edition concert, people all over campus are asking each other, “Who is Phase Three?” The Lumen was able to sit down with band members Sophie La Fave, Jake Aune and Spencer Curtis for an exclusive interview to learn who they are and what has made them such a hit. 

Receiving standing ovations at both Platinum Edition’s fall and spring celebrations, the young band, Phase Three, comprised of three first-year Viterbo students, has now debuted two original songs onstage with musicianship that leaves fans roaring. Their first recorded single, “Who Doesn’t Listen to Music,” is on Spotify with over 6,000 downloads and the band is supported by hundreds of active monthly listeners. 

In reflecting on their success so far, La Fave said, “This is all so crazy to me! It was like an accident. It just feels like the three of us just fell into all this.” “It’s just kind of silly,” stated Aune, “we were just spending time together and too really important pieces came out of it.” “It is almost funny if I’m being honest,” Curtis added, “there are so many talented musicians, singer/songwriters that are putting out work right now, even just within our conservatory, or here at Viterbo in general … I really am grateful for all the love we have gotten because it is helped us feel like we have a place here.” 

Looking at the band’s humble beginnings, it is easy to see how all three members share in the awe of such an overwhelming community-wide interest in the group. Phase Three, much like the name, formed in a series of phases. It started with Aune, lead guitarist and vocalist, who had previous experience in a band, befriending La Fave, lead vocalist/lyricist, and discovering their passion for writing together. 

After becoming high-school best friends, La Fave remembered the night their idea was born. “It started with me and [Aune] in high school,” La Fave recalls, “there was one day I went over to his house. It was in April of our senior year. And he was like, we are going to write a song tonight. And I was like, okay, sure. Why not?” From there, the two made their way to Viterbo, where they found Curtis, guitarist/vocalist, and wrote their first single, “Who Doesn’t Listen to Music?” 

The band reiterated several times that all of this would not have been possible if not for their director, producer, and biggest fan, Nancy Allen. “We are so grateful to [Allen], she’s our biggest fan,” Curtis said, “we got the opportunity, with [Allen’s] help, to record with Brett Huus, who is a professor here. Being in that studio … when we heard the rough cut, we were all like, ‘this is way cooler than we expected.’ That was a big moment for me.” 

When asked “what’s next?” La Fave said the Viterbo community has the annual Courtyard Carni festival to look forward to. “We’re playing a two-hour gig 11 to 1 P.M. on that Friday, May 6th. That is just what we have been working towards.” As for next year, the band will continue to write together and rehearse to maintain its appearances alongside Viterbo’s renowned show choirs, but are not looking to get too crazy, yet. 

“We still have three more years,” La Fave said, “we’re not planning to drop out and ‘be a band.’” That said, the band looks to “keep it fun.” Aune did hint at new venues they may gig at in the future. “I think it would be cool for in the future if we played at some bars or coffee shops, that would be a cool kind of thing. It is an enjoyable way to make money. But other than that, I think keeping it on that level where it is still fun and manageable with the work we are here to do.”