JJAMZ (pronounced "juh-Jams") came together in late 2008 at a karaoke bar in Hollywood, California. The band was formed by friends who were involved in different established bands; James Valentine of Maroon 5, Jason Boesel of Rilo Kiley and Bright Eyes, Phantom Planet's Alex Greenwald, vocalist Z. Berg from the Like, and solo artist Michael Runion. All of the players were feeling especially stressed with the obligations of their main bands, and this new amalgamation offered a chance for them to approach music-making with a fresh perspective. The band played its first show in January 2009. JJAMZ continued to play sporadically in the years that followed, eventually working toward national tours and the release of their debut album, Suicide Pact, in 2012. In 2015, Valentine announced he had left the group to focus on his work with Maroon 5. Subsquently, Jjamz renamed themselves Phases and released the singles, "I'm In Love With My Life," "Betty Blue," and "Cooler" on Warner Brothers. ~ Fred Thomas