Special Feature: Interview with Phenix

Hey, everyone! Ever since I moved up to Nashville, Tennessee two months ago, I had a strong feeling that this place would feel like home. I have to admit that it was a little difficult meeting new people and making friends at first due to living in a big city, but once I got a new job and started going around to local events, I became acquainted with other people quickly. Nashville is known to most people as “Music City”, which is home to the Grand Ole Opry, many country singers, and aspiring artists and musicians. One of those aspiring musicians is Phenix, who’s passion is to inspire others with her music and art. Originally from Wisconsin, Phenix moved down to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of eighteen to chase her dreams with music. I met her while working one day and learned about her show from a flyer that was being passed around by my coworkers. From being fascinated by her music and intrigued by her image, I decided to sit down with Phenix after her show at The Basement in Nashville to learn her story.

When discussing how she got started with music, Phenix stated that she started singing before she could talk. “Ever since I was three or four years old, singing was everything I did. I started writing music and learned to play the piano and guitar when I was eight years old. At the age of eighteen, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee by myself.” Phenix recalled the moving process as a crazy feeling. “My dad was very sad that I was leaving and he actually called me the night before saying that there was something wrong with the truck, I told him that I was going anyway and I ended up here on the morning of September 7th, 2012 and I haven’t looked back since.” Phenix stated that it is difficult to answer who or what inspired her to become a musician. “I feel like it was just in my soul and I felt like I was born to do it. However, I felt more like I was born to do a movement with my art and I knew that I had a voice. I had to go through a lot of things to figure out exactly what my movement was but there were a lot of people who inspired me along the way. Mostly what they inspired me by is just that there are certain artists who you can tell through their art that it’s who they are and that’s the most beautiful thing. When I can feel their heart through their music and what they do, that’s what I grab from it but it doesn’t really influence me to be any different way. It influences me to stay to who I am.” Every artist and musician owes it to someone or something for getting them to where they are in their career. Phenix owes it to her father. “My dad bought me my first guitar that I could travel with and I bought my first piano at an auction for twenty-five dollars. However, where I started soaring performance wise was when my dad started taking me to karaoke nights when I was twelve. It became a bonding thing for us to do and it brought us both to life. It really brought me into my performance side but music is something I’ve always done. As for moving to Nashville, it was my idea to bring myself here. I pushed myself and my dad has been very encouraging. My mom has been skeptical about it but in an honest way. I had them help me find an apartment, I bought my own car, and I saved up all my money. I did all of it to get myself down here but who I really have to thank for the last year who helped me develop the ‘Phenix’ is my manager, Waylon Stone. We really make great music together and we really make great business together. He is the person who has really pushed me forward.”

Phenix also gave me some insight into her song writing inspiration and process. “It really just hits me. What I mean is that it comes to me, hits me, gains my focus, and then it’s done. I really don’t go into a song with a song title and try to write to it. I definitely don’t go in with an idea of what to write about. I let my soul speak through my music and I don’t cloud what I write with my own brain. I let my soul speak whatever it’s trying to say and I stand by it. Sometimes it’s really amazing because my music teaches me things that I didn’t know I was feeling.” Phenix stated that her music isn’t genre-specific. “As for my music, I wouldn’t really classify myself to any genre. I coin my own sound as rock, soul, and pop combined. I spell it out as ‘Roxul-Pop’. ‘Roxul-Pop’ is my basis, I call it rock edges, pop melodies, and soulful infusions. However, I do enjoy rap and hip hop, which I incorporate into my music as well.” When I asked the question of how her life is different now with a career as a musician than it was back then, Phenix said that it wasn’t all that different. “I wouldn’t say it’s different. The only thing that is different is what it’s supposed to be. I finally feel like myself and feel like this is where I was trying to go, I didn’t feel this way before this all happened. Now I feel like I’m right where I need to be.” Phenix says her main goal is to inspire a movement. “I would say my goal is to inspire a movement and to bring inspiration and hope back to people through the warrior complex. I have a lot of tribal and warrior influences in my music, as well as the ‘Phenix’ brand. ‘Phenix’ is the ever-evolving, ever-inner revolution, crashing into the fire but rising above the struggle. I call all my fans ‘flames’ and I want to bring people alive again by feeling the energy of the music.”

When I asked her what her biggest accomplishment was with her music, Phenix said it’s how her music has had a positive impact on other people. “My biggest accomplishment is to help change the lives of other people.” A big part of being a musician is the recording process, and Phenix had this to say. “I’m with Understone Records with Waylon Stone and we own our own studio on the east side of Nashville. When we get in, I’ll lay down a track and have a producer come in to work with us. When we decide that the track is done, I’ll work on the vocals and Waylon mixes it from there.” Music has a way of helping someone heal and get through a rough time, Phenix agreed with that in her own explanation. “Definitely, that’s what we are all here to do. Music is energy and energy heals. I know that when I’m on stage, the audience heals me too by listening. Music is soul and that’s what it should be. Music can touch your soul without your brain trying to comprehend it and that’s what music should be.” Phenix said that the musician who inspires her is Lady GaGa. “The other day I was shopping at a thrift store with my backup dancers and I remembered that Madonna and Lady GaGa talked about grabbing random clothes and incorporating them into their performances. What I love about Lady GaGa is that she stands for something and uses her career to stand for something. She is organic with her sound and she is expressive. Lady GaGa wants to be out there and she’s not afraid of the judgment.” Phenix also had a special message for her fans. “My music is for my fans. I know that as an artist we all struggle and I hope that they feel the heart, pain, and soul through the music. I hope that my fans are able to use it for their own life and to strengthen them when they are down. That’s what music should be and that’s what many artists want. Music should be a form of therapy for the soul. I have an issue with music these days that doesn’t have substance to it. It doesn’t help or do anything to anyone. I think it’s a lifestyle that’s unhealthy. I believe in bringing classy back and keeping the strength. I want my fans to rebel against what society expects them to be and to embrace who they are. I also want that to be their organic piece inside of them that they aren’t ashamed of.”

While we talked about music, Phenix said that her favorite song she wrote was “Damn.” “The reason why I like that song is because it pictures my life to this point. It’s so complex and filled with lyrics but the chorus is very expressive. The word itself explains so much into one thing and the lyrics are very poetic, something that I am proud of. The song describes what I went through to get to where I am today. It is also something I put on my brand which is: ‘The rarest, the finest, the fight is, the darkest, the search is, the blindest, for life is, the lightest.’ This talks about the struggle but rising above and the rarest are the most unique.” I knew there was something about Phenix that made her stand out from other musicians. “I feel like I’m not afraid to test the boundaries. I’m not afraid or vulnerable on stage. I try to bring energy to my audience.” The last thing I asked Phenix was a fun question to get to know her more: If the DC comics Justice League were fighting the Marvel Comics Avengers, who would win? “I like comics but I don’t know them all back to back. I believe that the Avengers would win because they have the Black Widow on their team. Black Widow has a lot of pain behind her and she rose above that. I can relate to her.”

I had a really great time getting to know Phenix and I loved seeing and hearing her perform her music. I wish her the best with her career and I am looking forward to talking and listening to her more. If you would like to subscribe to her on YouTube, her channel name is Phenixvevo. If you would like to follow her on Twitter, her username is @phenixxxmusic. If you would like to follow her on Instagram, her username is @phenixred1. My next blog will feature a band that I have been keeping up with and they are on their first tour, Sweet Cambodia. I’m looking forward to sitting down with the guys to catch up! Happy Reading!

-Melanie Lane