modrNation: Where are you originally from?

Phoenix James: I was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Miami, Florida.

modrNation: How did growing up in Miami influence you to start making music?

Phoenix James: I don’t know if it pushed me directly into music, but just being surrounded by art and culture did. I was always going to concerts and galleries and stuff like that, that’s really what drove me into the arts community.

modrNation: You’re a singer, songwriter and producer?

Phoenix James: Yeah singer, songwriter and producer.

modrNation: Which one came first?

Phoenix James: Just playing music came first, I’ve been playing guitar and bass forever. I went into performing arts school in middle school, got into orchestra and jazz band, then I started producing in 7th or 8th grade.

modrNation: Who’s been your biggest inspiration to learn all those skills?

Phoenix James: Frank Ocean, I love his songwriting. Radiohead, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and lots of Pharrell. My dad put me onto all the hiphop and my mom was more into alternative stuff.

modrNation: Take me through your writing process when putting together a song?

Phoenix James: I always try to start with production. I try to separate myself into two separate people, I’ll produce it then step away for a while until I’m ready to come back and write. Usually I’m just mumbling the melody until something comes and sometimes I have the first line ready and everything after just falls into place. It’s really just a matter of circumstance.

modrNation: How do you go about seeking out inspiration? Or do you just let it naturally hit you?

Phoenix James: I definitely seek inspiration through other people, people watching and making up their own stories. In New York you’ll see people yelling at each other and that type of stuff can inspire me, or I’ll go to an art gallery and look for inspiration in art. Also just listening to my favorite people and finding new music.

modrNation: You recently dropped your single “Peace” what was the creative process like behind that track?

Phoenix James: Peace was made in like thirty minutes, Zandel Zel had the drums ready at like 4:30 and he had some weird drums ready. Jaime Fernandez was there too on Saxophone, we laid out the piano, then the bass, and I got the chorus. We really just vibed and it felt really natural and all just meshed together.

modrNation: How has it felt to get such a strong reception on it?

Phoenix James: It feels great, I think it’s a really good start to the EP I’m dropping at the end of this month. I'm just excited to drop music this year because I feel like I’ve been quiet lately. I always want people to perceive the music well, so I’ve been happy with this song.

modrNation: With so many artists coming up now, what would you say is the importance of finding your own identity and individuality as an artist and a person?

Phoenix James: I think definitely starting with confidence in your art, you find your identity through not being afraid to fail or try new things. It all comes down to confidence and persistence, if I don’t like a sound then bounce around to another sound then I’ll never find my sound. Everyone’s sound comes through their heart and what they’re feeling.

modrNation: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Phoenix James: Five years from now I’ll be on tour somewhere. Definitely have a couple projects out and I don’t have any doubt I don’t have a bigger audience by then. I don’t know exactly where, but definitely on tour and just continuing to grow.

Phoenix James Interview

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