We had the good fortune of connecting with Phoenix James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Phoenix, how do you think about risk?
Risk has definitely become my best friend. I think that risk means trusting yourself, it means believing in yourself when nobody else does. The first big risk I took was in 2020, when I turned down a 20k scholarship from my dream school in order to dedicate all of my time and energy into my music. All of the opportunities I received throughout the past two years would not have found me if I had decided to go to school, and I am extremely proud of myself for taking that leap of faith.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a self-produced singer, and I also play guitar and bass. I started writing my own songs at the age of 10 , and never saw myself stopping. It was never in question whether I wanted to make music my career. I just kept going and going. What sets me apart is definitely my sound. I think that South Florida is oversaturated with trap and reggaeton artists that all seem to have the same sound. My versatility and soulful, organic sound is a breath of fresh air. One lesson that I have learned is that having a strong network is key to building yourself and your community up. Being resourceful with your network and doing what you can to also support their work helps everyone in the process of making everyone succesful! I want the world to know that the next generation of South Florida’s musicians and artists is one of the most creative, talented, and well-rounded, and that they’re about to take over.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anyone that loves good food is going to hit the Mimo district to find anything from Asian Cuisine to Italian. Moshi Moshi is my favorite and I’m always there! O’munaciello is another dope spot too. You can’t go wrong by hitting up Chef Creole and cuban restaurant Little Havana in North Miami. One of the best places to dance if you’re into the undergorund rave scene is The Boombox and Floyd. I also love interactive art gallery Superblue!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Abner Dennis is one of the most talented, multifaceted young producer/engineer out of South Florida. He works closely with me on all of my projects and brings life to my projects with his mixing, along with help from talented engineer Eddy Gonzalez (aka Jsted). Meeting abner at the age of 16 was a game changer for me because I found someone who thoroughly understands my visions, and also makes me feel comfortable and safe in every session I have with him.

Website: biglink.to/phoenixjames

Instagram: @phoenixxjames

Twitter: @XPhoenixJames

Youtube: https://youtu.be/8u6xPV4ZCdQ

Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/phoenix-james/1483961948 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ccuoNDrKJ85JUWxl5HJfP SOundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ph033nix

Image Credits
Photo by Alec ALEC ARTIDIELLO

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