Thanks for talking with us Phoelix, firstly I’ll ask what prompted you to start making music?
I don’t think anything necessarily ‘prompted’ me into making music. It’s just something I’ve always been around. As a kid I remember my brother Dax & I making arrangements to church songs, and putting our own spin on everything. In 4th grade, myself, Dax & my cousin Blake (Davis) were making acapella (3 part harmony) arrangements to hymns & stuff like that. As a teenager, movies played a big role in my obsession with production, but making music has always been something I’ve been into.
What do you think are the functions of art (good and bad) in our contemporary society?
INFLUENCE! All artists reach a point in their career where people love your music to the point that they’ll believe in the things you say outside of the music. We have that power to change and impact our world by the things (outside of the studio and the stage) we do and say. That goes both ways though, but to me that’s big.
Alright the year is 2050 and you’ve had a storied career as a musician. Who plays you in your biopic and what ideally is the plot arc of the movie?
Lmao who plays me in my biopic…. I would have to say a young version of Yasiin Bey would play me or a young version of Dr. Lee from Drumline <laughs>. Damn near my son though by 2050. <laughs> Plot arc? I feel like a common theme would have something to do with falling and getting back up. There’s been a lot of that in this lil 25 years. I can’t even imagine what the next 30 is going to look like.
In this movie will you be a tragic figure or comedic?
If you know me you know I look at most things as comedy. But I also take my work very seriously. If I’m alive to oversee this biopic I would definitely be more of a tragic figure than comedic.
Are there any particular non-musical inspirations at play in your music?
Both sides of love are inspiring. I think film and visual art are also key. I’ve been blessed to be able to see most of the country and other parts of the world in the last year, and I think the conversations I’ve had with people, and different cultures I’ve experienced have influenced me heavily.
If you had to choose one song to be your alarm clock for the rest of your life, what would that one song be?
Red beans & Rice. <laughs>
Who’s your mom’s favorite musician (besides you of course)?
Tamela Mann for sure. Y’all gotta hear my mom sing “Take Me To The King” … my mom is my favorite singer too. <laughs> If you know you know.
How do you create meaningful experiences in your life?
I don’t think you do. I think when you try to make something meaningful it becomes a forced thing. You’ll find yourself in a moment, and you can miss it trying to catch it. That’s a reason I don’t take a lot of pictures or videos when I’m out. Something Brian Sanborn always says is you have to learn to live and exist within those “moments”.
Lastly, can you tell us your favorite joke?
Anything Michael Scott from The Office says… I was just watching this show last night.
“I’m an early bird and I’m a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms…”
My kinda humor.
Don’t miss him on Thursday, August 17th at SubT! Get tickets here
