Phoenix Stone

At 15 years old, Phoenix Stone already knew the value of a good song. Though he had been singing since he was a pre-teen, he hadn’t yet taken the step to songwriting. But one day it occurred to him that he should try his hand at it. “I was like, ‘Where do you get a song if you’re a singer? Where am I going to find a good song?’ My answer was, “Well, I’d better write it,’” he says, adding with a laugh, “You don’t have anybody throwing songs at you as a teenager.” From that point on, he never stopped writing. And the Tampa, Florida native brings his years of experience to the table with his self-titled Universal Records debut.

Phoenix is not only a gifted songwriter, he also co-produced and played multi-instruments on Phoenix Stone. An audacious album melding pop, R&B and rock, it’s a bold introduction for an artist destined to make his indelible imprint on the music scene. Intent on including songs which “raise the hair on the back of my neck,” the album features a diverse roster of tunes, like the piano-driven “Count On Me,” a song about falling in love and “Nothing Good About Goodbye,” a single whose melodic and dramatic dance beat drives home a story about trying to save a relationship. At the forefront is Phoenix’s incredible voice, which can go from a chill-inducing falsetto to a deep, rich baritone.

Phoenix guided the shape the album ultimately took. As a producer and writer, he had a definite vision of what he wanted. “What really gets me from other artists when I listen to music is just a really good melody or a lyric that has something different or something really cool to say. And that’s what I try to do when I write,” he explains.

From the sensual track “Kiss,” which Phoenix describes as “a feel-good love song” to the rock-pop “I Want You Tonight,” all of the songs have an electricity that transcends their tempo. It makes sense, since Phoenix is inspired by so many kinds of music. “The album has a continuity, it all flows in a pop context,” he says. “But there are definitely a lot of influences on the album. I’m inspired by great vocalists, soul singers like Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye, and I’m also completely inspired by Elton John. Also people like Lauryn Hill, she’s got a lot to say. I like songs. If it’s a great song I’ll listen to it no matter how it’s dressed up or how it’s produced.”

Being inspired by music is a lifelong passion for Phoenix. “Since I was 9 or 10, I just knew what I wanted to do,” he recalls of his early ambition to become a performer. “And I knew where I was going. I was very focused. I’ve always just been like that.” As a freshman in high school, Phoenix auditioned for the school musical Grease to get a chance to sing. After winning the lead role, Phoenix realized that he had an interest in acting as well. That led to him getting an agent and scoring a recurring role on the Nickelodeon comedy Welcome Freshmen.

When Phoenix was a sophomore in high school, he attended a music camp. There, he earned plenty of attention for his natural talents and was offered a full scholarship to the University of South Florida to study voice. After high school graduation, he attended the college for a little over a semester, where he studied classical singing. But he quickly realized that the operatic style of vocalizing wasn’t for him. “It was great, but for me singing is definitely something that comes from the soul,” he says. “It was too structured. I have to be able to express myself emotionally through my voice.”

After leaving the university, Phoenix continued exploring his musical opportunities. Able to read music and play by ear, he crafted a slew of songs and eventually landed a publishing deal. Eventually, he began a relationship with Trans Continental Records, the organization affiliated with such superstars as Backstreet Boys and N Sync. When word spread of his stellar live shows, Phoenix became a coveted opening act for artists like Deborah Cox, Jennifer Paige and Britney Spears as they toured in the Florida area. With a buzz about him reaching a feverish pitch, Phoenix scored a record deal with Universal Records.

Putting his considerable skills to the test, Phoenix also has a few other impressive projects under his belt: He’s been writing songs for other new artists and the photogenic performer even has a cameo as himself in the upcoming film Jack Of All Trades, starring Paul Sorvino. “I enjoy the acting thing,” explains Phoenix. “But I want to establish myself as a recording artist first before I venture into the whole acting side of things.”

Phoenix’s hopes for Phoenix Stone reflect the artist who’s always been about making music that affects the soul in some way. “I just hope people can feel good listening to it, really,” he says. “Whether they want to just party with the up songs or it can make them feel something with the slow songs. As long as they feel something, that’s my goal. Just to write songs as best I can and hopefully it’ll touch somebody.”