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Q&A with Chris Phoenix

Chris Phoenix is 23 year old musical artist from the Seattle area. His latest project, an ambient album called 2030, was released in February. In our new interview, we talk about the inspiration behind the album and his creative process. You can also read our previous interview with Chris here.


The album cover for Chris Phoenix's '2030.'
The album cover for Chris Phoenix's '2030.'

What can you tell us about your latest album, 2030?


I can tell you it’s a fully instrumental project and it was just me experimenting but hoping to make something I can put on in the background for any occasion. I’m currently in law school so, I’m studying a lot. When I was studying, I realized I listen to a lot of instrumental music. I just wanted to make my own because I didn’t think some of the instrumentals were weird enough. 


I aimed to curate a playlist that you can play while going for a walk, studying for school, playing video games, and other mundane activities. The cool thing I love is how I incorporated smooth transitions and that’s something I’d love to do more. Overall, I wanted the listener to hear it and not know when one song ends or one song starts and just listen to the project as a whole. 


The album has quite a different sound for you. What was the process like for creating it?


I would either start with a sample, some cool loops, or creating from scratch. Ultimately, my inspiration just came from experimenting. Sometimes I’d play a note but then I’d see how it would sound played by 20 different types of pianos/synths. I was just testing that little scratch in my brain to see what sounded great to me. 


How did you come up with the album artwork? There’s something really intriguing about its minimalistic design.


I just always want to give something different. I felt like all my other projects had a maximalist design and were out there visually and artistically. I wanted something different that stood out so this era could be marked with a sense of uniqueness. I wanted the album title on the cover and experimented with a couple versions, but the ultimate end product just made the most sense.


All of the track titles are written backwards. What was the creative decision behind that?


I wanted to go towards a unique direction and make a statement. I’m probably not the first person to do that, but I’ve personally never seen that done and it looked cool. I also just curated a dystopian future where things are backwards from a narrative sense and it’s hard to read at first. 


What is your creative process like?

Chris Phoenix

I usually get spurts of inspiration and then try to play around with whatever sounds good. I usually go back and to whatever I’m working on and refine it to the best version I can get the song to.


How do you know when a track is done?


A track is never really done, it’s simply just at a point of content for me. If I prioritized releasing the perfect song, I’d have 0 songs released. The moment it just clicks in my head is when I’m ok with stepping back and allowing it to be served on a platter. I can’t really explain it but it’s just a feeling I get where I think, “Shoot, I’d listen to this! And I enjoy it a lot too!”


Do you have a favorite song that you've written?


My favorite song that I’ve written has to be either "Trail Mix" or "Think Too Much."


If you could have any of your songs featured in a piece of media, which song would it be and what would you like it to be featured in?


Probably "mahgnilleB" off my newest project. I would love for it to be featured for a hoop tape. Maybe by 2030 the Sonics are back in Seattle and it could be used in some capacity for the team.


If you could pick any band or artist, past or present, to tour with, who would it be and why?


If I could pick any artist to tour with, I’d pick Frank Ocean and Clairo.


Who, or what, has most influenced your music and artistic style?


Living life has influenced my artistic style.


What are you listening to currently?


I’m currently listening to a lot of math rock.



Listen to Chris Phoenix's album '2030' now.


Chris Phoenix


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