Interview With FENIX & FLO IG FENIXANDFLO

1-Let’s rewind to the genesis. Was there a specific moment, a song, an artist, or maybe even a feeling that sparked your journey into music?” (This is more evocative and invites a story.)

For both of us, our households started it. Our family, seeing the greats like Michael Jackson. RUN DMC, MC Lyte. Watching Video’s on MTV for the first time. Soul Train!!! Those originators definitely sparked that music bug!

2-Who are your biggest musical influences?

Our biggest musical influences are Stevie Wonder, Musiq Soul child, Michael Jackson, 6lack, Eminem, Cory Gunz, Onyx, Coast Contra to name a few.

3-Beyond the usual suspects, who are some of the lesser-known or perhaps unexpected musical figures who have truly shaped your sound and approach?

We both love our friends that are artists and incredibly influential like Velvet, Ohene Savant, Maya Rich, Dantez Valentine, Griff, Aaron J, OneThree….We could go on. We know so many fire artists and producers.

4-our stage name is [Stage Name] – it’s intriguing! What’s the story behind it? Is there a hidden meaning, a personal connection, or a funny anecdote there?

Our stage name is FENIX & FLO .. As solo artists, we were
Fenix The Gypsy and Sickflo. Fredro Starr from honest gave FLO the name Sickflo. Our nicknames, Fenix & Flo popped everytime we were stopped, people would ask us, “Who are you guys? Y’all look like artists and y’alls energy is great!” We start saying, we’re FENIX & FLO before we were actually a group. Fenix life represents The Phoenix rising from the ashes. FLO being that optimistic one that goes with the flow. Being able to adapt to any environment like water. We’re like FIRE & WATER. Even the colors that we use. FENIX has orange/redish hair and blue is FLO’s favorite color.

5-If you were to paint a sonic picture of your music, what colors, textures, and emotions would be on that canvas? How would you describe your unique musical style in a way that goes beyond genre labels?

Picture fire and water merging, hues of orange, yellow and blue’s, hint’s of white for the pure sounds, orange, red and yellow for that heat representation of the heat we bring. We express so many emotions through our sound. You may run to the gym after one track drops, on another you may cry because the words may have struck a nerve.
We can’t leave out purple. Purple represents royalty and we surely produce some royal sounds. Although we explore alot of Hip Hop and R&B vibes, don’t lock us into a genre because we have some new acoustic records in the works.

6-Take us into your creative sanctuary. What does your writing and recording process feel like? Is it a solitary journey, a collaborative explosion, or something in between? Walk us through the emotions and energy involved?

Our creative sanctuary … The process is definitely a collaborative explosion. We would explain it as HYPAGOGIA, it’s the state before awakening and if not acted on the idea slips away. (Because what if that was the one!)
We love playing beats and just vibing at the kitchen table or some early mornings we’ll run out to the car and sit with the doors open and put the music on blast. FENIX grabs her pad because she loves the feel of the pen to the pad and FLO lights up his ipad to type the flows.Sometime’s the sanctuary is quiet, sometimes it’s full of love and laughter.
It can sometimes feel like a time crunch, ultimately we feed off of each other and keep each other motivated.

7-Music has the power to move and inspire. What conversations do you hope to spark with your music?

What core message or feeling do you want listeners to walk away with? We create to spark the conversation of change. We’re agents of change, change agents, game changers, powerful rangers.. We want the listeners to walk away feeling empowered, wiser and inspired every time they hear us.

8-Let’s dive into your latest project [Album/Project Name]. What was the driving force behind this creation? What themes did you explore, and what makes this project stand out from your previous work?

The driving Force was the present
what we experience on a day-to-day which shaped within the stories that we have to share.We explored each other and where we came from…the driving force was seeing it through and becoming available to answer the call what makes the project stand out as him being able to be patient and bring out the best in me.

9-The creative journey isn’t always smooth. What’s the biggest hurdle you face when bringing your musical visions to life, and how do you navigate those challenges?

The biggest hurdle would be trying to juggle it all at once it can be a mental and physical roller coaster but it does assist me with getting to know myself a lot better and helps me to get to know him too lol

10-Criticism is part of the game. How do you personally process feedback, both positive and negative? Is it fuel, a filter, or something you try to tune out entirely?

There is no way we can block out criticism it comes with the territory and thickens the skin so positive and negative are both welcome with open arms.We chalk it up to understanding that we are just scratching the surface and we’re only getting better so we let criticism in the bigger picture be a guiding light.

11-Every artist faces roadblocks on their path. Can you share a pivotal moment where you faced a significant obstacle in your musical journey, and what did you learn from overcoming it?

Financial blockages especially at the beginning taught us timing is everything and to trust the timing of things understanding that we are on the most highs time

12-Let’s dream big for a moment. If you could collaborate with any artist, living or not, who would be at the top of your list and why? What kind of magic do you think you could create together?

STEVIE WONDER, MUSIQ SOULCHILD, BRANDY, MC LYTE, REDMAN & METHODMAN….US COLLABING WITH RED & METH WOULD BE NUTS! THE ENERGY ON THAT TRACK WOULD BE HIGH LEVEL. WITH BRANDY.. WE COULD JUST GO WILD WITH THE BARS AND LET BRANDY GO OLYMPIC WITH HER VOCALS, SHE’S A VOCAL GYMNEST. MUSIQ AND STEVIE ARE JUST FAVORITES THAT WE LISTEN TO.. BUT KATRANADA.. WE ALMOST FORGOT TO ADD. Just thinking about it got us excited.

13-Creative blocks are a universal struggle. Can you recall a time when you hit a wall creatively, and what unconventional or surprising methods did you use to break through and reignite your inspiration?

(FENIX) -losing my dad So fast, so random and soo unexpected Had me hit a wall…major blockages.I had to really sit and face the fact he was no longer here physically and really connect with myself so he’d be able to walk with me everyday. (FLO) Meditation has ben my medication.

14-Looking back on your journey so far, what moment or achievement makes you feel the most proud and fulfilled as a musician? What resonated deeply with you?

RELEASING OUR FIRST PROJECT, Our EP “THE 7” was that moment that made us proud. Seeing our thoughts manifested into physical form does it for us and ofcourse placing on our first movie soundtrack, “KING OF NEWARK 3” s/o: Mudnoc Studios and STAN DA MAN.

15-Every place has its own rhythm. How has your hometown and community shaped your sound, your stories, and your perspective as an artist? Are there specific sounds or experiences that are woven into your music?

Combining that Harlem & Baltimore with a hint of ATLANTA sound creates a smooth, edgy soulful feel. We both lived in inner cities and moved to the south. Our environments gave us such a range. We have southern hospitality mixed with that up north grunge in our tracks but then you’ll also hear some church vibes step in. Our neighborhoods made us tough. We’ve seen some friends become successful and we’ve seen some fall victim to the system either dying young or going to prison. We could’ve become products of our environments for sure, we just made the decision to turn negatives into positives.

16-If you could go back and whisper some words of wisdom to your younger, aspiring artist self, what would you say? What’s the most crucial piece of advice you’d offer to those just starting out?

The whisper to our younger self would be “Walk with your head higher, Nothing is wrong with you being different, you’re special.”To those starting out we encourage you to stay true to yourself. Remain teachable and never let your pride and ego take the wheel.

17-When you step away from the studio and the stage, what recharges your creative batteries? What passions or hobbies do you indulge in to find balance and inspiration outside of music?

When we step away from the studio and stage what recharges us is family. Spending time together and with our loved ones always inspires us. The gym, good healthy food.. FENIX has a new hobby of cooking. She’s the new recipe Queen!! We are constantly on a quest to become better soul’s so we balance each other out by holding each other accountable to learn, communicate, catch a movie, just purposely do fun things.

18-The music industry is a complex landscape. What aspects of it do you truly appreciate and find rewarding, and conversely, what are some of the frustrations or challenges you’ve encountered?

It’s always highly appreciated doing what you love and making a living from it. It’s frustrating at times looking at the state of the industry and how they set it up to win while artists are forced to not only create our own movements Of course it’s beater to have ownership but streaming has truly taken millions and millions of dollars away from artists. It doesn’t benefit us financially, we only use streaming platforms to cater to our fans that are caught in the matrix. Our other supports buy directly from us or band camp.

19-Your fans are the heartbeat of your musical journey. How do you cultivate that connection and create a community around your music?

What does that relationship mean to you
Our souls are the heartbeat of our musical journey, our fans are our assignment. We deliver what we know the people need. We study the missing elements in culture and life. We connect to our community of fans by being the solution. Some people need joyful tunes, others need motivational war-like songs, some want inspiration for the gym and some people just need to hear “Never Give Up” We may intentionally write a common message but execute and serve it in an uncommon fashion.

20-Your musical journey is a constant education. What’s been the most profound lesson you’ve learned so far, something that has truly shaped your approach as an artist and as a person?

We believe other than the “stay ready so you don’t have to get ready” factor.. We learned to not overthink things, we also know to never let procrastination live in our space. We think it, we create it! This journey of artistry has made us more punctual, more productive & mature.

21-Take us back to a performance that’s etched in your memory. What made it so unforgettable? Was it the energy of the crowd, a personal breakthrough, or something unexpected that happened on stage?

Going back to 2024 Murfreesboro, TN.. Our first 45 minute set show as a group. We got booked off of a week’s worth of rehearsals. The unexpected thing about this sold out show, that we weren’t initially booked for it. We were rehearsing with the intent to get booked. We had a few in mind and kept saying, we’re going to get booked. One day walking out of a studio for a show that we just placed on FOX TV – we went to a park to just relax from getting up super early to film. We pull up to the park, FENIX falls asleep. (FLO) walking around the park just thinking about how cool it was to do the tv show and being grateful, receives a call. Promoter on the line says, “A band can’t make it, we need a replacement, can you guys do 45 minutes?” At the time we did not have a 45 minute set ready but we figured it out asap! It was thousands in the crowd, the people seemed as if they weren’t really into us… When we walked amongst the crowd later that night, every step we took, we got stopped. It was a beautiful experience and that night we doubled our asking price.

22-Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for you? What are your aspirations, your dreams, and what exciting projects can fans anticipate in the near future?

For F&F, film is on the vision board. Writing scripts and starring in some movies as a team. We will release some vibes that people may not expect to hear from us. Having a vocalist and two rappers that love all types of music, we are boundless, limitless.. We aspire to show and prove that we are a Super Group.

23-Stepping onto the stage is a unique experience. What’s the biggest challenge you navigate as a performer, and how do you overcome it to deliver a powerful show?

The biggest challenge to navigate as a performer to us is learning all of the songs we create in a timely manner. We’re always creating and dropping new material that we love and having so many songs we are forced to rehearse and learn to be ready to perform and film visuals to the new material.

24-Life throws curve balls. Can you share a time when you faced significant adversity, either personally or professionally, and how you channeled that experience into your music or your artistic growth?

The most significant adversity that we faced was the experience of having our car broken into hours after our very first iHeart Radio interview. We were so amped and grateful to experience our first syndicated interview with Hip Hop United and hours later some teens were caught trying to break into the car and left two thousand dollars worth of damage. The incident truly showed us both that we aren’t attached to material things and in that moment we both displayed so much peace and grace. It was a sign that WE HAVE ELEVATED! With the work we’re putting in, we’ll be able to buy multiple luxury vehicles.

25-In your opinion, what’s the most indispensable quality for an artist striving for success in today’s music world? Is it resilience, creativity, authenticity, or something else entirely?

We would say that authenticity is that most indispensable quality because it’s a natural conduit of creativity and resilience comes with that package. It’s difficult to walk away from who you are when you love who you are.

26-The music industry can be demanding. What keeps your fire burning? How do you stay motivated and laser-focused on your goals, especially when faced with challenges?

The way we have programmed ourselves, we don’t let the industry dictate how we move. We move at our own pace, we create when we want, we choose our paths. Being in love with The Art always keeps us on our toes. We truly do the music for ourselves first. If we love it. we release it! Being a fan of each other also keeps that fire burning. We sharpen each other every writing and recording session.To add to that, we know that our dreams are tied to this so we go hard at honing our crafts. It’s all key to creating the life that we want to experience. We don’t ignore the challenges, we just keep our eyes on winning. When it comes to what wins in our scenarios – the problem or challenges never get the attention that we give to keeping our focus on the solutions.

27-Do you have a particular song or project in your discography that feels especially close to your heart? What’s the story behind it, and why does it resonate so deeply with you?

The most honest answer that we can give concerning our latest project “THE 7” EP. EVERY SINGLE SONG has significant value and touches us. When we listen to our music, we hear it as fans versus ourselves. ELLOVEE-E is a beautiful song to us. It unveils our personal relationship. (fFLO) I remember FENIX getting a download of the hook about 3 am. The song started as a mixtape song. Initially we wrote to Busta and Mariah’s “I Know What You Want” We love the words so much that we had to get with the TrackPros for an original track. We husted over to Mudnoc Studios to record this favorite of ours. Second top choice woulld be “MOMENTS WHEN” Why.. it’s a real life conversation that we are having on record as a remnder that no matter what we have been through, we’ve seen the toughest times get better.

28-Artists often reflect and shape society. What do you believe is the role of an artist in the world today? Do you see yourself as a storyteller, a commentator, a healer, or something else entirely?

This is a remarkable question. In many cases today’s artists don’t know that they shape society. We don’t take our gift’s and calling for granted. One, we are honored to be stewards of such great talent and influence. We pride ourselves on being all of thee above, we are storytellers, commentators, we heal through our sound and words, we know that we are leaders, not just trend setters rather legends specializing in creating and leaving a legacy.

29-Touring is a whirlwind experience. What are the highs and lows of life on the road for you? What do you love most about touring, and what aspects do you find the most challenging?

We’re looking forward to the tour because we love people, we love traveling and we love making money. The most exciting things about touring is the rush of hitting the stage and rocking new crowds, experiencing new cities and countries. The only lows we could encounter is a bad soundstage, sound crew but we already kill that negative chance of ever being a part of our experience. Missing family for a period of time is definitely a low however being on the road together is a mega plus.

30-What exciting surprises or evolution can your fans anticipate from you in the future? What new sounds, themes, or directions are you eager to explore?

Expect many surprises from FENIX & FLO, we stay on a quest of learning ourselves, learning our voices and stretching our abilities. One thing is to never expect the same flavor from us, as we grow we go into different realms of sound. Expect us to touch genres that we haven’t explored yet. Expect to see us working on other gifts like acting, we are definitely set to explore and conquer the film field with our music.

31-For fans who want to stay connected and follow your journey, where can they find you online and keep up with your latest news and music?

Let’s rewind to the genesis. Was there a specific moment, a song, an artist, or maybe even a feeling that sparked your journey into music?” (This is more evocative and invites a story.)

 

For our fans and supporters we can be found on IG and TikTok
http://instagram.com/fenixandflo

We’re also on Bandcamp – fenixandflo.bandcamp.com
All other DSP’s search: FENIX & FLO
(FENIX) As a child I would always sing with my Dad and Mom. My auntie Brenda was doing her thing in music so it’s just in blood. As for Flo and I connecting on a music level, it happened during our car rides, just hanging out or coming from photoshoots. We would freestyle over youtube instrumentals. (FLO) Pursuing the music journey started in my teens. My brother’s were DJ’s and I wanted to be like my big brother Dante. One Christmas our parents bought us some turntables and it was over. I went from DJ to Beat Maker to being an MC. I was in my share of rap groups but this one was unexpected but definitely fate. Everything about how FENIX and I flow together speaks volumes of synchronicity. From our first record “IF YOU WANT ME, LIKE I WANT YOU” … The love and support we received from it was a major key and eye opener for us