Remember last week when I did a Profile piece on Cole Phoenix? Well I did a Q&A with her and I thought I would post the replies on here for you to read. Enjoy.
1) Describe yourself in 5 words.
Ineffable times five.
2) Who is your music icon or influence?
I have multiple icons! To name a few Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince and Elvis Presley.
3) Top 5 albums or songs on your Ipod.
Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World
Alice Cooper – Poison
Rolling Stones – Satisfaction
Linkin Park – Numb
They’re also top artists among my music icons by the way (laughs).
4) Which you do you prefer more – singing or writing?
Interesting question and hard to answer. I like being able to express emotion in both mediums. I also enjoy scriptwriting and acting equally…It’s great to be able to extend your work – taking it further into a new evocative aspect of telling the story.
5) You filmed the song ‘Hello’ in and around London, what do you like about London the most?
The whole experience was unforgettable – seeing London all lit up for the holiday season, it was a visual feast!
The Christmas tree by St Paul’s Cathedral, the bright festive displays overhead and in the many shop windows…I blink and I visualize the colorful city instantly.
I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend “The Hobbit” finale world premiere there – London lent inspiration and everything bent towards filming “Hello” in the UK.
I certainly won’t forget capturing the majestic scenery and magic moments alongside producer/director Nicolas Jacobi. No, nor will I forget strolling the empty early morning streets in my prom dress at 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius)! But it was well worth braving the cold to capture that “survival through emotional turmoil” vibe that fuels “Hello.”
6) Where would you like to be in 5 years time?
Exploring worlds. By worlds I don’t mean planets – though perhaps that might be an option in five years or so (laughs), but by worlds I refer to our own physically – since traveling is a great eye opener into other cultures and ways of life…And additionally “worlds” as in entertainment spheres – from music to movies…ultimately the different formats for creating art. In five years I’d love to be swimming completely in the waters I’m currently testing! Hopefully the novel I’m painstakingly writing (“The Phoenix”) will be available for people to read and watch and they’ll be scarred for life by emotional journey – I mean that in the nicest possible way!
7) if you could do a duet with anyone, who would it be?
Marilyn Monroe, not a living lady but a living legend – after so many years she still holds a place in many a heart. Marilyn left a bittersweet impact on pop culture and I’d love to croon with her and cuddle – I think a lot of women relate to her fragility, despite how strong we can be!
8) What is your plan for 2015?
Releasing “Hello” tick, next box to tackle is the book I mentioned earlier. I wrote “The Phoenix” as a script initially but decided to develop it in deeper and juicer detail. It’s fictional and fun, not autobiographical despite the title. The concept actually came about from a music video idea hence the name “The Phoenix.” I’m excited to let it soar but first it has to rise and fully form!
9) ‘Hello’ is an up-tempo ’80s’ influence song, is this the kind of direction you wish to take for your music?
I am very flexible when it comes to style. My background was jazz and big band, I’ve delved into soul – literally and metaphorically speaking – and I’ve discovered that my musical taste is quite eclectic and my ambitions match this. I hope to make music that speaks to people of all ages, music that, like the legendary Phoenix, constantly reinvents through regeneration – and throughout generations…
10) If a stranger said ‘hello’ to you at a bar – how would you answer and what would you do?
Hi. (Laughs) Seriously I would probably observe every detail Sherlock style and assess their character, their motivations, ascertain any risk and possibly put them in a story or sing about them in a song, depends how we get along.
