Daily Inspiration: Meet Renee Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Phoenix.

Hi Renee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started playing guitar around the age of 10-11. I never took it too seriously until I went to college at UNF in Jacksonville, FL, and decided to fill up my extracurricular time by starting a punk band called The Explicits, which later became Fit For Rivals.

After 10 years in the industry, I no longer wanted to play by the rules and put together Freak Machine Records to house all of my musical endeavors exactly how I wanted.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been an emotionally taxing road and I wouldn’t recommend getting into the music industry unless you have thick skin, or are rich enough to bypass the steps a band in a garage has to take to gain success.

Everybody says they can do everything for you for a price that’s never worth it. I started my label to get away from it all. It was just all too much and I felt myself becoming physically exhausted by it everyone and everything.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I sing, play guitar, bass, drums, engineer, mix, master, film, and edit. I’ve learned how to do a lot of things all in the name of music. I’m mostly known for being the lead singer and songwriter of Fit For Rivals.

I’m most proud of myself. I look back and can’t believe the things I’ve been through in my journey and how I’ve managed to come out stronger from it.

Any big plans?
Taking a step back and asking myself what my definition of success is has really changed my perspective.

A lot of people like to post themselves on big tours or trying to live up to someone else’s definition of success. I found myself doing that for a while and I’m looking forward to living life for myself.

My definition of success is being happy with who I am at the end of the day and enjoying the music I create. If other people like that, cool. If they don’t, cool.

Contact Info:

• Website: freakmachinerecords.com
• Instagram: @iamreneephoenix
• Facebook: iamreneephoenix
• Youtube: freakmachinerecords

Image Credits
K Enagonio