Learning To Fight Blog - ROUND 3

Learning To Fight Blog - ROUND 3




YOU WANNA GO SON? C’MON AND GET SOME!!

Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages – welcome to ROUND 3 of my “Learning to Fight” Blog as the ‘First Lady of NuFunk’ representing NuFunktonia, the Tdot Odot, Arktik Afriqua, and beyond!

1st and FOREMOST – I’ll be hosting & performing at “Let’s Hear It For the Girls’ this WED. SEPTEMBER 23rd at Holy Joe’s (651 Queen St. West – above the Reverb).

Also performing will be standup comedy from funny gals Morgan Joy and Diana Love, and an acoustic pop set by Chloe Charles (www.chloecharles.com). Come on out to dance, laugh, drink, party, and have a good time!

BIG NEWS, SUPPORTERS OF THE PHOENIX! AKA. All the PHOENIXTONIANS! - about two weeks ago I dropped off the final copy of my debut EP called, ‘Learning To Fight’ (mixed and mastered and ready to RUMBLE) to Music Manufacturing Services in Toronto. OH!! – what a feeling! So, in a few days, I’ll have the pressed and packaged copies in my very own hands! That means that on October 20th you TOO will be able to have your own copy of 'Learning To Fight' in your sweaty little hands! And then you will come out for my CD Release PARTY at Holy Joe’s (651 Queen St. West) on Thursday October 22nd. Also playing will be wordPEOPLE (www.myspace.com/wordpeopl..emusic), and some surprise guests from the album! It’s gonna be HOT night people, you wont wanna miss this one!!

But why support the PHOENIX?
Let me begin by taking you back to this past June 1st, 2009 where I had the pleasure to sing with GOD MADE ME FUNKY at the 7th Annual Panty Schmooze. (http://www.pantyschmooze.c..om/) held at Palais Royale. (See link below for a clip of our performance!)



This annual benefit is in support of Juliette’s Place: (Homeward Family Shelter) a not-for-profit, community-based agency which provides safe refuge for abused women and their children.
AND
Red Door Family Shelter - For women and children fleeing violence, refugees and other families needing safe, supportive housing in an emergency.

I was really inspired by everyone coming together in support of two wonderful causes. That’s why I’ve decided to donate a dollar of every ‘Learning To Fight’ EP sold to a womens’ shelter. ‘Learning To Fight’ is about all the women and people out there that wake up every day and have to fight to live life to the fullest and be somebody.

Not dissing the fellas, but Toronto and all of Canada have so many talented females that have to Learn To Fight in a predominately male power structure. So I’ve decided to also start booking meetings for a collective I’m starting called, “Let’s Hear it For the Girls”. To all my artistic ladies out there – please stay posted about the official date for the first meeting. Here we can discuss issues we face as women trying to get our voices heard as artists. We will have guest speakers talk with us about work out tips, nutrition tips, studio tips, business tips, etc… the list of topics is limitless. Let’s start building a support system for each other and build the female artistic community in Toronto!

Who’s with me!?!? R U READY!?!

By supporting the PHOENIX, you’re also supporting the many other amazingly talented females in the T.DOT nation and beyond!!!

Aight PHOENIXTONIANS, Let’s starting Learning To Fight!

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!

Learning To Fight Blog - ROUND 2 (In Heels!)

Learning To Fight - ROUND 2 (In Heels!)
Category: Music

POW!

Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls - this is ROUND 2 of my Learning To Fight blog as I make my way from being a short spunky girl from Ontario with BIG DREAMS to becoming the ‘FIRST LADY OF NUFUNK’ here in T.DOT and BEYOND!

What is NUFUNK? NuFunk is the amalgamation of R&B, Funk, Rock, Pop, and Soul, but it’s also movement represented by all of the rich cultural diversity we have in our very own T.DOT nation, in Canada, and on PLANET EARTH! Let’s celebrate versatility and individuality by partying with the purveyors of NUFUNK. And in order for me to be a lady of Nufunk, I have been Learning To Fight (for the right) --- this week, in heels ;)

YES, heels. If a first lady is gonna fight, she better do it with class. This is just one aspect of my training this week. I. In order to ensure that I can rock a pair of heels on stage, I have been walking the half hour walk to work in heels three times a week. Yes, I have the blisters to show for it – but definitely something I can incorporate in my day to day that will lead me in becoming a fiercer force to reckon with

My next training also concerns rockin’ out in stage. I’ve been singing with God Made Me Funky – the original purveyors of NuFunk! And let me tell you – a live God Made Me Funky show is no joke. It’s essentially a 2 hour highly intense Cardio workout whilst singing your butt off. You’ve gotta maintain that vocal power and physical energy without getting winded and letting the vocals or performance suffer.

In order to improve on this – I bought myself a jump rope, and while I skip, I’ve also been singing my songs and doing vocal warm-ups! It’s a win win situation – building my vocal muscles and my leg muscles at the same time.....

Note: check out GOD MADE ME FUNKY, (myspace.com/godmademefunky), who are currently on tour NOW with their latest album ‘Welcome to NuFunktonia’. I’ll be on tour with them in November celebrating NUFUNK in full effect!

My last bit of training that I will share with you this week, is something that I didn’t even consider before – my interview skills. If I want to share NuFunk and get the awareness out even further, I have to make sure that I can properly convey the message with strength, poise, and confidence. I’ve been reading and watching interviews on youtube of artists who have a strong message and are confident in what they are selling. Madonna, David Bowie, Bette Midler, Annie Lennox, Jay Z and Beyonce never look confused, timid, or unsure of who they are and what they are selling. I’m taking notes on how they make an interesting interview with memorable quotes, charm, and confidence. I ask myself – “how would I answer that question?’ ‘What am I all about and how am I connect with people?’

Media training is something that all of the aforementioned stars have gone through. They didn't just wake up and instantly know how to work an interview! So why shouldn’t I start training myself as well?

BAM! These are just a few more aspects of my training & I hope by sharing the journey, I can also inspire. Everyday I’m getting stronger as I keep Learning To Fight.

Let’s Get Ready to RUMBLE!!!!

Learning to Fight Blog - Round 1!

Ding Ding!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children of all ages: WELCOME to the 1st installment of my Learning To Fight blog!

(For those who've read my bio, skip this part..)
My name is Dana Jean Phoenix. I'm a singer from Canada. I've been singing my whole life. Michael Jackson was and is my biggest musical Inspiration (but not my only inspiration). What you are about to read is the 1st Round of my training to becoming a heavyweight singing champion. ENJOY! (By the way, read my bio on my homepage ;)

I've just completed my DEBUT EP entitled, "Learning To Fight" and it's been one hell of a ride to get to this point. Let's start with the training:

Everybody always rags on Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Lady GAGA.. all these POP chicks. I used to do it too - I aint gon' lie! It's so easy to stand back complain, hate, and scoff, "Pftt..I would never be a singer like that!".... YES, complaining is the EASY PART. What is not so easy is committing dreams to actual goals and doing the work that is involved with making that dream a reality. These women had dreams, and followed through on making those dreams a reality with a lot of work and sacrifice.

Having a Debut anything has always been a dream of mine - and though I did not expect it to just magically transpire, I was not prepared for the amount of WORK and discipline required to make that dream a reality.

Questions like:
'Who is Dana Jean Phoenix and what sets her apart?"

"Well.. umm.. I know I can sing.. I'm like, blonde and super short!!"

Okay.. well, how many short blonde chicks who can sing are out there? What about me is going to get people noticing?

'What about your live performance makes you stand out?'

If singing behind a microphone stand with a cool hairdo and a nice dress & heels is the response.. then how does that make your live performance unique and captivating?

'What do your outfits both in photos, and onstage convey about who you are?'

Again, a cute dress may not give a strong enough message about who you are - and why you are unique. Why would people take notice if nothing about you stands out?

In order to make this album a reality, I've had to make difficult decisions as to how I will set myself apart - and then ACT on those decisions.

When writing lyrics, I've had to think about how to write in a way that is catchy and will grab people, without being the standard 'I love you, but you treat me so mean.'

I've been watching DVD concerts, ad nauseum, of the artists I admire most to see how they keep the crowd excited and engaged. You watch a DVD of Madonna concert, and there is never a dull moment. Her outfits, her movement, her banter are not only cohesive and conveying a strong message, but also keep the crowd excited and in awe.

So, how do I apply this to myself? How do I be a Madonna, without being Madonna. How do I make it so that when people scoff at me, they’re scoffing because they don’t understand the real hard work that’s involved. This is one aspect of what I’ve been up to make my dreams come true. ....

Learning to Fight!

Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!!!!!!

[EP Available October 2009]