Individual results

Interviewees: Phoenix Knights
Interviewer: Stacey Bains

Track 1
Fusion of Hip hop R& B dance hall and garage. Urban music. All 4 Listen to different types of music and influenced.
j- Michael Jackson. Young and black. Snoop dog. Doggy style album got him into hip hop. Nas Busta Rhymes. Cannabis. Whitney Houston Brandy.
Lisa- Whitney Houston idolised. TLC Missy Elliot
Shaleen- . Mary J Janet Jackson.
Bob Marley earliest memory and reggae & pop. MTV music video age. Belinda Carlise. MC hammer. Bros on bedroom wall. Modern day more important.

Track 2
But always have past. School meet different people. Listened to hip hop. When you go out and what's in the media. Could only get into West Indian club when young. Two separate groups. Song together on youth trip to Japan. Decided to join. First meeting was special. Inspired each other. Better vibe together. Hip hop sound changed to involve girls. Would think the same as girls on R& B level. Two same minds coming from different directions. Fusion.

Track 3
All went to Barrs Hill. Coventry is small, see each other. Everyone went to West Indian Centre. Made beats at Spon End Youth club. Left school and didn't see each other. Music bought them back together. Trip to Japan linked. Performed at Skydome, Diva, West Indian Club, Coombe Abbey, Hillfields. Audience are children. All different ages. Depends where perform. Japan favourite experience. On TV. Fresh experience. Treated like royalty. Chauffeurs. Presents

Track 4
Autographs. Press. Showed appreciation. Nice. Open to different colour and culture. J Lo era. R&B big over there. Everywhere perform they are supported. Interested in what's next. Supportive. Everyday life. Try not to get to deep. Entertainment. Experiences. Increasing scene. Young people getting involved. Not just them and COV's anymore. Different styles.

Track 5
2001 started together. Jason started in school. School project made video. Liked making beats went to college to study it. Band Def Com3. Performed. Lisa dancing and acting at school. Dance group Extreme. Messing about singing but worked. Phoenix Ladies. Friends. Show at Belgrade called Big Nose. Kwame director. Inspired and encouraged them. Would have carried on.

Track 6
Chris Christie supported them. Band wouldn't be here without him. UK artists not getting signed. French Hip Hop bigger than English. Ms Dynamite. Lemarr. Hear and see Americans.

Track 7
So Solid have made it. Not privileged. London Sound separates. Not only place with something happening. Mimic Dizzie Rascal voice. Record Labels try to change you. Make you commercial. Bring out garage and drum and base then becomes commercial. Cheese it up for kids. People go off it and it dies. Thought doors were opening. Dropped off quick. Watched channel U. Only bring out two artists a year . Kele Le Roc and Shola Ama got dropped. Mystique gone to America. All commercial. Big Brovaz new sound.

Track 8
Become commercial. Built to sell. Competition. Want record deal and full time manager. Want to focus on the music. Good to know people from Coventry have made it in the past. Want to put Coventry back on the map. Want to ask groups in the future about Phoenix Knights. Feel restricted not many opportunities.

Track 9
Think you get it all in London. If you want it you will get it. 16-20 writing rhymes. Angry. Reflecting what seeing on Coventry streets. Music can steer you away from leaving school. Cant get a job. Coventry caused anger in him. Nice to get more supprt from city. A lot of talent is wasted. Could be put back on the map.

Track 10
Competition in London. Big step. Has to happen sometime. Coventry doesn't keep you hungry enough need to be hungry people. Bored performed everywhere you can. Japan. Regional semi finals of MOBO awards. Short listed for Trevor Nelsons Urban choice award. Finals of battle of the bands. Performed with Liberty X. Better than Japan love of own people. Noticed. People waiting for next move.

Track 11
When growing up and parents music inspires you. Americans stamp their own music. Jamaican music has its on source in Jamaica. Music is identity. UK influence is Jamaica. Would be nice to create own original sound and culture. Music develops. All has culture. Everything starts in Africa. Would like to know the full process. Did learn a bit at college.

Track 12
Would like it to be loud and clear. Kept under the thumb. Don't know what capable of. Black peoples talent thrown into one areas. Want to know what capable of.

Track 13
Not narrow minded. Influenced by a lot because in the UK. Want to try different things. Coventry is people's whole world. Go looking for things. Don't go out a lot in Coventry. Boring. West Indian Centre. Soul on Sundays. Release on Fridays. Release has the best music. Jamaican tunes. Diva is commercial. No album tracks. Like a bit of everything. R&B Hip Hop Ragga.

Track 14
Go out in London and Birmingham. Going out not for music is to socialise. Stay at home to listen to music. Likes Westwood and Trevor Nelson. Went off garage.
Dancing in dancehall influenced other music. Crossover. 14-17 listened to Ragga sound types. Dub Plates. Battles. Went off when in to hip hop but feeling it again. Working on a dance hall track. Try to stay up to date. Finding next hit. Searching.

Track 15
Can meet everyday depends what 's going on. Going out & music. Performing arts. Entertainment. Don't have easy life if make it. Dedicated to what they are doing. No time to watch TV. Coventry gone quiet. Cov City Specials and lady Godiva. Eclipse had a scene. Blues dried up. Always used to go after dances. Future is bright. Said by 2002 would make. Keep trying.

Track 16
Money to be made. Only a matter of time. 25 years a long time. Start a label. How so Solid started. Need dedicated people then things happen. Look out for us and support us. Support your own.

Description of music played R&B, HipHop, garage, dancehall, urban music. Influences from different types of music, all members of the band have own preferences which comes across in the music, although a distinctly Black sound

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