Today we’d like to introduce you to Phoenix Knight.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
What really got me from wanting to just play guitar to be one of the greats was seeing the crowd at a Black Sabbath show. Can’t deny War Pigs is one of the best songs out there. I just loved how it made me feel to see them and the crowd singing back the lyrics. Around six months of picking up the guitar, I already tried to form a band and start playing live. I have to thank my parents for this one for helping me create somewhat of a business mind. The part that sees things as possible ways to sustain myself and attach that to something I love/like. From a young age, I geared good five years plus three years of prior playing/practice into what is one of the first comfortable levels I’ve reached. One thing that. That aspect has definitely helped me maintain dream of being a musician. Many musicians have struck me but notable ones that I can recall have ignited many things I’m still proud of today.
Guitar wise:
Eddie Van Halen
I used to mimic his guitar jumps and music videos to my dad cause it was like a cool inside joke. They started morphing into my ideal level of top-notch stage presence. When I started performing, I did his signature jumps and loved going crazy. His guitar playing and innovation also drove me to play crazy techniques beautifully but also having a great time while doing so.
Randy Rhoads
Diary of a MadMan is one of my favorite albums. I admired the presence of his classical guitar voicings on heavy metal riff age. It was like a fine balance of really nerdy technical and nice amount of balls to the wall metal.
Dave Mustaine
I had a period of time I was really into mega deth. Only megadeth tok, I didn’t like Metallica until I heard kill them all. I loved Dave’s aggressive playing that had a hint of blues. When I picked up vocals Dave Mustaine was one person I did look up to and tried to mimic.
Jack White
Loved his extreme combination of punk and blues mixed with crazy effects. An effect sound I use regularly which was out of huge inspiration from Jack white. His other projects such as dead weather and his experimental tracks on his later albums came just in time. I tried to incorporate more rap elements and production.
Tim Henson/Tosin Abasi
Some of the greatest guitarists to ever hit the face of the earth. They help me get into so much other music outside of the stereotypical rock playlist. They showed, created, and innovated so many techniques I use in my own way.
Gibson Guitars
Gibson guitars is definitely one moment I’m glad to have had. I played at the Dallas Guitar Festival and competed as one of the contestants for top 10 under 20. The other musicians definitely slaughtered me I felt. It was definitely a day I decided to leave the blues behind and try to do a deeper dive into the genre(s) I’m Playing now. Ceaser of Gibson Corporate was one of the judges and I messaged him privately about when the Gibson g3 team was forming with many of my other fellow contestants who were joining on. They gave me my guitar named Lux a blueberry burst 2019 Memphis Gibson 335. The best guitar that never gets in my way for whatever I wanna play. Except for the occasional feedback issues. They flew me out to NAMM and gave me a time and space to create some great music relationships and friendships along the way.
I started Audio Sex Drive as my solo project but I have now Tre Pham, Finn Rafferty, Josué Miranda and James Nañez as part of the team. My dad showed me this phrase he made which was, “everything sometimes.” I started to try to embody that and for the band to be in that capacity. Right now, I have my buddies James Nañaz and Finn Rafferty with me. So happy to have met some of the best bandmates I’ve ever had. It feels natural to play and fun to learn with them. We are in writing phase but have previous recorded stuff coming soon. Very excited to release these few tracks soon under Ep or Album name “Hate Me, Love Me, but Do You Feel Me.” The EP is subject to change and possibly a different title but we are going on tour to California from May 28th-June 13th.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There were definitely a lot of struggles that come with life and arguably an interesting lifestyle. Of course, the most universal was the pandemic. Not only did it rip apart an achievement I’ve worked many years for but to also see friends and bigger musicians I only support through instead ram struggle was hard. There were definitely times when the struggle was physical from working a lot or doubles and just being exhausted. Many nights coming home from cut hands for some reason so wasn’t always ideal to play. Sadly there was a lot of unneeded adversary from people I really considered friends and or nice people. Rumors that were shot to avoid an easier to the conclusion of their faults. Those instances left me with two choices of either waiting for the right people or do it yourself. I chose to do it myself and was so happy to also find great bandmates after finding healthy independence in music and in life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I do now is my favorite job I ever had. All thanks to my good friend Jacob Bibby of the band Sad Cell. We go back years and played in one of my first bands I started. I worked outside with parking and would use that time to practice guitar and make money at 17. The owner Bill Welker promoted me to the inside and then promoted to where I am at now which is salesman and social media. I specialize in effect pedals and electric guitar. Really appreciate South Austin Music being a non-commission sales staff so we can really be honest with people gear and money-wise. When I can take my time and show people cool pedals and cool things that made me fall in love with the guitar, it helps me fall in love with it again from a different perspective. Without the job, I wouldn’t have some of my most proudest moments which was being complimented by some of the greatest around. Definitely proud of where I am at Guitar where I don’t constantly fiend for compliments but when legends like David Grissom and WC Clark not only acknowledge who I am but also took the time to acknowledge my playing, makes you feel like all the hard work you put in was finally paying off. That helped in many ways for sure.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Some people, and something I’m still trying to learn, strive so fast for the first place medal and not the process of learning to get to first place. One gentlemen I look up to is Richard Jesse who teaches guitar at my job and has many high credits in his resume. He to me embodied the perspective of approaching everything like something to learn. Clean lust for knowledge is amazing and enriched you with many things. His knowledge on what seems like all genres and guitar is not only stunning but obvious of its connection to thoughts made out of curiosities. I’m conclusion, you can learn from everyone and everything. The more you pull and combine the more ingredients you play with that by just having more sets you from the rest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://instagram.com/audiosexdrive_official?utm_medium=copy_link
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/phoenix.steel.knight?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/southaustinmusic/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/SvhOMh1lBnk
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/fWapkKHK3JMqVvBY7
- Other: https://instagram.com/audiosexdrive_official?utm_medium=copy_link
Image Credits
Bob Steshetz (11) Jose Greigo of @offgray.co (7,8,9) Jack Butler (1,2,3) Joshua Foyil (5) Brandon Toffoli (10) Friendly stranger (6)
