ISLAND SONGSTRESS STARTS WITH A SIZZLE

Article: By Paisley Conrad

    The lights in the theatre are darkened. A girl sits simply on the stage, with nothing but her long, red hair and a guitar. The lights come up on this sight, and she gives the audience a serene smile. A few chords are played on the guitar. This girl opens her mouth and seemingly effortlessly, the most beautiful sounds escape her lips. Displaying a shocking amount of vocal control, Phöenix Lazare is a 15 year old musician wise beyond her years.

    Comfortable with public performance, Phöenix has been singing her entire life. As a child, she would entertain family members with renditions of “O Canada”. At age 9, she began singing in churches, backed by a piano accompaniment. Years passed, and she turned to the composition of her own pieces. When she was 12, Phöenix penned her first, fully-formed song, “I'll Be Waiting”, a song meant to comfort someone in need.

    I've grown up with music surrounding me, my entire life, and I've grown such a strong connection to it. It's my getaway. I make music because it's my passion.” Lazare states with finality. 

    Since then, Phöenix has written countless songs, inspired mainly by personal experiences and her surroundings. Her home on an island in British Columbia has influenced her positively, as her island has a strong sense of community and support. Lazare values her family and is very grateful for all of their support throughout this experience, saying that "they know me so well and they are basically guiding me through this whole process. I know that they are always going to be there” With a soft smile, she describes her strong foundation and her island home. “We're such a close-knit community. Everybody knows each other and everyone supports each other... I love it.”

    Thanks to this stable backing, Lazare has had the amazing opportunity to go into local recording studios to carefully craft her EP. With the help of her father, and several talented musicians to back her up, she recorded a handful of what she considered her personal best. Carefully looking at the meaning and general vibe of each tune, she placed each song where it fit best. As a result, the final product flows with beautiful euphony. 

    A hint of rock-influenced swagger, combined with folk-inspired vocals mixed with a blend of indie sound makes up her first musical brainchild. Her songs are peppered with subtleties of voice and piano interwoven through a gentle guitar. Citing Sarah McLachlan, Kate Bush and Adele as vocal influences, Phöenix Lazare proves her prowess as a songstress. Also mentioning Coldplay as an inspiration, Lazare admires their bold experimentation and their ability to make anything work.

    With a quiet firmness, Lazare pronounces, “This is who I am, and this is what I want to do.”

    This is Phöenix Lazare, and she's not here for herself. She's doing this for you.