Willow's Playlist: Acoustic Piano From Vocalist Phoe Nix: Think Tori Amos meets Kate Bush in Second Life

Exclusive to NWN, Willow Caldera covers SL's burgeoning live music scene

Few singers in either world can boast a voice so crystal clear and haunting that the collective hair of the audience stands on end. Performing a mixture of elegant covers and self-penned songs, Phoe Nix delivers a flawless, emotional set accompanied by the confident notes of her piano.

Phoe Nix began her career singing in choirs in her native Singapore, moving on to run her own studio, Firebird Music, and reached the Asian Top 40 with her debut release, 'Binary Star'. In the real world, she has toured globally and played venues from the Coventry Skydome Arena, with 50 dancers accompanying her set, to the Whisky A Go Go on Sunset Boulevard. She now lives in the UK, where she fronts electro-rock band greenhaus.

This video was recorded by Sound'r at A Cluster of Stars, a beach venue designed for the romantic music lover. It features the original song 'Still You're There'.

"I'm a piano-vocalist-songwriter playing jazzy folk/pop lounge original and cover songs," says Phoe.

Phoe, whose real-world stage name is Phoenix J, itself a translation of her Chinese name, 'Hong', sees Second Life as part of the next stage of her musical evolution, allowing her to return to her acoustic roots.

"May 2, 2008 was my [Second Life] debut, at ViBe HQ. It was an outlet for my music, especially as a soloist. I had already heard big acts have played in it, so I decided to explore. It's a great place to rehearse and test new materials. I love the intimate settings and a much more familial rapport with the audience.

"I'm drawn to a few favourite spots, like The Pocket and Circe's Circle of venues. I enjoyed playing at Cluster today, my first here. Anywhere where there's a crowd, there is my favourite place to share my music!"

More about Phoe Nix:

• Friends of Phoe Hangout - In-world headquarters
• Official website
• Calendar
  
• Buy Music/Hear Samples
  
• Greenhaus
• MySpace
• Twitter
  

What live music groups should Willow Caldera cover for New World Notes? Suggest groups and performers by contacting her by IM or at sarah@soundr.net

Willow is the creative director of Sound'r, a full-service machinima house - you can read her blog here or see more Sound'r videos here.

Her taste in music is somewhat eclectic, ranging from Apocalyptica to Biffy Clyro and Eva Cassidy to MGMT and the Manic Street Preachers.

Comments

[Peter aka Rokii Aeon (SL)]

What a nice review.

And it was a pleasure to hear that lovely song performed with such emotion.