We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Fiinix. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Fiinix below.

Alright, Fiinix thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

At around age 5 or 6, I saw the band Third World on TV in their music video “Sense of Purpose”, and it struck a chord with me because of 2 things primarily:

1. the video quality was on par with the big North American acts at that time,
2. I could identify with the group because they looked like me, and the people I saw in my everyday life

And so, to see that kind of quality from people who looked like me made/inspired me to think that maybe one day I could do that too. And that’s the image that has stayed with me, as I went to school and got involved in the arts through various school choirs and performing arts groups, I would always come back to that moment as the moment when I got the bug of wanting to see myself on stage.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Fiinix is a child of the arts. If it’s related to the arts (music specifically) in any way, shape or form, then that’s what I want to be doing: there is nothing else in all of life that I’m as passionate about as this.

In fact, I believe music is another element akin to water, and air—(they just forgot to add it.) …music is THAT important, in my eyes at least. It’s one of the most sacred gifts we have as humans, and I believe it should always be used to convey a perspective and communicate something meaningful, ADDING richness, diversity and depth to the artistic landscape, rather than being a mere replica/echo of what’s popular for the sake of making a buck—naaah, music is art, and art is LIFE!

That’s why my own music is infused with/doused in soul—I keep it real, honest and down-to-earth, telling it as I see it, giving my audience a space where they feel seen, safe and understood, where they can get inspired and motivated, even while rocking to the vibe and enjoying the vibration.

My music is about adding value and sparking thought, and subsequently discussion, that reaches far beyond the music…because at the end of the day, isn’t THAT the purpose of art?…

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey started with me as a member of a quartet.

But just at the cusp of success, one man sighted a greater career as a solo act, and he left.

We regrouped however, and trod on; now, as a trio.

As a trio, naturally, we started over from scratch—not wanting to have legal wranglings over copyright claims, we wrote new songs, laid new tracks, and reintroduced ourselves to the world…until, that is, one member decided that this would no longer be his path—with a family to feed, the grind to glory was too much, and the rewards not immediate enough, and he left.

…and then, there were two. Two too battered by the violence of having the rug pulled out from under them, and their dreams dashed two too many times, who decided to take a pause.

Two, who after exploring the classroom as teachers decided that this is the path they still wanted to trod, and so, a duo was born.

As a duo, naturally, we started over from scratch AGAIN—not wanting to have legal wranglings over copyright claims, we wrote new songs, laid new tracks, lost 2 EPs and an album thanks to computer and hard drive failures respectively, but nevertheless, reintroduced ourselves to the world…until, that is, creative differences led to a parting of ways.

In all honesty, this one almost broke me; but I regrouped and I trod on, this time as Fiinix…

But if you think the setbacks stopped there and I’m rising effortlessly from the ash, *insert record scratch here*, because that kind of ending is only found in fairytales.

As Fiinix, naturally, I started over from scratch AGAIN—not wanting to have legal wranglings over copyright claims, I wrote new songs, laid new tracks, and reintroduced myself to the world…until, that is, COVID 19; then a computer hack which in effect deleted another collection of music…

…But you know why I keep going?… the love of it. For me, music is not about the fame, nor the money. I do this for the simple joy of creating—of making something, where there was nothing before. —for the joy of having a vision and bringing it to life, and seeing people’s reaction to what I’ve created. I think that whole process and exchange is magical; and though I would love it if it were smooth sailing from here on out, it doesn’t matter what happens, I will always regroup, and trod on.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Seeing people react to, and appreciate my work.

I think people who peddle art (in whatever form) are at least slightly insane, and INCREDIBLY brave; and why I say this is because to create art, you have to be vulnerable. So vulnerable, it’s as if you’re stripping naked in front of a crowd—for me at least, that’s how it is. Through my creativity, I’m letting you into my most private, most sacred space, allowing you to see what I think, how I think, WHY I think what and how I think, and to do that takes something!

But, after going through that process, getting to see people’s reactions to the thing I created—best feeling in the WORLD! It’s like Christmas—I created this thing as a gift for the audience, and seeing their reactions is a gift back to me that fuels and motivates me to do even more and greater things because of the joy I get from their appreciation of the work. …it’s incredible really.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iyahfiinix/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxtqq8VJMMipLxDEhDEUXDA

Image Credits
Shanice ‘Foxxy’ Ebanks