Biography
The first time Audrey Phoenix picked up the guitar she found two beautiful chords, which inspired a melody and lyrics, and that moment her first song was born. She has performed her original songs in Utah, Hawaii, Tibet, and over the internet via her youtube page (www.youtube.com/audreyphoenix).
The phoenix bird is a symbol that resonates deeply with who Audrey Phoenix is. Her life has been a series of seeming deaths and rebirths, rising from the ashes to become renewed and stronger than ever.
Often, from hardships, she has gained unexpected treasures. The inspiration to write her first song came from a life threatening accident where she was hit by a car while riding her bicycle to volunteer at the hospital. Unfortunately she wasn’t wearing a helmet, but luckily her only injury was a shattered jaw. In recovery she developed a deep passion for music and wrote many songs. This passion stayed with her and eventually fueled her to pursue music as a career.
At 17 years old Audrey moved to Hawaii to attend Brigham Young University. Her music progressed and flourished, inspired by the beautiful nature and gentle culture of Hawaii. She took an interest in Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki ho'alu) and learned techniques from local musicians. She also picked up the ukulele and found a passion for island style music.
After three semesters she left school and moved to a little apartment right on the beach in nearby Haleiwa. She supported herself by working at the local Waialua library. Working with books, however, very soon caused severe and debilitating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Over the next three year she suffered from on and off pain and disability sometimes so severe that opening a door or holding chopsticks was excruciating. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome severely limited her ability to pursue music, although at age 21 she journeyed to Tibet and performed in front of 7,000 Tibetans at the opening of a monastery.
She returned to the mainland at age 22 and through the help of a loving family and much peaceful inner work, she has miraculously and fully recovered. She now enjoys limitless use of her hands. Another rise from the ashes.
Fast forward one year to the present and she is currently pursuing music with all the force and power gained from the many times she has "risen from the ashes". She is now Phoenix "reborn" stronger than ever. Like a bird singing in the trees, she is truly free to follow her dreams and perfect her craft, infecting her audience with the joy that comes from a deep inner strength developed over a lifetime of never giving up.
