Nick Phoenix

Last updated

Nick Phoenix
Origin London, England
Genres Epic
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • composer
  • musician
  • producer
Instrument(s)
  • Piano
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
  • vocals
Years active1997–present
Website https://nickphoenix.com/

Nick Phoenix (born August 25, 1967, London, England) is a British composer, pianist, and co-founder of the production music company Two Steps from Hell. [1] He has written music for a number of trailers, with over 1,200 scores and placements in total. [2] [1]

Contents

Since 1997, he has been involved in composing film trailer music and producing virtual instrument libraries for EastWest Sounds. [3]

Career

In 2006, he formed Two Steps from Hell with his business partner, Thomas Bergersen, and the two publicly released the album Invincible in 2010. Several additional commercial album releases have since followed, including Archangel and SkyWorld , [4] each of which has charted on the iTunes top 100 in the Soundtracks category. [5] Phoenix also performed in a 2013 live concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall alongside Bergersen, confirming at least one future concert planned for Europe. [6]

In 2013, he released a solo hybrid electronic/orchestral album titled Speed of Sound . [7]

Phoenix's band, Crater Mountain, released its classic rock-genre debut album Hillbilly Starship in 2014, [8] with plans to begin live performances in the fall of that year. [9]

The 2014 release of his first published written work, Colin Frake on Fire Mountain, was accompanied by a Two Steps From Hell soundtrack release featuring music composed by himself and Thomas Bergersen. [10] [11]

The second installment, Colin Frake Asclepius, was published in April 2017. [12]

Personal life

On 15 November 2015 Phoenix's son, Jack, who was 15 years old, was killed in a hit and run incident. [13] The album Vanquish was dedicated to his memory. [14]

Discography

Solo albums

Two Steps from Hell

Demonstration albums

  • Volume One (2006) [First album, featuring various genres]
  • Shadows and Nightmares (2006) [Horror genre album]
  • Dynasty (2007) [Epic genre album]
  • All Drums Go to Hell (2007) [Heavily percussion-oriented album]
  • Nemesis (2007) [Epic genre album mostly composed by Thomas Bergersen]
  • Pathogen (2007) [Electro-metal album largely composed by Nick Phoenix].
  • Dreams & Imaginations (2008) [New Age album]
  • Legend (2008) [Epic genre album, with some tracks composed by Troels Folmann]
  • Ashes (2008) [Horror genre album]
  • The Devil Wears Nada (2009) [Mostly light and humorous album]
  • Power of Darkness (2010) [Epic genre album]
  • All Drones Go to Hell (2010) [19] [Also known as Mystical Beginnings; [20] New Age album]
  • Illumina (2010) [19] [New Age album]
  • Balls to the Wall (2011) [Percussion album, with some tracks composed by Alex Pfeffer]
  • Nero (2011) [Epic genre album, with some tracks composed by Alex Pfeffer]
  • Cyanide (2013) [Percussion and electro-metal album]
  • Crime Lab (2013) [Industrial electronica album] [21]
  • Open Conspiracy (2014) [Epic Hybrid album also featuring Hitesh Ceon and Nick Pittsinger, as well as Thomas Bergersen] [22]

Public albums

  • Invincible (2010) [Compilation of some of the most popular Two Steps From Hell tracks]
  • Archangel (2011) [Compilation of more of the most popular Two Steps From Hell tracks]
  • Demon's Dance (2012) [Compilation of tracks previously unreleased to the public, available only on the Two Steps From Hell application for iOS and Android]
  • Halloween (2012) [23] [Compilation of well-known horror tracks from several demonstration albums, with several other-genre tracks as well]
  • SkyWorld (2012) [24] [First public album featuring almost entirely new music]
  • Classics Volume One (2013) [25] [Compilation of previously unreleased tracks. First public album available in lossless audio]
  • Colin Frake on Fire Mountain (July 2014) [Soundtrack accompaniment for an original Nick Phoenix-penned e-book. Also features music composed by Thomas Bergersen] [10]
  • Battlecry (2015) ["Ultra epic" follow-up to SkyWorld and the first public album to be released on two discs.] [26] [27]
  • Classics Volume Two (2015) [Compilation of new and previously unreleased tracks.]
  • Vanquish (2016) [Album published in November 2016, dedicated to his deceased son, Jack Phoenix]
  • Myth (2022) [28]

Crater Mountain

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Globus (music)</span> American rock band

Globus is a Santa Monica-based movie trailer music-inspired band consisting of a mix of producers, musicians, and vocalists. The band is led by composer and producer Yoav Goren.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Steps from Hell</span> American trailer music company

Two Steps from Hell is a production music company based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 2006 by Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, a pair of composers born in Norway and England respectively. The two friends created the company to make trailer music demos to be circulated exclusively within the movie advertising industry for the purpose of licensing; they are partnered with Extreme Music who handle licensing arrangements. The duo are among the most successful in their field, having supplied background tracks for thousands of film trailers and TV commercials. They compose separately but release their creations together. Typically, their music is orchestral and choral based, but with modern complements and structured similar to pop songs. The stentorian nature of their works has led the frequent use of a contemporary label, "epic music", to define their style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Bergersen</span> Norwegian composer and founder of Two Steps from Hell.

Thomas Jacob Bergersen is a Norwegian composer, multi-instrumentalist, and the co-founder of the production music company Two Steps From Hell. He is among the worlds most streamed artists in the classical crossover genre, and has over 2 million streams per month on Spotify. Bergersen's compositions have featured in many motion picture campaigns, such as Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Twilight Saga, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Da Vinci Code, The Mummy, The Dark Knight, Tron: Legacy and hundreds more. Bergersen has scored over one thousand soundtracks and film trailers.

<i>Illusions</i> (Thomas Bergersen album) 2011 studio album by Thomas J. Bergersen

Illusions is the first studio album by Norwegian composer Thomas J. Bergersen, of Two Steps From Hell fame. It was released in June 2011. It consists of 19 tracks and features vocal performances by Vladislava Vasileva, Elitsa Todorova, Merethe Soltvedt, Kate St. Pierre, Jenifer Thigpen and Colin O'Malley, as well as instrumental performances by cellist Tina Guo, and the Capellen Orchestra. The album cover and artwork are designed by Jesper Krijgsman, inspired by visuals from Beauty and the Beast. Initially a digital release, the CD was made available in March 2012. It has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

<i>Legend</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2008 demo album by Two Steps From Hell

Legend is a demonstration album by the music production group Two Steps from Hell, originally released exclusively to clients in the motion picture and advertising industry for the purpose of licensing in May 2008. It consists of three discs: two CDs and a bonus DVD. The former contain a total of 37 principal tracks; 20 on disc one and 17 on disc two. The latter includes a large collection of alternative versions; therefore, in total, Legend consists of 77 tracks. They are predominantly composed by the group's founding members, Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, as well as some by Troels Folmann. The album was recorded by Capellen Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic and at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, United States. The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.

<i>Power of Darkness</i> 2010 demo album by Two Steps From Hell

Power of Darkness is a demonstration album by the music production group Two Steps from Hell, originally released exclusively to clients in the motion picture and advertising industry for the purpose of licensing in March 2010. It was uniquely distributed on a flash drive, rather than a physical disc. It includes 32 principal tracks, split into two themed volumes. Additionally, it contains a large collection of alternative versions; therefore, in total, Power of Darkness consists of 77 tracks. They are composed by Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. The album was recorded in Prague, Czech Republic, in Los Angeles, and in Utah, United States. The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.

<i>Halloween</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2012 studio album by Two Steps From Hell

Halloween is the third public album by the group Two Steps from Hell, released in September 2012. The album contains 48 tracks, written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. All the tracks, apart from To Die on Halloween, are from prior demonstration albums previously only available to the industry. This is their first public album to feature tracks with English vocals.

"Heart of Courage" is a song by the American production music company, Two Steps from Hell; it was composed by co-founder Thomas Bergersen. It originates from the "drama"/second disc of their 2008 trailer music demo album, Legend, circulated exclusively within the movie advertising industry for the purpose of licensing. The track was subsequently made available for public purchase on the group's first commercial album, Invincible, released on 3 May 2010.

<i>SkyWorld</i> 2012 studio album by Two Steps From Hell

SkyWorld is the fourth public album by the group Two Steps from Hell, released in October 2012; their third major release following the success of Invincible and Archangel. The album contains 22 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. All tracks, except for "Dark Ages", are brand new original tracks. This is the second of their albums featuring tracks with English lyrics, namely Titan Dream, The End is the Beginning, and Back to the Earth. Recording took place in both Brno, Czech Republic and Los Angeles, United States.

<i>Classics Volume One</i> 2013 studio album by Two Steps From Hell

Classics Volume One, also stylised as Classics, Vol. 1, is the fifth public album by the group Two Steps From Hell, released in June 2013. It consists of 23 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. This album is the first of their public albums available in lossless audio. All songs except "Return from Darkness" and "Path to Earth" are from their previous demonstration albums. The album also features an extended version of "Eternal Sorrow" from the Nemesis album, as well as tweaked versions of "Magnan Imus", "White Witch", and "The World Is Mind".

<i>Miracles</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2014 studio album by Two Steps from Hell

Miracles is the sixth public album by the group Two Steps From Hell, released in June 2014. It consists of 21 tracks written entirely by composer Thomas J. Bergersen. This album predominantly features material selected from earlier demonstration albums, including Dreams & Imaginations, Illumina, Two Steps From Heaven, and Volume One. However the title track, "Compass", and "Stay" are brand new tracks. The previously unreleased tracks "Sun Gazer," "Eyes Closing," "My Freedom," "Perfect Love", and "Wind Queen" appear with various tweaks and embellishments.

This is the discography of Thomas J. Bergersen, a composer whose music has been used in trailers of Hollywood blockbusters such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Interstellar and many others.

<i>Sun</i> (Thomas Bergersen album) 2014 studio album by Thomas Bergersen

Sun is the second studio album by Norwegian composer Thomas Bergersen, of Two Steps from Hell fame. It was released in September 2014. It consists of 16 tracks, featuring vocal performances by Merethe Soltvedt, Molly Conole and The Choir of Sofia, as well as instrumental performances by T-Rex, Chris Bleth and Bergersen himself. The album cover and artwork are also designed by Bergersen himself. The tracks "Empire of Angels," "Final Frontier," and "Starchild" were made available as preview tracks on iTunes prior to the full release.

<i>Battlecry</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2015 studio album by Two Steps from Hell

Battlecry is the seventh studio album by the group Two Steps from Hell, released on 28 April 2015. It consists of 26 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. The album features all-new tracks, except for Amaria from the demonstration album of the same name. It features vocal performances by Merethe Soltvedt, Nick Phoenix and Felicia Farerre.

<i>Classics Volume Two</i> 2015 studio album by Two Steps From Hell

Classics Volume Two, also stylised as Classics, Vol. 2, is the eighth public album by the group Two Steps From Hell, released in June 2015. It features 15 previously unreleased tracks from prior demonstration albums composed by Thomas J. Bergersen, and 10 entirely new tracks from Nick Phoenix. The album features tracks containing vocal performances by Felicia Farerre and Aya Peard.

<i>Vanquish</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Two Steps from Hell

Vanquish is the ninth studio album by the group Two Steps from Hell, released on 2 December 2016. It consists of 17 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. The album is the first major public release to include no material from industry album releases. It was recorded live by Capellen Orchestra under the supervision of Petr Pololáník, and features vocal performances by Felicia Farerre, Asja Kadric, Jenifer Thigpen, and Linea Adamson.

<i>Unleashed</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2017 studio album by Two Steps from Hell

Unleashed is the tenth studio album by the group Two Steps from Hell, released on 22 September 2017. It consists of 56 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. The album is the longest released to the public by Two Steps from Hell. It features vocal performances by Merethe Soltvedt, C.C. White, Felicia Farerre, Úyanga Bold, Nick Phoenix and Linea Adamson. The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.

<i>Dragon</i> (Two Steps from Hell album) 2019 studio album by Two Steps from Hell

Dragon is the eleventh studio album created by the music production company Two Steps from Hell, released on 18 January 2019. It consists of 19 tracks written by composers Thomas J. Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, and features vocal performances by Merethe Soltvedt, Felicia Farerre and Úyanga Bold. Chris Bleth and Claudio Pietronik are also credited for specific instrumental performances. The cover artwork and the sleeve are designed by Steven R. Gilmore.

<i>Myth</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Two Steps from Hell

Myth is the twelfth studio album created by the music production company Two Steps from Hell, released on May 3, 2022.

<i>Live – An Epic Music Experience</i> 2022 live album by Two Steps from Hell

Live – An Epic Music Experience is a live album created by the music production company Two Steps from Hell, released on November 4, 2022. It is distributed by Sony Classical Records digitally, on CD, and vinyl. It is the group's first live album.

References

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  3. "About Us". soundsonline.com. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
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  5. "Home". Two Steps from Hell.
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  10. 1 2 "Colin Frake". Two Steps From Hell. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. Colin Frake at Apple Books. Two Steps From Hell. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  12. Colin Frake "Asclepius" at Apple Books. Two Steps From Hell. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  13. Lara, Jovana (19 November 2015). "Father of teen decapitated in Palms hit-and-run wants justice, not revenge". ABC7 Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
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  18. "Wide World on Apple Music". Nick Phoenix via Apple Music.
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  22. "Open Conspiracy on ExtremeMusic.com". Extreme Music.
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