The Phoenix Foundation

The Phoenix Foundation

The Phoenix Foundation are a New Zealand band formed in Wellington in 1997 by Samuel Flynn Scott, Luke Buda and Conrad Wedde. The group’s line-up also includes Will Ricketts on percussion, Tom Callwood on bass, Chris O’Connor on drums and Warner Emery on bass guitar. They remain active and are identified as a New Zealand act.

Albums and early releases

The band’s first full-length album, Horsepower, appears in 2003 and brings them critical attention as well as moderate commercial success. It includes the singles “This Charming Van” and “Let Me Die A Woman”. Their second album, Pegasus, follows and features Warner Emery on bass guitar; it gains further critical praise and later reaches Gold status in New Zealand. Happy Ending, their fourth LP, appears in 2007 and includes the singles “Bright Grey”, “Bleaching Sun” and “40 Years”, which receive significant radio and television play in New Zealand.

Later work, film music and recognition

After a brief break during which several members release solo material, The Phoenix Foundation return in 2010 with Buffalo. The album reaches number four on the New Zealand album chart and stays in the top ten for six weeks. It later receives international release through Memphis Industries, and two songs from it are nominated for the APRA Silver Scrolls, with the album going on to win five New Zealand Music Awards. In 2010 the band also release the soundtrack for the film Boy.

Touring and releases on labels

The band signs to Young American in 2006, and Horsepower is later issued in the United States through that label. Their fifth album, Fandango, is released by Universal in Australasia and Memphis Industries elsewhere. In 2011 the group perform at Glastonbury and on BBC television’s Later... with Jools Holland.

Finnish namesake

There is also a separate band called The Phoenix Foundation from Turku, Finland, who play punk rock and share a member with The Stakeout. That group forms in winter 2002, records an early 7-inch the same year, and later releases a debut album on Newest Industry and Combat Rock Industry, followed by a second full-length album, Falling, in 2005.