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Thandi Phoenix talks her top five influences growing up

21 August 2017 | 8:19 am | Max Lewis

Sydney singer-songwriter Thandi Phoenix tells us about touching Beyonce's hair while detailing her top 5 female artists growing up.

Sydney artist THANDI PHOENIX has continued to earn her place as one of Australia's rising talents with new newly released single, 'Standing Too Close'. Following her 2016 cut 'Tell Me Where All the Lovers Have Gone' and her 2015 debut album Come Around, she's back on the radar with a bold electro-pop tune, hinting that there's much more to come.

As she gets ready to tour nationally with Vera Blue, we asked Thandi Phoenix about the top five female artists that influenced her the most growing up.

Check out the list below, as well as her new single above, and then be sure to check up the remaining dates for her tour!

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Spice Girls

I’m a woman born in the 90s.... need I say more. Spice girls taught me GIRL POWER and to be confident in who I am, from a very young age. To this day if I hear them I will break out into a routine, jump on tables and sing at the top of my lungs, try stop me.

Amy Winehouse

I got into Amy heavily when I was in high school and learning guitar. She showed me there’s strength in vulnerability and honesty. No topics were off limits in her music but she managed to put a unique humorous spin on her songs like no other.

Nina Simone

Nina was an incredibly talented musician a true storyteller and a badass black woman. I truly admire the confidence and sass she possessed at the time where she was shunned because of her gender and race.

Billie Holiday

I just adore the subtly and uniqueness in her tone. There’s something truly intriguing and majestic about Lady Day.

Destiny's Child

The first big concert I went to was Destiny’s Child at the Entertainment Centre when I was about 8. Fan girl levels were peaking beyond maximum level. I took my little autograph book along and was getting autographs from anyone and everyone that was willing, then all of a sudden a long black stretch limo pulls up, and chaos descended. Next thing I know I’m at the front of the pack pressed up against the limo with a swarm of squealing girls around me, my hand goes through the open window and grab hold of the nearest thing I could. That being Beyoncé’s hair.... her beautifully soft foxy Cleopatra do. It was like touching a cloud..... in that moment I was floatiiiiing....just Me and B. Then reality hit, she was probably trying to lift the window without breaking some weird little girls hand that was attached to her hair (big no no *insert Solange "don't touch my hair") and the car started to move away. What a little creep I was, what a great school night, lets do it again.

Check out the remaining dates of Thandi Phoenix's national tour with Vera Blue below, and grab tickets here!

Saturday 26 August - The Mills Precinct, Toowoomba QLD

Thursday 31 August - Wollongong Uni Bar, Wollongong NSW

Friday 1 September - The Beery, Terrigal NSW

Saturday 2 September - Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW - ALL AGES

Friday 8 September - Bar on the Hill, Newcastle NSW

Saturday 9 September - Odeon Theatre, Hobart TAS

Sunday 10 September - 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC

And be sure to follow Thandi on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Intro by Max Lewis

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