WhereIsFenix drops debut ‘Curiosity’ record

Born in Queens in New York and now based in Milan, WhereIsFenix is an artist whose identity has been informed by movement, discovery and a deep connection to underground music culture. Working across DJing, production and curation, he’s developed an output based in the diverse musical landscape of New York, while continuing to develop through years of travel, crate-digging and immersion in different scenes. From Detroit’s gritty after-hours parties to club-closing performances in Tokyo and open-air raves in Berlin, wherever he finds himself, the intention remains to create connections through music and bring people together on the dancefloor.

The name itself reflects an outlook built around constant motion and by not settling into one particular sound, his sets move through moods, textures and rhythms, drawing on a global musical fabric that stitches together house, minimal, electronica and jazz. Slick percussion and storytelling through emotion provide a common thread, allowing contrasting influences to sit alongside one another and his productions carry that same unpredictability, while his work as a remixer and creator of club-focused edits has formed another facet of his musical vision.

Between collaborating with other artists, curating music or developing his own productions, WhereIsFenix views the underground as a shared space. His all-vinyl mix series, LaidBackStacks and the expanding WhereAmI? mix journey offer different expressions of that curiosity, while his long-awaited debut album titled Curiosity, brings together the experiences and connections that have informed his creative development. Released through his own label, Legacy System, Curiosity marks the label’s first album-length project and the beginning of an open-ended sequence structured across chapters.

Bringing together 21 tracks across three parts, the record draws on house as its central setting, with minimal, deep house, electronica, jazz and club music adding different shades to its overall character. Shaped by years spent between New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Berlin, Detroit and Milan, it’s a release that reflects the people, places and experiences that have helped define WhereIsFenix’s musical perspective. From pioneering voices in house music, underground connections and artists shaping the genre’s direction, Curiosity features contributions from Robert Owens, Patrick Mason, Dantiez Saunderson and Boris Werner.

Curiosity Chapter I (Wander Where Wonder Wanders) maps out the record’s exploratory character with the first seven tracks of the three-part release. Built around stripped-back rhythms, leftfield textures and a knack for leaving space for unexpected developments, it approaches club music as something that can play out gradually.

Interludes, such as the vocal-led intro piece, flow directly into the tracks like “Public Serve Announcement” which pairs minimal beats with sparse vocal samples and intricate instrumental textures. Discovery is the guiding idea, with the arrangements allowing atmosphere and movement to develop naturally, with tracks like “Surfin In Mitte” offering the perfect display of WhereIsFenix’s groove-focused vision filtered through an experimental lens.

Curiosity Chapter II (Motion Not Wasted), the second instalment, shifts towards a more physical experience by bringing together peak-time energy and heads-down club moments while embracing unusual selections. “Two Way Pager” kicks it off with shuffling percussion and steadily building instrumental textures and hazy vocal elements while “An Analog Whisper” showcases the artist’s command of contrast with a blend of murky bass tones, rattling beats and shifting instrumentation.

“Remember,” featuring Dantiez and Patrick Mason glides with the stutter of rolling bass and patter of spacey drums capped by smooth vocal touches, resulting in a wholly absorbing, seven-minute sonic voyage. “Una Noche En Shubiya” reaches back to WhereIsFenix’s origins with the delicate plucks of acoustic notes giving way to gliding synth tones before jumping with punchy beats and bright melodic flickers and zappy synth lines.

The final part comes with Curiosity Chapter III (Sueños y Memorias), which draws on deeper house, personal recordings and voices to move closer to the people and places behind the music while keeping the dancefloor firmly in focus. Tracks like “SMS” pair mellow percussion, smokey vocal lines and an atmospheric, lo-fi aesthetic while “Unpolished Word” delivers an epic dance music experience packed with intricate twists and turns.

Across its three chapters, Curiosity captures the different dimensions of an artist whose work has always been influenced by movement. Its rhythms are designed for late nights and shared spaces but its personal recordings and shifting textures also invite a more reflective avenue for listening. With Curiosity, WhereIsFenix brings them together the dancefloor and the memories that surround it in a project that leaves room for further exploration, opening a new chapter in a musical journey that shows no signs of slowing down.

Commenting on the release, WhereIsFenix shares, “Curiosity is what happened when I stopped looking for a place in the scene and started creating my own universe. Every record I’ve made carries a piece of my life. The album is just the evidence that I was there. Some people chase the sound. I came back to collect what it owed me. I left no fingerprints on the door. Just music in the rooms of the mind.”