Phoenix Rising Martone: The Show Is Taking Shape
Phoenix Rising isn’t just a concept—it’s a live experience I’m building in real time.
The Return to the Stage
It’s been a long time since I’ve stood on a stage.
Not because the desire ever left—but because life required something different from me.
There were moments where I could have stepped forward and committed fully to performing again. Opportunities were there. The path was visible.
But I had to be present for the people I love.
And I don’t regret that.
What I do recognize now is what that required of me—and what it revealed.
At some point, I had to stop and ask myself a question that changed everything:
Why was I giving so much of myself without reciprocity?
That question forced clarity.
I learned how to say no.
I established boundaries.
And when those boundaries weren’t respected, I made decisions.
Distance. Silence. In some cases, complete separation.
Not emotional decisions.
Necessary ones.
Why Phoenix Rising Matters Now
As I’m building Phoenix Rising: The Emperor’s Ascension, the world itself feels unsettled. There is an ongoing war entering its third week, and it has a way of putting everything into perspective.
Time matters.
Energy matters.
Where you place your focus matters.
And right now, my focus is clear.
I’m finishing the album.
And I’m building what comes next.
This isn’t about rushing back.
This is about returning correctly.
Live Rehearsal Setlist — Concept
As I started mapping out the show, I needed something tangible.
Not just ideas—but structure.
This is the working concept.
Not final.
But real.
Seeing it laid out like this changes everything. It’s no longer hypothetical.
It’s in progress.
Building This as an Independent Artist
Everything about this process runs through me.
I’m independent.
That means the music, the rehearsals, the production, the visuals—it all comes with responsibility.
Financially. Creatively. Structurally.
Because of that, I don’t move recklessly.
I move with intention.
One step at a time.
One decision at a time.
One investment at a time.
That’s how something lasts.
The Music That Carries It
There’s more than enough material now to carry a full show.
Not filler—substance.
EKSTASÉ moves with precision and control.
We Loved Each Other Through It carries something deeper—something lived.
That range matters.
That evolution matters.
And that’s what this show will reflect.
What Comes Next
The vision is clear.
Rehearsals are coming.
The structure is forming.
The show is taking shape.
There’s also a larger question of where this goes.
And for the first time, I’m not limiting that answer.
I have my passport.
The music has already traveled further than I have physically.
So taking this overseas isn’t an idea.
It’s alignment.
One Song at a Time
This isn’t just a return.
It’s a recalibration.
Phoenix Rising isn’t something I’m announcing.
It’s something I’m building.
Right now.
In real time.
One song at a time.
— Martone
English