FRANKIE

Photo Credit: Sam Berger

How do you reinvent the wheel while all the while avoiding redundancy? That’s a question for FRANKIE. Perfectly and purely--but far from perfunctorily--pop, FRANKIE’s music is bound to get you up off your feet, or at the very least head-bobbing like a middle-aged, white mom in their daughter’s TikTok. From her earliest professionally-released work (the EP Dreamstate [released in 2015]) to her latest, “Almost Famous,” there’s never a dull moment in tonal quality in her discography. While staying in one genre, however, FRANKIE still has a large range of music. It's almost like she uses the same foundation, but masterfully stems into a new direction each time. With plenty of music out, including a duet with Pentatonix member Scott Hoying and her full-length album STA7GES (released in 2019), FRANKIE’s sure to keep you wanting more. We recently spoke with FRANKIE about how her musical style has evolved, how she overcomes writer’s block, and more!

How did you get started making music?

Well I've been singing since I could talk! There are countless home movies of me performing since age 3. I started taking piano lessons when I was 6 years old and stuck with it for a few years but the second I saw Avril Lavigne play Complicated on my TV everything changed. I ditched the piano and guitar became my life! My dad taught me my first few chords and at 10 years old I started writing my own songs. Everyday I would come home from school and write a song about what happened to me that day. By the time I was 17 I had probably written 300 songs. Not saying they were good...but I was consistent. 

2020 marks the fifth year since your Spotify debut. What has been the biggest thing that you've learned in this time?

These past 5 years have shaped me in every way. I've grown up, made a name for myself in music, strengthened my songwriting and performance skills, grown thick skin, traveled the country, made connections with people that have changed my life...everything has changed and everything has made me a stronger person. I think lately what I've really learned is knowing your self worth. Trusting your inner voice, believing in yourself, cutting out the noise and others opinions, and continue taking steps towards the life you see for yourself. 

In what ways has your musical style evolved?

Well I started out as a singer-songwriter with my guitar writing in my childhood bedroom. Then when I moved to LA I wrote pop songs with my best friends that we loved and people connected with. Cut to now, being in quarantine, I've unintentionally mixed the two worlds and gone back to my roots. There was something about being stuck at home by myself with my guitar that took me right back to my childhood. There was an innocence to my songwriting and a feeling like I was only writing for me and my healing. This new music feels like an ode to where I came from mixed with the world I made for myself. 

Who are some of the artists that have inspired this sound?

I'm inspired by so many musicians. My new song, Almost Famous, was definitely inspired by Jon Bellion especially with the off beat production which Ben Rose killed. I'm always a fan of Taylor Swift so she forever inspires my music. Overall though I really try not to listen to a lot of new music when I'm writing a body of work because I don't want to try to sound like anyone. I just want to sound like me and I want the songs to tell me what they want to sound like as woo woo as that sounds. 

Is there an artist that you had in mind for a dream collaboration? If so, who and why?

Both of those artists I just mentioned would be a dream. I'm such a fan of all musicians though, especially singer-songwriters, so many people would fit the dream category. Chris Martin comes to mind. My ultimate queen, Stevie Nicks. A lot of these people I just want to watch perform in their living room and harmonize with as we drink wine together. That's the real dream.  

How has the pandemic affected your songwriting process?

It's affected it in a huge way. I'm back to being home alone in a room with my guitar writing songs. I've gotten creative with zoom sessions and recording vocals and guitar in my closet! Even though it's a hard time I've been able to re-connect and collaborate with people around the world where I normally would not have. For example, I've been writing so much with my cousin, Maya Knowles, who lives in Australia. We used to be in a band together in high school and when she moved to Australia it was hard for us to write. She wrote Chaos with me on my first EP, Dreamstate, but since then we hadn't written much. During this time we've been able to write so many songs together like, Home Alone, and more you'll hear very soon.

Do you ever encounter writer's block? If so, how do you overcome that?

I definitely have had phases of writer's block. Everyone does its normal. I think how I overcome it is to not force songs out of me. Those are the songs that don't click with people or make it on any EP. Most of my songs that I've released have come to me at random and a lot of the time in the middle of the night. I like to wait for those sparks of music that feel like their from the heavens that I can then flush out. To me those songs have been my best work and the ones worth waiting for. 

Let's talk about "Almost Famous". What inspired the song?

“Almost Famous” is a song about owning your self worth. It's a tongue in cheek musical style song about being a musician and always almost being at the brink of breaking: breaking in the industry or breaking down lol. It's set through the perspective of a musician but I feel the message about standing up for yourself can relate to anyone. Almost Famous has been around for a while. It was created with the batch of songs from STA7GES but didn't fit the theme of that EP. Then earlier this year we switched up the ending of the song to make it even more of a self worth anthem and only then did it finally feel complete. I've never felt more in touch with the lyrics to Almost Famous then I do now and even though it took a few years I'm so happy it came out when it did because I feel myself and others needed that message more than ever.

Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?

Wow what an amazing question - to take a moment of gratitude. The truth is there is no biggest thanks, there are many. I owe a huge thanks to my collaborators and friends who have believed in me since I started releasing music 5 years ago. Petro Anastos-Prastacos, Joey Orton and Ben Rose. I would not be where I am without those 3. I also thank Maya Knowles for being a cheerleader and dream collaborator through this new era. My parents have always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams since I opened my mouth to sing. And my wonderful fans who take the time to invite me and my music into their lives. What an honor it is to connect with people around the world through something we both love. I would not be anywhere without their love and support and their words of encouragement cheer me on everyday. 

What's next for FRANKIE?

I have a new song called “The Hard Way” out now and then an EP of five songs being released after that. All created in the cocoon during this time. I'm so proud of these songs and I can't wait to share them with you all very soon!