Blind I | The Boutique Music Blog | Quality Over Quantity.

BLIND I ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS

The music world is gradually starting to fixate on Francis and the Lights. Though Francis Farewell Starlite’s precise vocals and electric sound is undeniable, there is still an element of mystery looming around him like a force field. Clad in a black ensemble and his signature coif, Francis sat quietly backstage at Manhattan’s Santos Party House. His piercing eyes panned across the room as he reflected on the seemingly accelerated journey of his group. Befitting to the notion that entertainers come alive when they perform, Francis  radiated as he glided across the stage with agility. In that moment, audience members were transformed into magnets. Blind I was fortunate enough to catch up with him before the raucous crowd indulged in their energetic set.

Interview after the jump.

Blind I: Francis and the Lights formed at Wesleyan University while MGMT was there too. How did you get connected?

Francis: Well, I had a concept and formed the group. Jake, my guitar player, was the first person I asked to join the band. I’d never heard him play but I heard him talk about music. I formed my band based primarily on people’s personalities and who they were.  A feeling from that person that translates. And that’s what I needed because I write very specific parts for my music and require my band to play very specific parts. So it’s extra important that who they are comes through in those parts.

Blind I: Your first performance as a group was an entire Otis Redding LP.  That’s definitely geared toward the old souls. How did people respond?

Francis: Not all of the songs [we did] were well known. That was a very personal decision of mine because it was that particular record that I deemed a statement of purpose. It was very exciting.

Blind I: You have such a unique and beautiful sound. Who are your musical influences?

Francis: I usually don’t answer that question because I don’t really feel it’s important to name other artists when talking about my own music. I can tell you that the book The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, a writing guide, has had more of an influence on me than any other musical artist. It’s my favorite book.

Blind I: You have released records since 2007, but you’re just now getting hit with an onslaught of critical acclaim. Is it thrilling?

Francis: It’s undeniably exciting to get attention. The most important thing is to stay focused on the work. I believe there is a direct relationship between how good what I am doing is, and how much attention it will get.

Blind I: You remixed “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” to indirectly put your feelers out to Kanye West. Have any artists reached out to you in that way?

Francis: A lot of people have asked about remixing my music, which is flattering.  With the Kanye thing, I felt like it was the only way to communicate on a personal level, you know? It was literally like; I can’t call him or email him this yet. So I guess in that way, I don’t feel like I am in that position yet where someone would do that. Someone did make an unprompted remix of one of my songs and posted it and I thought that was cool. When it’s without words its more meaningful.

Blind I: What’s your response to all the comparisons you’ve gotten to other singers?

Francis: I can tell you my least favorite immediately and that’s Peter Gabriel. A lot of people have said that and it’s not something I identify with at all.

Blind I: Your band puts massive emphasis on showmanship. When people leave a Francis & The Lights performance, what do you want them to take from it?

Francis: I would like people to say after a Francis and the Lights show that it was better than I thought it would be.

Blind I: Nowadays, CDs are becoming obsolete. How does this impact for approach to marketing your albums and EPs?

Francis: I’m only trying to do what makes the most sense and considering everything.  Right now, my purpose has been to allow the most people to listen to my music as possible. That’s my directive. If a thousand people hear my music and I don’t sell anything then that’s better than if a hundred people do and I sold.

Blind I: Which blogs do you read? Obviously Kanye’s. Blind I?

Francis: Yes. He posts a lot so it’s exciting. I also read the blog of Justin Ouellette. He is the creator of Muxtape and I think his blog is very tasteful. I appreciate what you guys do too. You really love music and it shows.

Blind I: Are you guys currently recording any new projects? If so, tell me a bit about the concepts.

Francis: We’re working on a new record. I don’t know when it will be released yet and I don’t want to talk too much about it before it is finished, but I am very excited about it.

Blind I: You recently performed at your first SXSW conference. How was your experience?

Francis: It was fun. Personally, I learned a lot of things about my own music and my band. Taking it out of its element allowed me to be more objective than I normally am.

Blind I: People from different demographics seem to gravitate toward your music. The hip-hop community has been ultra supportive. What are your thoughts about that?

Francis: Well, I love all my fans for sure. It’s interesting because one of the things that I think about all the time in my music is the song. The song is the unit of what I do. If I can write a good song, it will transcend. I believe that. A song has so many elements to it and when you break it down, it’s really simple but very elemental. It’s time which is rhythm, melody, harmony and words. Then you can get into things like instrumentation, recording and style. Then you can get into who the person is and what they are saying. When I judge [music] I’m like does it resonate? In what way does it resonate? Thinking about things on an elemental level allows them to transcend the barriers that people put up in their own appreciation of music or that our culture puts up in dividing styles of music.

Blind I: What advice do you have to aspiring artists?

Francis: They asked baseball player Ichiro Suzuki that question his first year and he said something to the effect of I don’t think I’ve accomplished enough yet to give anybody advice. And I would say the same thing.

Get familiar with Francis and the Lights and show some support via their website.

DROPPED BY Maiya

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2 Comments to BLIND I ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: FRANCIS AND THE LIGHTS

1. 

   lovely interview!
DANDIGGITY on April 16th, 2009
2. 

   f’real f’real. I can understand him allot better now and based soley off this iview do i wanna follow their career. He is eccentric yes, but mos def has his head in the right place! good schitt mai mai! WIN!
NO on April 17th, 2009

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