"It's Going To Be A Really Good Year For Music" Frances Chats Her Debut Album, Sold Out Shows & How 2016 Will Be Her Best Year Yet

Frances is a name you might have heard of by now as she's set to have the biggest and best year of her life in 2016. If you haven't, it's time to get to know her as she embarks on a very exciting twelve months (and beyond!)

Whilst featuring on multiple 'sound of 2016' lists, recording tracks with Disclosure, and gaining famous fans, Sam Smith and Elton John to name but a few, Frances is still finding it all a little bit crazy.

We caught up with the 22-year-old singer-songwriter about everything from her debut album, to who inspires her.

Remember her name, you'll be seeing and hearing it everywhere very soon. 

Hi Frances, How has your 2016 been so far?

"It's been great, I've literally just been in the studio since January began. I've been working on my first album, it's been amazing."

Speaking of the first album, how is the recording process going so far?

"It's going really well actually. We've got another couple of weeks in the studio and then we'll be mixing and maybe doing some strings as well. I've been producing as well so it's been really nice to be able to do what I feel like on the day."

What can fans expect from your debut album?

"I think the main thing that I want is for the songs to be the best quality that I can get them. Sound-wise I want to keep what I do at the core, so just piano and vocals. Some of the songs will just be my voice and my piano, but on some of them we'll add strings and there will be some new, interesting sounds that I haven't tried before. I want to make sure it's varied and it keeps people interested as a body of work."

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Who are your biggest musical inspirations?

"Carol King is a huge one, I think she's just incredible. Because she plays piano, her songs are some of the songs I first learnt to play. A lot of other inspirations are bands like Radiohead and Coldplay, which is weird because I actually haven't been as inspired by female artists, apart from Carol King, it's more the sound of bands, really big sounds, that's what I've listened to growing up."

It was recently announced that you're playing Coachella this summer, how did that come about? Are you excited?

"It's ridiculous! I have no idea. Literally no idea. My manager just called me a few weeks ago saying, they've offered you a slot at Coachella and I was like, 'what?! I think they've got the wrong girl!' I'm so excited, I've just heard so many amazing things about it and I haven't really been to America that much in my life, so it's gonna be incredible." 

'Borrowed Time' was co-written with Howard from Disclosure, how was that process? Was it good working with him?

"Yeah, it was amazing. We're under the same management so we wanted to get together and do something but it took a while because we were both so busy, but over the summer we managed to get two days together.

"He's got a little studio in his garden and a really cute dog called Jeff. It was just really organic, we started writing this song on piano and it came about really naturally. He's amazing, so cool to work with and so talented, as a piano based songwriter, and as a singer and as a producer." 

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You've sold out Union Chapel in London, how does it feel to sell out a show?

It's quite a lot of people, Union Chapel is like 850 people. You can look at the likes you have on Facebook but actually, you wonder how that equates to actual real people that come and buy tickets to gigs. I was so amazed, we sold it out a couple of months in advance as well, it's crazy.

Speaking of your tour, what can fans expect from your live performances?

"Up to now and going forward for the next couple of months it's literally just me and the piano. I feel like that's the best way for me to connect with the fans at this early point. Later on in the year I'll be bringing in a band which will be really good fun. It will bring some of the songs on my album to life, because I do have some drums and guitars on the album so it will be great to bring that out with a band.

"For now, I love doing it just me and a piano because it's so intimate, it's gonna be really special. I want people to feel like they're in my living room just watching me do my thing, I think that's a good way to connect with people." 

Sam Smith came along to one of your shows recently, are you friends with Sam? Did you know he was coming?

"I did, yeah, he WhatsApped me, which was so nice. We'd met a few times and I'd supported him at one of his shows which was like the best show ever. It's so nice to have his support because he's so successful and for him to take the time to come and watch my tiny show. I squeezed him in at the back because it was so cramped. I so appreciated that because he took the time to come and see it and tell me what he thought." 

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Speaking of celebrity endorsements, Elton John played one of your songs on his Beats1 show, how did it feel to be recognised by such a music legend?

"It was incredible! I don't know if he knows who I am, I have no idea, but he played it! It was nice that he chose to play 'Borrowed Time' because that's obviously quite different, I wouldn't expect straight away that that would be the song that he would choose. I was so happy that he chose it."

You've featured on various 'sound of 2016' lists, who else that's on the rise are you currently listening to and enjoying at the moment?

"Alessia Cara, I think she's the coolest person ever. I love her stuff and I can't wait to get her album. There's so many good people, Dua Lipa's really cool, Mura Masa, super cool, and Jack Garratt, obviously, he's nailed it this year. It's gonna be a really good year for music I think." 

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You tweeted about how mad your 2016 calendar is looking, do you have a feeling this is going to be your breakthrough year?

"Yeah, I think so! I'll release an album at some point this year. I had a proposed schedule come through and there were a few things on there that made me feel a bit giddy, like some festivals and things where I was like 'oh really?!' There's going to be a lot of travelling this year, I've never really done that much travelling in my life be, so it's amazing to be able to travel and play music for a job!"

Finally, what's on your iPod that people wouldn't expect?

"Well, I have got some Venga Boys on there, my childhood love. I have quite a lot of Ska, because my mum used to play Motown and Ska the whole time when I was growing up, so I've got some of that like The Specials and Madness, things like that. Stuff like that I guess people wouldn't expect, but I love it." 

- By Megan Downing