Francesca Louise Out Of Sight Interview

Carole King meets Lucy Rose // Melancholy New Single

Francesca Louise is a London based singer-songwriter originally from the North West of England. Combining stunning folk/pop songwriting, sparkling with Joni Mitchell influence and Carol King inspired vocals which tell a thousand secrets, Louise's sound reaps authenticity and pure honesty. Bleeding with meditative melodies opening a door to escapism, her music acts as a melancholic medicine to people's lives.

Inspired by the likes of Billie Marten and Lucy Rose, as well as Fleetwood Mac and strong piano players such as Tom Odell and Rae Morris, Louise's music channels emotion and intimacy through her use of conversational instrumentation and poignant lyricism.

Louise's upcoming debut EP entitled Melancholic Antidote is a collection of personal experiences, life lessons, emotions and growth. Detailing topics such as love, career, family, goals and themes which resonate with the general listener on a more personal, intimate level, with the hope to create music which is of comfort, enjoyment and reassurance. The songwriter confides, "Music is a powerful tool, it is antidotal, it is motivation, it is therapy, it is home for so many people. I think that my responsibility as a singer-songwriter is to create something that people can listen to and feel at home with."

Leading single "Out of Sight (Out of Mind)" is Louise's most exposing song. Straight to the point, the song sings about becoming dependent on love and the denial of feelings due to the fear of vulnerability and potential heart-break. It touches on insecurities of giving your heart to someone else and the risks and dangers that are involved in being transparent with your feelings for another person. "It is a constant battle - head vs heart kind of song", shares Louise. Featuring simple guitar melodies, warm vocals and gentle instrumentation, "Out of Sight (Out of Mind)" glistens with sincerity.

"Ride the Waters" is a self-empowerment folk/pop track based on how one can be self-dependent and find success on their own. Louise explains, "So many young girls feel that they need someone beside them to be able to progress and find success in their lives, but this song suggests the opposite. It is an encouraging anthem for independent and powerful young women." The empowering song highlights upbeat percussion, fun, colloquial lyrics and animated guitar melodies. Louise has seen success having supported the likes of Nashville based indie folk-rock duo The Harmaleighs, brit-pop band Echobelly at St Pancras Old Church in London and Juanita Stein, the former singer of Howling Bells. With radio plays and live sessions with BBC Introducing and independent radios alike, as well as taking festival slots in 2020, Francesca Louise is making her way up the musical ladder and is showcasing her capabilities across the UK.

Interview with Francesca Louise

Question: How would you describe your music?

Francesca Louise : Mix Carole King's punchy vocals with Joni Mitchell's chordal changes, mix it with some generic Pop glitteriness and there you have it!


Question: Can you tell us about Out of Sight?

Francesca Louise : It is the first single to come out in anticipation of my upcoming EP 'Melancholic Antidote'. It came out as an acoustic single back in September 2019, and I have had a lot of love from the acoustic track and wanted it to be the first studio single of the EP as a way of saying thank you to all of the support I received back when the acoustic version was released.


Question: What inspired Out of Sight?

Francesca Louise : It's a head vs heart kinda tune. I'm not great at expressing myself and putting my heart out there (in the romantic sense) so this song was my way of confession and my way of 'putting my heart out' in the most ambiguous way possible. It's quite a secretive song as the subject of the inspiration behind the song will never be named!


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Francesca Louise : In such a testing period of time I want, first and foremost, for people to find support and love from my music. Though I have always felt that my lyrics are very melancholic, a way of reminiscing over previous events and emotion, I wonder and would like to think that my songs will also be a hopeful anecdote to remind people that life will continue when all of this ends and we will be able to experience new love, new culture, new life, once again!


Question: Has COVID-19 influenced your music?

Francesca Louise : Being totally honest, COVID-19 hasn't influenced my music. If anything, everything that is happening at the moment around us all has left me speechless both socially, lyrically and musically. The writing board has ideas and short verses spotted here and there but I cannot seem to make sense of any of it. There is a lot of pressure on creatives to be CREATING whilst locked up at home, but I think that this pandemic affects people in different ways and we have to just ride our own wave. For now, I am caring for my plants, crocheting, rekindling my love with the italian language and noodling on the guitar and piano. For now that is enough.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform and why?

Francesca Louise : My favourite song to perform is Seasons Change, a song that will appear on the EP later this year. It is a song that still resonates despite having written it a couple of years ago. In live context, I always get my audience involved in this song. It requires a chorus of singers in the last part of the song to accompany me as I perform and the sound of others singing along with me brings me such joy and makes me feel so humbled to be able to share myself so intimately.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Francesca Louise : Joni Mitchell, hands down. A legend and a creative that I have always aspired towards and looked to within all aspects of my career.

Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Francesca Louise : The motivation behind my writing comes from many different channels. One is the idea of eventually having a completed song, one that I can share with my band and hopefully later share with my audience. Another HUGE motivation is understanding more clearly as to what is possibly happening under the surface of my mind, my psyche. I find that writing music can surface a lot of unknown or unacknowledged emotions and thoughts.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Francesca Louise : I would love so much to collaborate with Lucy Rose. She is another of my inspirations in music and to share a creative space with her would be MIND BLOWING and so rewarding.


Question: What's a typical day like during COVID-19?

Francesca Louise : I like to wake up at the same time each day, despite not having to leave the house for anything. My day would include most, if not all, of the following: coffee, read current novel, care for my plants, crochet a little, play and sing for a while (not too loud - don't want to disturb my quarantined neighbours!), try out recipes from my never ending Joe Wicks Vegetarian cook book, yoga flow and FaceTime family and friends.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Francesca Louise : I get to surround myself with music and share a part of myself with other people every single day. And the feeling of someone else allowing me into their space and taking the time to experience and invest in what I have to give is just so special that I don't think I will ever get used to it.


Question: What's next, for you?
Francesca Louise : There will be a second single release May 15th, and then later this year the EP will be dropping on all platforms. Until then I will be doing live sets on Instagram and Facebook, I will sit and write some more music when I am ready and able and once all of this COVID-19 madness passes I will be out on the road playing gigs and celebrating all of you out there who continue to support me and my music! Stay safe x


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Francesca Louise : Instagram

Facebook

Twitter


Interview by Gwen van Montfort