A deeply emotive album from Frances

MANILA, Philippines - Frances, the piano-playing singer-songwriter from the UK, has finally wrapped up her debut album titled Things I’ve Never Said. This piece of good news has been shared by MCA Music Inc. (Universal Music Philippines). The much-awaited album will hit record bars on March 17 next year through Capitol Records. The possibility of recording an album was revealed to The STAR by Frances herself during her first Asian showcase in Singapore a few months ago. The venue was the Aura Sky Lounge located at the National Gallery Singapore.

“I nearly finish my album,” Frances said, adding that she would love to visit Manila if given the chance for some intimate gig or a live performance which the confessional singer truly enjoys.

“It’s amazing,” she shared. “It’s never the same experience even if you play the same songs. It’s a different audience, especially if you’re in a different country. It’s always kinda different mood from the culture which is interesting to see. I’m happy to have (a look at) it. I always try to meet (the audience) afterwards, which is always fun.”

Frances, who agreed that music unites the performer and the audience in one room, held to her promise by granting a quick interview with the Manila media aside from the one-on-one they had early in the day. This writer could sense Frances’ innate interest in people, you know touching them through music. “Like everywhere,” she said. “I would love to spread it. It is so cool that I’m here (in Singapore). It’s amazing... In the album, there are few songs that are piano vocals. I have some other things... It’s always my voice and my song.”

Things I’ve Never Said, the latest recording venture from Frances, features such tracks as the career-defining Grow and classic upbeat pop Say It Again that her followers are familiar with. Ballads Let It Out and Cry Like Me should not to be missed out, too. Given a new mix, Grow will surprise fans when it is ready for purchase and streaming in January.

As an artist, where is she more comfortable with — recording in a studio or performing before a crowd?

Frances replied that each is probably a different experience and she is probably a different person in each occasion.

“In the studio, I’m kinda critiquing (myself) if I’m not doing it right and I can’t do that on stage. You can’t just go back and do it again. You have to be confident in what you’re delivering. I’m probably a different person in each but I enjoy both of them equally.”

Regardless of the occasion, Frances always rises to it with her distinct vocals that never fail to engage the listener in a story told in every song. Based on the information provided by MCA Music Inc. (Universal Music Philippines), Things I’ve Never Said is dubbed as “a deeply personal, emotive collection tracking the last two years of Frances’ story.” This is what fans expect from Frances — who sings straight from the heart and is not holding back in singing her songs.

“I love that. Probably true,” she said of singers as sensitive individuals. “I think artists, we’re all kinds of people, we’re just normal people. I think artists are a specific kind of people... to want to get on stage and sing songs you’ve written.”

As everyone knows, Frances’ musical tale could also be a source of inspiration for small-town girls who want their voice to be heard. The 23-year-old Berkshire lass started singing at the age of eight, appreciated the musical leanings of her parents and went to the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts. Then she scored record songs. Now, Frances has collaborated with Greg Kurstin (Adele’s), Jimmy Napes (Sam Smith and Alicia Keys) and Howard Lawrence (Disclosure) in Things I’ve Never Said. The album will be released in deluxe and standard formats. The two carry Don’t Worry About Me, Love Me Again, Drifting, Cloud 9, Let It Out, When It Comes To Us, Under Our Feet, Grow, Say It Again, Sublime and The Last Word. The deluxe, on the other hand, will have It Isn’t Like You, Cry Like Me, Borrowed Time and The Smallest Thing as additional tracks.

Nominated at the BBC Sound of 2016 and BRITs Critics Choice awards, Frances performed at the Glastonbury Festival, Coachella, SXSW and Lollapalooza, plus the sold-out hometown show at KOKO in May as shared by Universal MCA Music, Inc.

Looking back at the time she did EPs on Kitsuné and Communion, Frances’ global fan base has grown — with over 30 million streams across her catalogue on Spotify and five million views on her music videos. She has been given the opportunity to perform alongside with established artists. Another recent achievement is the inclusion of Grow in the soundtrack of the upcoming film adaptation of Mum’s List by Niall Johnson which will hit the UK cinemas on Nov. 25.

With Things I’ve Never Said in place, Frances definitely represents a sound of 2016 resonating in 2017.