To Be Frank is one of my favourite male vocalists of late. There’s something pretty captivating about his voice, and if you give his single above a spin you will feel that you’re listening to something pretty special. On an interesting note, his great great grandfather was the Chopin-taught composer Michel Bergson. Ladies and gents, meet To Be Frank…
How would you describe your sound to those who have yet to hear it?
I wouldn’t really say I have a specific sound, I have written a lot of songs in many genres, you may have heard some in one style but there are others which you would think is that still frank. I like to try new things and test myself as a producer and writer. you have to keep moving and evolving, well I do!
You like to experiment with different sounds, but which one do you connect with the most?
I have banks of sounds, and lots of instruments and I could never say that one is my favourite, I guess It depends where the sound is coming in the chain, for instance if i am looking for inspiration from a sound and the song has not been written yet i will search many places to find something that fuels an idea or it may be I am looking for a sound to add to an existing song, it all depends really.
I have just written a song where I had a visual idea in mind that was pretty cold and desolate but I wanted it to represent fire, so I made a beat that had lots of sparky sounds in it.
You’ve already got a pretty impressive family background musically, do you find that motivates you to be a success?
I have many motivations behind my music, obviously my family history is amazing and inspiring but its not my main motivation, my parents always encouraged me to be creative as a child, me and my brothers when we were little turned my mums art shed into a music room when were young and stacked it with equipment, thats where it started really. I also have my own family now too, becoming a dad has inspired me to create on another level really, it’s such an amazing experience.
What inspires you to write?
I write a lot, most days I write something and have done for many years. I just write what comes to me, I can’t tell you where it comes from, it’s a bit like one of those magical things in life where you can’t control it, it just happens when it wants to. I think the most important thing is to not force it, if it’s not happening it’s not supposed to.
Who are your musical idols?
One of the earliest moments in my life musically was when i got on stage at 4 years old at a friends birthday party with a local blues band called the Low House Blues, the lead singer is called Frank Prendergast , or big Frank when I’m around! I took the microphone in the break on my own and sang apparently to everyone in the room. Big Frank is a massive inspiration to me, they are still going now 25 years on and I occasionally get up and sing with him.
How did you come up with the name ‘To Be Frank’
It just came to me one day and felt right!
What are your future plans?
Future plans are to keep writing more songs, and release lots more music on my label. I want to build a live show around it all eventually and play these new songs to people. I would like to produce a few other projects I have been asked to work on too so we shall see.
