Billing himself as a “modern-day Pet Shop Boys”, Frankmusik’s debut single Better Off As 2 is out in April. Sharp-haired and sharp-tuned, RealMusic Blog has had his album sampler on a loop for weeks now and we can’t wait for the finished long-player Complete Me in July. Conjuring up smart electro-pop for all, we caught up with Vincent Frank while he was recording the Album Chart Show in London to talk about living with his nan, touring with Keane and the Pet Shop Boys, his passion for pop and why he’s not really the new Mika…
Your debut single Better Off As 2 is out soon - tell me about that…
“It’s probably the happiest song off the album - I came up with the initial loop in the shower actually, which is quite odd…”
Your debut album Complete Me is out soon too - is that all done and dusted?
“Pretty much - we’re just tweaking a few mixes. With electronic pop music you’ve got to make sure that you’re getting the song across while keeping things fresh. Lots of fart-arsing really - it’s due out in July.”
Is it a summery record?
“Yeah - the concept of the lyrics are pretty dark and miserable, but the songs are very happy and upbeat - it’s a bittersweet product which I’m very fond of.”
It’s being co-produced by Stuart Price, who did Madonna and The Killers…
“It’s been great working with him - he’s an absolute gentleman and a fucking lovely bloke. He’s only 30 too so he’s not stuffy and jaded. The music’s so mad we needed someone very good with electronics to reign me in slightly and he was the right choice.”
Before you settled on music you went to drama school and studied fashion and sculpture at St Martins college - you’re like a Pulp song…
(Laughs) “Well I live in Croydon and went to public school so I think I’m like a confused Pulp song…”
And if this all goes wrong, could you knock me up a nice handbag?
“I think I’d go into plumbing - more money in that…”
Your grandparents have played a big role in Frankmusik - you’re named after your late granddad Frank and you started off putting your sound together in your nan’s spare room…
“That hasn’t changed - I still live in my nan’s spare room - and I thought there was no-one who could spur me on like my granddad, so I named myself after him. My nan hasn’t been to any gigs, but she hears the basslines coming out of my room…”
There’s a big 80s revival on right now - if you could have been part of an 80s band, which would it be and why?
“Probably Visage - no, hang on can I change that to Ultravox? They made Vienna which is one of my favourite songs. And if it was a 70s band, it’d have to be ELO as they’re the most epic pop band of all time.”
You’re pop and proud - do you miss Smash Hits and TOTP?
“Completely! Pop music has become so manufactured these days and I’m trying to show that you can get the record deal on your own without any help from some music factory. Smash Hits was a great example of having fun with pop music…”
As well as writing and producing your own stuff, you also remix for others including Keane, CSS, Mika and Radiohead - which do you prefer?
“To stay fresh in what I do I have to do other things too. So when I work with someone else I can go off and explore new ideas, then if they work I nick them and use them myself.” (Laughs)
You just toured with Keane - how was that?
“I got to do that tour from the remix, which was incredible. The tour was a great experience to learn how to become a performer. I’ve just been doing the Album Chart Show and watched The Saturdays glued to their mics through three takes which makes me think I’m in a good place now. Playing in front of 20,000 people at the O2 throws you in at the deep end but it really built my confidence - I’m in good shape live.”
What’s next - are you touring the new album?
“Yeah - I’m going to be supporting the Pet Shop Boys and we’re trying to get in with some other acts too, which will be great - I think I’m like a modern-day Pet Shop Boys.”
The Sun reckons you could be this year’s Mika - how do you think they came to that conclusion?
“Because I’m a bloke and I sing high. (Laughs) It’s a simple way to describe me I guess - Mika was out of the box and a bit weird and so am I.”
You’re getting Live and Lost on March 21st - tell us about that…
“It’s going to be insane. Basically, over a period of ten days I need to get to a series of ten shows, some that I know about, some that I don’t and in the course of that play to 15,000 people before ending up back in London. I’ve got hardly any money either - I can only get around with the help of my MySpace friends. I’ve got 17,000 MySpace friends though, so I’m in pretty good shape. MySpace are really behind it, Blackberry are sponsoring it and Channel 4 are airing it two days before the single release, so it can only be good.”
What’s the most-played song on your MP3 player right now?
“Malcolm McClaren’s Madame Butterfly.”
If you could be the lovechild of any two pop stars, which two would you choose?
Given the choice, would you rather walk sideways like a crab or jump like a kangaroo?
“Jump like a kangaroo - it has to be as I’m quarter-Australian.”
Frankmusik is Live and Lost with Blackberry right now. Follow his progress with daily video updates at: www.myspace.com/frankmusik
Frankmusik’s Better Off As 2 is out on April 6th; his album Complete Me is out in July.
(Clare Lydon)
