The Evolution of Robert Francis

© Anna Webber

Robert Francis in his home.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Robert Francis comes from a family of eclectic musicians. Add that to the fact that he studied under Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist John Frusciante at the age of 16 and you've got the makings of a pretty well rounded musician. What results is music that is both personal and pop sensible, intimate and ethereal.

His first full-length album, One By One was greeted with fanfare by reviewers who said that Francis filled a "colossal void" in contemporary singer-songerwriter-dom. His followup, Before Nightfall, which was released late last year, did even more to endear Francis to fans and reviewers alike. I recently had a chance to catch up with Francis to talk touring, his musically-inclined family and finding his sound.

Since your first release One by One you have been touring relentlessly. What have you learned in the last two years?  How has this shaped/effected you as a musician?

I’ve noticed myself change in ways I never thought I would. The road accelerates time, it forces you to grow up. It’s not a place I can quite call home, but it helps me cope with the idea of being alone. I’ve become far less precious and a thousand times more emotional and fervent about every live show.

Musically, how would you compare Before Nightfall to One by One?  What did you do differently this time around? What was the recording process like for you on the second record, having the first album under your belt?

One by One was my baby. I spent over a year making the record. I was meticulous in my approach. I’d spend weeks tweaking the sound of a snare drum. When it came time to record Before Nightfall, everyone was expecting another One by One. But, as an artist, I never want to repeat myself. This new record was a way for me to explore a different side of my musical palette. We did it in three weeks and the majority of it was done live. It has the immediacy and intimate feel of a band playing in a room together, shutting off the world. I got to focus more on the skeleton of the songs and became more comfortable harnessing different pop formats and classic song structures as well.

Your family is very musically diverse, what with your father being a classical record producer and pianist, your Hari Krishna brother and two older sisters in rock bands; and your mother's Mexican roots providing even more influence. In such an eclectic group of musicians, in what ways did they influence you and how did you find your own personal sound?

Growing up in a family as diverse as mine was very interesting. If anything, it enabled me to pursue and never question music. To this day, I have no fears of the future or where my career might take me and this is due to the way I was brought up.

Being such a diverse musician that can play anything from the drums, piano, banjo to the mandolin – why did you gravitate and stick mainly to the guitar? Is there a special connection that you've found with that particular instrument? If so, could you tell us a little bit about it?

There is no instrument that can better illustrate the isolation of the soul and human condition than the guitar. Instruments that can also do this are the trumpet, violin and piano etc.. but, I love being able to play an instrument where you can play chords, lead lines and rhythmic structures all at the same time. It’s also important for a musician to be able to play his instrument in any place at any given time. If my main instrument was the piano, or drums, I wouldn’t be able to run into the middle of a field somewhere near the Arkansas line and play my little heart out.

In many articles, you've been described as an "old soul" for such a young guy. Do you feel like you fit this description?

I’ve always felt like that I guess. That isn’t to say I don’t have a sick, wistful dark side within me that comes out in the recklessness of a child when I’m upset, in social situations, frustrated or having a bad time drinking. When I can harness those emotions, I’ll be better suited a man. But I don’t feel uncomfortable when someone mentions old soul. I always knew what I wanted and how I would get there. I dropped out of school early and have spent much of my time on the road, learning, being patient.

As one of John Frusciante's only students, did you learn any valuable lessons from him that you think you would not have acquired on your own?

More so than anything to do with guitar, Frusciante introduced me to a lifestyle I’d never seen before. His guitars all in meticulous condition leaning up against his 1970’s couch that faced a jaw dropping Hollywood Hills backdrop. His record collection, creativity and routine are things that to this day continue to influence me.

What are you most proud of so far in your music career?  What about in your personal life?

I’m most proud that everything in my career today has come from a beginning that I built by myself completely. I never piggy backed off anyone, whored myself out to an L.A scene, relied on any connections etc. When I started, I wanted to make sure every person I met and every person that helped me on the way was there because they wanted to be and I succeeded in doing that.

By being so honest and putting so much raw emotions into your songs, you must be re-living old memories or experiences whenever you perform.  Are there any songs that are tough for you to perform?

It’s difficult. There’s a 50% chance I’ll let a few tears fall if I perform "Do What I Can" or "Hallways."

Do you try to maintain an intimate relationship with your fan base?  If so, why is this important or relevant to you?

Maintaining a relationship with my fans is a resolution I’ve made for the new year. I have a hard time with technology and updating things, but my fans are the most important people to me. I think relevance is one of the most important things in the world and without relevance, nothing holds any water. My fans are what make a song, idea or album relevant. They are the way I can gauge such a thing. Does this make sense?

What do you have planned for the new year?

I look forward to making this my year. I get a fresh start. I finally have had closure with my past. Spending half the year in Europe sounds pretty cool too.