Vanessa Frances

About Vanessa Frances

​​Tell me about your background. How did you get your start in music? Did you have a musical family?

I have been singing for most of my life, but never played  instruments besides one year of violin and piano in middle school for the Orchestral program. I did theater from elementary to high school and casually wrote songs with friends, but only started playing guitar in 2020 at the start of COVID. I am the only musical person in my family, which is always fun.

Who are your biggest music influences?

Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Bridgers, Fleetwood Mac, Mothers, and Katy Kirby.

How do these artists influence your music?

Both sonically and in messaging. I admire these artists’ ability to story and blend sounds together.  To tell stories blended with their own sonic landscapes. It is like telling a story, but songwriting is distinct from storytelling for a book in the sense of how many different elements are blended together, not just lyrics and the human voice, but the music itself! It feels a lot to me like bringing distinct worlds together to form something that is entirely present in the moment. I would add The Weakerthans to the list as well. 

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What has been one of your biggest obstacles in your music career? How did you overcome it?

 I would say learning how to play guitar while already writing songs has been challenging. Trying to get your ability to play and instrument to catch up with the sounds you hear in your head when you’re just starting out can be tough, but wonderfully worth it when you get it. 

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How did your band Faae come to be?

In 2020, I met my partner and bandmate Jordan. We started dating and as I learned music, we played with the idea of doing an acoustic duo. It’s been a journey getting to this point, but so worth it.

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I see you and Jordan Morales are the co-founders of Raised Eden Records. What made you both want to run a new label?

We saw a really cool space in the Orlando music scene and some incredibly talented artists that we wanted to get behind. 

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What have been the challenges?

Getting things right! It’s so important to us both for the sound, image, and feel of these projects to be correct, and that takes time.

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What is your writing process?

I decide to write, go for a walk or sit out in the sun, grab my notebook and guitar and write into the idea with chords to match (sitting in the sun is very important here). Writing into an idea, like a feeling, event, or something I’d like to talk about, and then finding chords that underscore that in the right way.

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Have you experienced writer’s block? How did you overcome it?

I have, but overcoming it looks different every time. Sometimes I have found it's just my body and mind asking me for rest, other times I know that if I zone back in and push, something good will come out of it.

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What is the backstory of the song “First Person Basis”?

I wrote it on the night the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. The song came from a place of personal reflection, anger, and grief. I recorded my guitar and vocals at 4am, Jordan added the lead and brought the track to life.

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Tell me about your upcoming Orlando Fringe Festival show.

"The Magic Castle Still Stands" follows the journey of Harvey by train to New York City. Her adventure takes an unexpected turn when the train she's on collides with a car, tying her journey to the other passengers onboard and to her past. 

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The lines between reality and imagination begin to blur, and Harvey realizes in order to look forward, she must first look back. "The Magic Castle Still Stands" offers a glimpse into the surreal nature of the transitional period of youth to maturity, asking audiences to contemplate the essence of self-discovery and the sacrifices required to become whole.

(Tickets: 

https://orlandofringe.ssboxoffice.com/events/the-magic-castle-still-stands/)

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What advice would you give to aspiring musicians? 

I would tell aspiring musicians to listen to music you like, music you don’t like, and push yourself out of conformity. I think art is such a powerful avenue for changes and growth if we allow ourselves to open up to new perspectives.

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After Fringe, what shows or projects of yours can we look forward to? Any new music?

I am currently editing my debut novel and working on recording our album. 

You can keep up with us on my Instgram @faaemusic