Interview- Frankmusik (Spring 2011)

Tough transitions have shaped Vincent Tuner and his Frankmusik music into maturity. After mercurial success in England, Tuner shipped off to Los Angeles (and found a snowy detour to work with Erasure). There’s a new Frankmusik album set for release this fall, and we asked him about his recent adventures with Far East Movement and remaining British on American soil. 

melophobe: Frank, how’s the week been for you?

Frankmusik: I just landed and am back in L.A.; I was in China for one day. 

melophobe: Uh, that’s a quick trip. 

Frankmusik: Yeah, it was with Far East Movement. They were doing an MTV show there, and I went along. It was my first time in Beijing, or in China, for that matter. We were there and came straight back. 

melophobe: What has it been like touring with Far East Movement? 

Frankmusik: I’ve been working on and off with them for close to a year now, from sporadic studio sessions to full-blown touring. It’s been great, a wonderful experience getting to see how people do things in America. I’ve had to ease off my performances with them, as things are moving for me now.

melophobe: Prior to your move to Los Angeles, had you spent much time here? 

Frankmusik: I’d been coming on and off for six years, to hang out, DJ, and party. After doing my first album, I realized that I wanted to move on from England. And the one place where everyone still speaks English and that has really nice weather is L.A. It was a place that I was familiar with; I had a small group of friends there, so I wasn’t trying to break America or any of that. It was a secure place, at least in my head. 

melophobe: Did you move with a record contract already in place? 

Frankmusik: I was signed with Island Records in England, and the album [Complete Me] did really well. It was great. Everyone wanted me to stay there since that’s where all the hype was. But I wanted to start again, hit the reset button, and build up again in a new place to see if I have an even better me. It was always a hobby for me, and when I jumped into the record deal, I didn’t know what was happening. But this time around, I know all what is expected of me; I know what to expect from myself. So it’s been a much healthier progression for me being out here. 

melophobe: Did you need some separation from the strong reaction to “3 Little Words”? 

Frankmusik: 2009 was a year of “here’s Frankmusik”; some people got it, some didn’t. I couldn’t keep up with what I was supposed to be. Or being on a major label, was I supposed to change? I didn’t get any preparation for this. I’m not from a musical family. I was learning it as I went along. Coming out here is wanting to fill the silver shoes that I’ve been creating for myself. 

melophobe: There seems to be a quick transition from being such a novice to recording with Erasure up in Maine. 

Frankmusik: Just being in the room with Andy [Bell] and Vince [Clarke] at 25 is incredible. They are the most genuine people, and they do music for the right reasons. It’s great to be around the passion and the truth that they like to create amongst themselves. It’s brilliant. I went out there as more of an introduction and to get some face to face with Vince. He’s got a great studio in Maine. 

melophobe: In preparing for the new album, was there a decision to go after club tunes or pop singles? 

Frankmusik: For a start, I’m an album artist; I don’t aim to make singles. It’s always good for an artist to do well in all areas, doing it all to a high standard. Throughout the whole process, I aim to keep this in mind. Because I produce myself, I’m questioning what styles will work for live shows or in studio. Now that I’ve had a couple of years to practice, this time around it’s going to be a much more well-conceived Frankmusik. 

melophobe: Still, there’s a huge difference between the songs put out this year: “Fear Inside” and “Do it in the AM.”

Frankmusik: The thing is, there’s no attempt to make hits. I’ll throw so much shit to the wall until something sticks. So many demos lead to the 12 tracks that end up on each album. I’m still writing, still convinced that I can do better. As long as I keep that mentality, then I’m in the right job.  But at this point, I’ve been opening the doors to other writers. This has been really exciting and really refreshing. I felt burnt out just relying on myself, as most of songs are based on a relationship that of course went wrong. I haven’t written too much about things in L.A. that have happened to me. It seems cheesy to reference places, unless you’re doing hip-hop; with pop music, not so much. I’ve been surrounding myself with American music, not that I’ve gone R&B or anything. I appreciate more global sounding music and am getting the confidence to use it. Again, since I produce my own music I can do what the hell I want, really. 

melophobe: In moving to the US, did you need to create a new mental space to live here?

Frankmusik: That’s not a question, that’s a complete fact. I deliberately came to a city where people don’t walk around, where you don’t bump into people, or part of a drinking culture. It’s the complete opposite of London, this place. I am literally isolated to my studio, my apartment, and it’s been like that for a year and a half now. Walk to the studio, walk back home; and that’s pretty much it. There are less distractions, which is what I needed.

melophobe: Have there been any books that have kept you company with all this isolation? 

Frankmusik: I’m passionate about the fact that I’m British, and I hope not obnoxiously. So, I’m very fond of Terry Pratchett, who’s a fantasy writer. I always got a book of his in my bag or pocket; I can’t get enough of his writing. That’s what I keep as a British stamp over here. 

melophobe: You mean no Premiership games on Saturday mornings? 

Frankmusik:  I’ve actually being going to Lakers games, immersing myself in American culture. Look, I grew up on an island in the North Sea. As a kid there are these cult images from America that get plunked on our TV stations. The Disney adverts, the films like Terminator II, all these cool things that make you say America’s awesome. You don’t think of all the social and political things when you’re five. 

melophobe: I guess then for me, Englishness is somewhere between “the Vicar of Dibley,” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”

Frankmusik: That’s amazing, knowing “Vicar of Dibley.” You should watch “Father Ted.” You’ll love that if you can understand the Irish accent.

On being in America, it’s important for my British fans to realize that I am out here for a damn good reason. People can stick their nose up…well it’s more that they wonder why I left. There’s a passion about being British, but I’m not the first bloody person to move to Los Angeles from another country, you know what I mean? This is not exactly breaking news. I came out here to make a better product for my fans, and if that’s not a good reason to move anywhere, then they’re not fans worth having. I’m only doing this because I want people to hear the best of what I have to offer. If you don’t get it, then it’s not really my fault. I’m the only one living in my head, thank God, so I hope that one day it will all cross over. People will say, “oh that’s why Frankmusik moved to L.A., so he can make awesome music!” I don’t mind the wait; I was named after a guy who never was famous for the work he created in his lifetime. I’m used to that, what being named after Vincent van Gough. There’s a prime example of someone a little ahead of their time. 

melophobe: On the importance of names, your name is an homage to your grandfather? 

Frankmusik: Well this is going to sound quite dark, but I’m not going to think up some dumb bullshit to replace it with. My grandfather’s name is involved [Frank], to remind me that we are only here for a short period of time. Say what you mean - be frank. My grandfather never said enough. He was in the army so that messed a lot of people up. That is the one thing I always regret. When I was nine and my granddad passed, I felt like I really never knew him. His was the first family death that I ever experienced, and it hit me hard. I come from a very small family, so he was basically my father as well as my grandfather. Everything that I did know about him was honorable: a complete gentleman, just the best supportive grandfather ever. I wanted to carry that kind of tradition along.  I am going to say what I feel; I am going to be brutally honest, because my granddad never could. And then he died. That’s what happens to all of us, and I’m terrified of that. I want to get as much done as possible before that does happen. So that’s the real truth behind the name; I haven’t really said that stuff before. 

melophobe: Is there a specific idea that you feel needs to be shared before the music stops? 

Frankmusik: This isn’t a message or me trying to be Bono, but I think it’s good to be thorough in everything that you do. If you’re a thief, be the best thief you can be. If you’re a lover, be the best lover you can be. If you’re a fuckin’ cage fighter, beat the crap out of that guy. But don’t be half-assed about it. If that’s what you’re going to dedicate your life to while you’re here, make sure you do dedicate your life to it. I’m constantly saying “am I trying hard enough, is that the best I can do?” That is all you can ask from yourself, really. In music, in everything, that’s the most important thing. As long as you’re not leaving a bad mark behind, and you’re leaving something behind that someone else can look at and be inspired by, that’s the best, right? I’m not going to be famous enough to have a fucking statue made of me one day. I’m not going to kill enough people to be written about in the history books. So if I can just leave a compact disk behind that someone can put in their player, then that’s good enough for me. 

“The Fear Inside”

Official Site: http://www.frankmusik.com/

Some Related Entries:

Top 10 Best Electronic Albums of 2010

Interview - The White Panda (Spring 2011)

Interview - U-God of the Wu-Tang Clan + Rebirth Tour Dates (Winter 2010)

Interview - Mike Monday (Seattle, WA; Fall, 2008)

0 comments thus far ...

melophobe sponsors

Connect To melophobe

1. melophobe
2. concert reviews
3. fifty-word reviews
4. articles
5. links
6.