Q&A with with Francis Farewell Starlite of Francis and the Lights
Francis Farewell Starlite of Francis and The Lights dashed out onto the Carrier Dome turf in socked feet, if that paints a clear enough picture of the artist. The 2010 Block Party performer sat down in the stands as drums banged and echoed in the background to talk about his sound, numbers and the music industry.
What do you think of the Dome as a concert venue?
Francis Farewell Starlite: Oh man, it’s all so new to me, you know? Like all these people … they all really know what they’re doing. … The sound system traveling with this tour is incredible. And the people behind it are some of the best of the best, so I’m not worried about it. I think it’s going to be live, you know? I think it’s gonna be bangin’. Well, like, in this show it’s … we’re like, opening for Drake and N*E*R*D. … It’s very complex. It’s a very unique situation for me. I feel all sorts of different ways about it. Because I’m an underdog, you know?
What do you think your best song is?
I think that my best song, as of now, is the first song on my new record, which is called ‘It’ll Be Better.’ I think that’s one of my best written songs.
On your website, one of your single covers (‘LIME/WYN’) is pretty provocative — it’s a drawing of a woman. Who drew that? Was it one of your friends?
Yes. He’s actually here tonight. He’s here for the first time to see one of the shows, um, on this tour anyways. His name is Aaron Lammer … and he and Jake Schreier, who directs my music videos and also plays keyboard in the band … but that’s Jake Schreier. Aaron Lammer is the second person who is closest to what I do. You could say he’s like a collaborator, the only other collaborator. He has written songs with me and he’s also a childhood friend, almost since I was born.
Where do you record your music?
This most recent record I recorded the piano—the whole record is based on a single-take piano performance, these single-take piano recordings. And that was on my personal piano in my apartment in my basement studio. That was the first thing recorded. And then I took it to a studio and did everything else in the studio.
Published on May 3, 2010 at 12:00 pm
