After the release in November of his first album, 3NSD (‘Three Nights Without Sleep’, Son Buenos, 2022), Franvvi, AKA Francisco Vicente, singer of Ayoho, Peter Pan of new Spanish pop, has gone on screen and the year begins Por the back, a single in which she shows her most romantic side and a more refined pop sound. As for the songs on his debut album, they approach social realism via costumbrismo, and talk about moments that take place during three days of partying “giving it all” mixing urban and modern elements.
Franvvi has decided to be the visible head of a personal project. This new step as an artist, the result of years and experiences on stage and recording studios, and in projects of different styles, is presented with two outstanding collaborations: David Otero (formerly of El Canto del Loco), in Mar de Cristal, and Bely Basarte, in Paris (ORLY). Impossible not to feel sympathy for him.
Where do you currently live? What are you doing?
I live in Madrid and I am dedicated to finishing a doctorate, learning as much as possible about the industry and music and trying to make a name for myself in this.
What were you pursuing with this project and this record? Why do you propose this approach?
I essentially wanted to have fun, have a good time; make songs for a fun live show. I spent a lot of time singing sad songs without really feeling like it…
Who accompanied you on the recording?
He has produced George Five, accompanied by Kuko Mínguez on many songs; he has mixed Lalo GV, and my live band has participated in the recordings. He has stayed all between friends. We spent a few days in the countryside composing and recording, which for me were the best of last year.
You’re not the Fran from before, you say in a song.
I’m not the Fran from before, and luckily. Today’s Fran has enough personality to do what he wants to do. And he does. Now I am happier.
What were your main fears when taking this leap?
Fears, none. Rather, what I feel is relief. Make the songs I want, how I want, with the people I want… I don’t know, what more can you ask for? Well, the songs are going well, but after ten months out, the numbers aren’t bad (although it’s not a topic that obsesses me).
So, have you left behind all those insecurities that haunted you?
I don’t think many followed me, really.
With this Franvvi project it seems as if you have taken a few years off your mind. Is it personal or band?
It is a personal project. Although nobody is nobody without their team, and whoever says yes is lying. Maybe it’s shocking because now I do things more in line with my age and what I feel like.
what are they talking about songs from 3NSD? How is this album conceived? What was it that inspired you to do it?
This record is dedicated and inspired by my friends. I wanted to make a record with songs to go in a car with them at night on the highway on the way to La Manga and hear them sing them having fun. And that I have achieved. That’s why I want the live show to be something similar, but with many friends.
When did you consider it was time to jump to Franvvi? Was there something that determined it?
When he already lost consciousness, continue living by inertia something that did not make me happy. Simply one day I felt that I had to do it and I was lucky to have a team around me that helped me a lot to push forward.
The production is by George Five and Lalo GV is in the mix, as you mentioned. What have they contributed to the project?
Without George, most songs wouldn’t have been what they are. He has been a fundamental pillar in composing and understanding what he was asking for in production. Lalo has made it sound like a cannon shot.
Is Franvvi more of deciding or leaving everything to chance?
I like to decide more. Luck always plays a part in this, but I like to wrestle with it and feel like I’m winning sometimes.
At what personal moment do you defend this work?
I think that neither more nor less than in the one that touches me. My previous stages have clearly helped me learn how the industry works, and now I use what I know to do what I like.
Are you doing something totally different on a musical level?
I don’t know if I understand the question, but whatever you mean, yes. I have something inside that forces me to change. When something fascinates me, I chase it madly, and when I do, something grabs me again and I chase it too. And so. This way I never get bored. I think otherwise I would wither.
Do you live the music in a hurry, with the rush that the industry demands today?
Many times yes. And that is very bad. But I have people around me who bring me down to earth and force me to appreciate everything I have.
How do you define yourself artistically? What do you feel like doing now?
I guess it all revolves around pop. And it seems good to me, it’s what I listen to the most. In fact, I visit many styles and trends to study them and extract the keys of the cool melodies to take them to pop. That is what obsesses me the most.
What are your main musical references?
Right now I’m very into exploring melodies to enrich pop, and I listen to bachata and a lot of urban music. But I couldn’t tell you, it goes for weeks. If you were expecting an answer with very specific names, I don’t think I would be able to satisfy you.
What song do you identify with the most?
From the record, I suppose you mean. It goes on for days: sometimes I’m more plugged in wanting to go out, and other times more ‘blue monday’. There is to choose. But I would stick with Bollikao, which was the one I launched first.
How did you approach the other artists to collaborate on the album? Was it an assault in the heat of the night?
It was all a bit natural. David and I have spent the summer in Mar de Cristal since we were children, and we had never made a song to our beach. Whoever grows up there always ends up feeling a sense of rootedness that people outside don’t quite understand. But that’s how it is. With Paris it was all very natural too. I told David something like that I imagined Bely in the song, and at the time he answered me saying that she had liked the song and that she was up to it. He was very cool.
What are your plans for the future? Do you already have some festivals and prepare direct?
Right now, my plans for the future include playing as much as possible and as soon as possible. And keep putting out songs. But I’ve released nine tracks in ten months… I should still slow down. I have not decided yet.
Does Ayoho still exist? Now are you much better than with Ayoho?
Ayoho no longer exists. Well, it exists on Spotify for whoever wants it, but not in my life.
On a professional level, what is the best thing that could happen to you?
The best thing would be to give eighty concerts a year and live from this, as everyone you ask will tell you, I imagine. “Living on music”, wow… The four most repeated words in the history of Spanish.