INTERVIEW: Franko Gonzo Gives Us The Scoop On What’s Happening In Her Vibrant Electro Pop World
Interview by Joshua Bell
Naarm newcomer Franko Gonzo returns to the music sphere with her signature cocktail of vibrant electro pop on new single ‘AIR’. Hot off the heels of a showcase at BIGSOUND and full rotation on Triple J, this rising starlet is set to make 2022 her year.
The new release featuring production from Ben Oldland (KYE) and Liam Quinn (Peach PRC) demonstrates a deeper side to her effervescent persona. In her own words, “AIR” is a dedication to all her friends, her way of always wanting to keep their light on and help them catch a breath.
We caught up with Franko to give you the scoop on what she’s been working on…
Franko!! How are you? What’s been happening!?
Life is SO great at the moment!! I just got back from playing a festival in Pambula with the other band I play in - Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird. 12 of us stayed at the school camp cabin nearby and we played an awesome show! It was the best!!
I love that! You also just came off a killer live show at BIGSOUND. Tell me how that experience was for you?
BIGSOUND was brilliant!! I honestly played the best 2 shows of my life. I’ve been really struggling lately to get out of my head on stage - especially after covid. So, I got a movement coach the day before BIGSOUND and she helped me get out my head and into my body and reminded me to connect to the audience. It really changed everything and I just had so much fun playing the shows off the back of the session with her and I sang really well and I'm a very happy gal after that! Also there were so many people at each of my showcases, I felt very special as there were so many amazing bands and artists playing each night.
I’m a big fan of this ethereal side of your music you’ve shown us on ‘AIR’, what inspired this new direction and sound?
I love making all types of music. Each day I want to write in a completely different genre haha. I’m a big believer in letting the song take you where it needs to go. This was the perfect example of that and we followed the song and tried not to control it too much. It took us to this epic, ethereal place that the song needed to go. It feels like a storm and power of what it can feel like when things feel messy and uncontrollable.
While we’re talking production - how did you find working with your collaborators Ben Oldland and Liam Quinn on this one? Talk me through the writing process!
Ben Oldand is an incredible human, producer and songwriter. He facilitates writing sessions in the most incredible way. He listens and supports finding what the artist would like to make and is a vessel to make incredible songs rather than pushing an agenda of what he wants you to sound like.
I hit him up on instagram deep Melbourne lockdowns and asked him to do a writing session. We hit it off and made some great music. As soon as the lockdowns ended - literally the next day we booked 3 days in a row and wrote three songs. One of these songs was AIR. Ben had come up with a little loop of production. I hummed melodies until we got the chorus melody. We came up with this idea of struggling to breathe and needing to catch a breath and bult what the chorus is today. We explored this lyrically as I was watching a good friend going through a hard time and was struggling to know how to help. We got the song to about 90% done and then wanted a fresh pair of ears to help us take the production to the next level. The amazing producer and mixing engineer Liam Quinn jumped on board and nailed it!
You mentioned this song is about uplifting your friends - what picks you up when you’re feeling down?
Exercise is a HUGE one for me. I do everything in my power to put on the song ‘Happiness’ by Alexis Jordan and go for a run along the Merri Creek (in Naarm) or go to the gym. It helps me so much to get out of my head and get that dopamine flowin.
You have a knack for crafting pop bangers, who’s your definitive pop icon(s) and why?
This project was built on a foundation of love for Remi Wolf. She is the most incredible music maker, songwriter, singer and I am OBSESSED with her visuals. Her lyrics changed my life - I always felt like I wasn’t a good lyric writer but she taught me that there are no rules with lyrics. You can write whatever you want and that its about your own expression.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO26OB2338o?wmode=opaque]
What advice would you have for any aspiring artists who are fans of your music?
This year I've learnt that it’s hard to make money as an artist and it's expensive to make music, make video clips and pay for all the things that come with being a musician. I found that when I was trying to make money from music I almost fell out of love with being a musician. It puts too much pressure on ‘making it big’ rather than making music that I love and connecting to people. SO i’d recommend finding a job that you love - the money from that job can pays the bills and provides you with the money that you can make the music and visuals that you want to make and it frees you from conforming to what the industry makes you feel like what you should make to ‘fit in’ and be successful. Stand out! Make weird and interesting art! It's way more fulfilling.
I’m a big fan of the visuals and artwork you made for this song - what was the concept for your makeup look?
Visuals are so important to me. Franko Gonzo is a place where I can make music and then create visual landscapes that accompany the song. In all the other videos and artwork I wear extravagant make-up. I decided to wear no make up in the ‘AIR’ video and artwork because it shows a more raw and vulnerable side of myself that matches the song. I feel like it's more real and not so much of a character.
You’ve been on a roll! What can we expect to see from Franko Gonzo in the near future!
I have a garage remix of AIR coming out in two weeks which I'm so excited to share! It's so epic! Then I have 2 songs coming out mid November.
To finish things off we’ve got some ‘Fast Five’ Q’s for you!
Who’s your favorite up-and-coming Naarm act?
I think the artist “CD” is a very exciting artist and I love her music so much! She’s one of the most talented artists I've seen in a long time - you should listen to her song ‘Catch a grip”.
What’s your go-to comfort film or TV series?
My FAVE show is ‘Couples Therapy’ - the American one. I’m obsessed with psychology and I love watching human connection and how relationships are built back up again after experiencing disconnect.
If you could fly anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
I want to go back to Japan so bad!! It’s my favorite country. I want to go back to Tokyo and be inspired by the fashion and the food and go skiing and go to an onsen!!
Dream music collaboration?
I want to write and record a song with Cleo Sol. She’s the most incredible songwriter, her latest record ‘Mother’ blew my mind.
What could one expect from a Sunday day outing with Franko?
On Sundays I mentor a band of young women and non-binary folk through the amazing band program ‘YoWo’. We get together and I help them learn and arange songs, write songs and then they play a show at the end of the year. It’s a very special space and I learn as much from them as they learn from me! They are SUCH talented young people and there is a great future for young women and non-binary folk in music.