Frankie Davies – 20 Questions 

Frankie Davies is a 22 year-old country artist from Jersey who regularly performs in Nashville, Tennessee. She has released her EP which is entitled ‘Dancing All Night’ and has also announced several UK festival appearances for 2016. Frankie kindly sat down and took part in our 20 Questions series. Here are here responses: 

  • What instruments do you play?

Guitar and I mess around on other instruments for fun too.

  • Can you tell me about the song ‘Dancing All Night’

Dancing All Night was inspired by my parents, I guess it’s their story in a way. I wanted to write a song which had their energy, spirit and their love of dancing around and having a giggle.

  • Are/were your parents musical?

I guess they both are in a way, my grand parents on my Dad’s side were both part of the Folk movement in Jersey performing traditional folk songs and my great grand parents were circus performers. And my Mum, well I call her the musical guru, she knows and loves all genres of music and always tells me who to check out, she was the reason I loved Country music in the first place.

  • Do you have any funny stories about anything that’s happened whilst you’ve been on tour?

I love touring and I always tend to have a laugh wherever I am, I think those who have seen me perform know I’m a bit of a klutz but nothing hilariously embarrassing has happened, so far.

  • Do you have any favoured stage instruments or microphones?

I just love a really good vocal mic, and of course my Gibson.

  • Did you enjoy school? Regardless of whether you did or not, are there any songs that remind you of your school days?

I was a nerd and I really did love school, before Country music took over my life I would worship the entire back catalogue of S Club 7, Ace Of Base and Destiny’s Child.

  • What was it like working in Nashville?

Nashville is just completely amazing, the writers the musicians, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I feel like this time round I’m really getting to know the town and the people and I love it.

  • Is there a radio DJ (of any era) that you’ve been impressed by?

I love Dermot O’Leary, I really like and support how many artists of different genres he has and plays on his show, and of course I think Bob Harris is the best, he has played such a major role in introducing Country music to Radio 2 and the UK masses, we have a lot to thank him for that.

  • Why do you think country music has had such a surge in popularity in the UK over the past few years?

I think it’s because of quite a few factors all happening at the same time over the last 3 years that is helping the surge of Country music. The increasing popularity of C2C and the creation of other UK Country festivals, the support of BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 2 Country in playing many new Country artists, and I just think Country music is so accessible it’s fanbase which is incredibly loyal is steadily growing.

  • What have you learned NOT to do on stage?

I have learned not to let an audience know if I sing a wrong lyric or go wrong in anyway, be it making a face or apologising. Most of time they’ve never heard the song before, and even if they have, it’s my song and I have the right to change the lyrics if I have a momentary lapse of memory.

  • What was it like touring with Chris Young?

It was simply amazing and I loved every moment of it, Chris and the guys were so welcoming and so incredibly talented.

  • Who are your biggest influences?

For me it started with the Dixie Chicks when I was about 8 or 9 so they will forever be in my heart for the soul reason I love Country music. Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and all of the great female Country artists constantly inspire me.

Frankie Davies

  • Where are you playing/touring next?

I’ll be playing a few times over C2C – Country to Country weekend at the O2, London on the 12/13th March and I’ll be playing at Bob Harris’ first ever Under The Apple Tree Roots Festival on the 29th May.

  • How did the song ‘Superman’ come about?

5 years ago when I was in my first year of University, my Dad was diagnosed with non-hodgkin lymphoma. It was the easiest song I’ve ever written because I knew exactly what I wanted to say, ‘Superman’ was written to remind him of all the years he encouraged and supported us growing up, that we weren’t going anywhere and neither was he.

  • Is there an album that’s grown on you and overtime has become essential listening?

From the top of my head I don’t think there is, the albums which are key in my life I think I loved from the get go.

  • Two tickets arrive for an artist you’ve always wanted to see live. Who is it and what song/s are you hoping to hear?

Alison Krauss and Union Station, is it cheating if I just said all their albums? Fine, Paper Airplane and Dustbowl Children.

  • What can people expect from the new album?

People can expect for a more personal side to the songs, I feel like it will represent the journey I’ve been taking the past few years.

  • If you could score a novel what would it be and why?

Do you mean write a score about a novel or for a novel turned movie? Either way, I think it would be for a book called the Rosie Project, it is a quirky love story and I am drawn to unconventional love stories, they are more interesting to write about.

  • If the producers of the television show ‘Nashville’ asked to use one of your songs in the series what song would you like them to use and why? Who would you like to perform it?

I would definitely choose Lennon and Maisy Stella, their harmonies are just damn beautiful. And I think I would choose a song of mine called Open Road, it’s one of my favourite songs and if there was an opportunity more people could hear it I would take it.

  • Which of your songs are the best to a) dance to b) drive to?

‘Dancing All Night’ to dance to for obvious reasons, and to drive to it would depend on what kind of car singer you are, if you like a belt out sing-a-long song I’d recommend ‘Shivers’ and if you want a gentle bobbing along in my car song, ‘Open Road’ is good for that but you’ll have to wait for that one to come out.

Pete Sargeant

Frankie Davies new EP ‘Dancing All Night’ is out now. You can watch the official music video for ‘Dancing All Night’ below:

In addition, Frankie will be performing some shows in the UK at the following festivals:

Saturday 12th March 2016 – Country 2 Country Festival, Pop Up Stages, 02 Arena, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/20BxGCl

Sunday 13th March 2016 – Country 2 Country Festival, Pop Up Stages, 02 Arena, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom http://bit.ly/20BxGCl

Sunday 29th May 2016 – Under The Apple Tree Roots Festival, Silverstone Woodlands, Blackpit Farm, Silverstone Road, Stowe, Buckingham. MK18 5LJ http://bit.ly/1SOzFC8

For more information visit Frankie Davies’s website: http://bit.ly/1Qz7P6x

(Article Image credited to Gracie Fields. Thanks to Frankie Davies for taking part in our 20 Questions With… series and Steve Rose at Emms Publicity for helping with this article.)