Angelique Francis
We didn’t have to search very far to find our next of the 10 finalists for JUMP 106.9 and Ottawa Bluesfest’s She’s The One, Ottawa’s own Angelique Francis. Angelique is no stranger to Ottawa Bluesfest or the Emerging Artist competition. She’s performed at the event before and was one of three finalists in 2011 at the age of 13. Angelique Francis is a singer songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist (including Piano, Drums, Keyboard, Harmonica, Upright Bass, Acoustic guitar, electric guitar and the electric Bass). Angelique first took to the stage at age 7 and ever since then, she’s been wowing audiences across North America with her stage presence, instrumentals, song writing abilities and her deep textured vocals. Her accomplishments are a mile long already and she isn’t even in her 20′s yet. We’re no experts but it’s clear that Angelique has a very bright, and busy, future ahead.
We caught up with her this week to put her through our 20 questions so that we, and you, could get to know her a little bit better.
20 Questions with Angelique Francis
SC: Firstly congratulations on being selected as one of the top 10 for the RBC Bluesfest She’s the One Emerging Female Artists Competition. RBC Bluesfest was ranked one of the top 10 music festivals by Billboard Magazine. You’ve performed at Bluesfest before, what was your reaction on being selected into this elite event and the chance to perform at the event once again?
AF: It was really exciting news and even more exciting this time around. I was studying in the library at school and decided to take a quick break and check my email, that’s when I saw the news I was selected as a finalist. I was so thrilled, I couldn’t believe that I was selected again, I almost broke out into a dance, but unfortunately the librarian was close by. RBC Bluesfest is such an amazing music festival, they’ve always supported Canadian emerging Artists no matter the genre. I first played at the RBC Bluesfest when I was 13 years old and I’m scheduled to perform on July 4th again (6pm Barney Danson Theatre). I’m truly grateful and honoured to be given this opportunity to play at the festival on July 5th for a third time.
Angelique Francis
SC: Every artist I’ve spoken to has a story about how / when they decided to purse music as a career. Describe the moment that you knew that music was the path for you and what inspired you to take that path.
AF: At age 7 I auditioned and won the chance to sing O Canada at my elementary school grand opening in Kanata. It was huge, there were a few hundred people there, including a few local TV stations. Once I stepped on that stage I knew right at that moment, that this was something I wanted to pursue. My parents were very supportive yet very cautious; they are very big on education, so they sat me down and gave me a detailed overview on the volatility of a music career, and the importance of having a backup plan. They basically told me if I wanted it bad enough I had to fulfill the following obligations – Learn an Instrument and Maintain an A average in school. To this day, these are guide lines to which I still adhere.
SC: It seems like a big thing in the music business today is collaborations. Name any three artists that you would like to work with?
AF: There are so many artist I would love to collaborate with. I’m such a huge fan of music, there are just too many to list. I’ll just randomly select the first three that comes to mind.
Patti Labelle
Esperanza Spalding
India Arie
SC: For most stepping out on a stage to face hundreds, perhaps thousands of fans can be a bit intimidating. What’s that like for you? Do you still get butterflies or does it inspire you to put on an even better performance?
AF: Sometimes I feel a bit nervous, but after stepping on stage all those feelings disappear. Seeing all those faces does inspire me to put on an even better performance. This is what I love to do and to be able to share that love with other people is the best thing a musician can ask for.
SC: This is where we normally ask what the defining moment has been in an artist’s career to date. Your career is still taxiing down the runway ready for takeoff. Has there been a moment, to date, that sticks out more than others, that reassures you that music is the right path for you?
Angelique Francis
AF: It’s hard to choose because there has been so many of those moments. But one of the biggest moment that sticks out for me was a performance I had in Montreal. I was playing a show in Montreal and during the performance of my song titled “it’s going to be OK” I notice a lady in the front row of the audience mouthing every word to the song. As she sang there was tears rolling down her face, it was amazing to me, as this song was unreleased and I had only performed it a few times in public. After the show she came over with her son to meet me. Before I could say a word, she reached out and gave me the biggest hug, thanked me and explained how she recently lost her husband to cancer and my song was what helped her through her lowest periods. She explained that she saw me perform in Ottawa and had recorded the song on her phone and after the death of her husband, she would rely on the words of the song to give her the courage to face each day. I was floored, I started bawling and so did everyone around us at the time. I just couldn’t imagine that my words were inspiring enough to help someone cope with death. I knew all along that I was on the right path but that moment reassured me. If my words are able to help people this way then this is the right path for me.
SC: What’s your all-time favourite movie?
shrek
AF: This is a hard one because there are many great movies. But if I had to choose one movie that has made a huge impact on me, I’d choose Shrek. I know that may sound surprising, but the reason why Shrek has changed my life is mainly due to how the instrumental soundtrack was incorporated and became an essential part of the movie. One day I was watching Shrek and realized how beautiful the soundtrack was. I quickly downloaded the soundtrack (It was the first thing I ever had bought on I-tunes), and I swear I must have listened to it for over ten hours straight. I was absolutely stupefied. How could I have not noticed something so incredible, so impossibly amazing; and yet it wasn’t impossible, it was standing right there in front of me.
I had stepped into a new world. I adore several movie score composers such as Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Powell, John Brian, Steve Jablonsky, Ramin Djawadi, Atticus Ross, Randy Newman, and the list goes on. These greats have inspired me in many ways within my music, but also within my life.
SC: Your ideal brain food?
AF: My Ideal brain food would be trail mix because when I’m studying or doing something that requires hard concentration, it offers me a release. When I reach in the bag I never know what I’m going to get.
SC: Favourite Restaurant (anywhere in the world)?
AF: I know it’s weird and I don’t know if it’s classified as a restaurant but I’d have to say McDonalds. I love my McChicken.
SC: Favourite TV show (all-time)?
AF: Supernatural the TV Show, because I’m a huge sci-fi fan
SC: If you could see any artist in concert, who would you see (living or dead)?
Koko Taylor
AF: Most definitely the queen of Blues, the one and only Miss Koko Taylor. I am such a huge fan of her music and her, rough, powerful vocals and traditional blues stylings. Unfortunately I will never get the chance to see her live.
SC: iPhone, Android or Blackberry?
AF: Andriod, I’ve had one for the past three years and I’m still loving it.
SC: Can you talk about a fan encounter that completely took you by surprise?
Michaëlle Jean
AF: I recently opened for KellyLee Evans at the BlackSheep Inn in Wakefield. During my set I saw this energetic lady in the audience having the time of her life, cheering and jamming out to my music. I later found out she was the former Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean, boy was I surprised! We met after the show, chatted took some pics and she expressed how much she really loved my live performance and music. That was huge for me because she is such an inspiration to me and to have her tell me she loved my music couldn’t have been more perfect.
SC: What are your family member’s musical interests and abilities?
AF: I come from a very musical family, as far back as I can remember we’ve always had a home music studio. My dad sings, produces and writes music in his spare time and my mom sings as well. All my sisters plays the piano, even my 4 year old sister Kayla. My 13 year old sister Kharincia, plays a few instruments; along with the piano she plays the Guitar, the Saxophone and Drums. My 8 year old sister Kira plays the drums and she just started taking Guitar lessons.
SC: Name a fictional character most like you?
Tiana from The Princess and the Frog
AF: I feel that I am similar to princess Tiana from the Disney movie “The Princess and the Frog”. I am hardworking, dedicated, I know what I want, and I’m out to get it. Even though the movie is a musical, like her when I cannot find the words, I turn my emotions into song. Every aspect of my life is filled with music, from my career, to my courses in school, to when I’m studying and so much more.
SC: In “Angelique Francis, Story of My Life” – The Movie, who would play you?
AF: Well since most story of my life movies are made when the person is dead, I hope there’s not one about my life anytime soon, lol. Anyone of my three sisters or my friend Giselle would do an awesome job, because they know me and my crazy ways best.
SC: Star Trek or Star Wars?
AF: Star Wars for sure, my dad is a big star wars geek, I think he owns every edition of star wars that’s ever been made, I think he even has it on laser disk. I grew up watching my fair share of star wars and listening to him quote Yoda around the house.
SC: Stress management: hit man, spa vacation or Prozac?
AF: Spa vacation while playing my acoustic guitar.
SC: Are you the one? Ok that’s a trick question, you entered the contest so you must believe you are. Why do you think you are the “one”?
AF: I live and breathe music, I am original and unique, however I think we all deserve to be the one. I don’t want to sound too cliché, but making it to this point is a huge accomplishment for all of us. We should all feel like we are the one.
SC: Music / celebrity and charity tend to go hand in hand. Artists use their star power to generate awareness for their chosen charity. Is there a charity that’s close to your heart that you would like to see get more support?
AF: Diabetes Association of Canada is very close to my heart because my grandmother has suffered with diabetes for over 40 years. I would like to see a cure to this disease in my lifetime.
SC: What’s next for Angelique Francis?
AF: Well it looks like a really busy July for me.
I played Walter Baker park in Kanata on Canada Day, Bluesfest on July 4th (tonight) Then after She’s The One competition on the 5th I will be playing in Toronto that same night where I was selected as top six Canadian emerging blues artist by the Toronto Blues society.
Young and Dundas Square in Toronto on July 20th
Farm point Quebec outdoor show July 22nd
Young and Dundas Square in Toronto on July 26th Unity Festival
We’d like to thank Angelique for taking the time out of her, clearly, busy schedule to answer our questions. You can learn even more about Angelique and her music at http://angeliquefrancis.net/
Here’s a recent music video, simply titled “I’m Here”, I think we can all agree that Angelique is here and will be for some time. We wish her the best of luck in the She’s the One competition as well as with the rest of her career. We look forward to seeing where her path will lead!
