Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Co-Founder and President of Duly Noted Productions and singer/songwriter Frances Praet. Together we discussed their upcoming EP “Romantic, So Tragic”, their influences, love, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful to have you join them. How are you doing today?
Hi Mustard! I’ve never been able to speak with a condiment before, so I’d say it’s a pretty good day!
2. You recently shared on Instagram that your Father produced your upcoming EP “Romantic, So Tragic.” Was it your Father who inspired you to begin making music?
Yes! My dad made his living as a musician/recording engineer/producer, so he’s always been my inspiration! He and my mom both played music professionally while I was growing up, so I had the opportunity to learn from both of them on the performance side and behind the scenes!
3. Growing up, what kind of music did you listen to? Do you still listen to this music now?
My parents exposed me to their generations’ music, so I grew up listening to a lot of The Beatles, Earth, Wind & Fire, etc. along with a mix of the early 2000s pop and country that was popular when I was young! I’d say this lent itself to an eclectic taste in music that I still have today.
4. What song or album had an impact on you? Could you share what is so special about this song or album?
I vividly remember listening to the ‘Brothers and Sisters’ album by the Allman Brothers as a teenager and having a lightbulb moment about being able to harmonize guitars the way they did. There’s something about that southern rock sound that moves me!
5. Who (or what) influences you?
I love seeing artists I look up to live – I always leave a concert feeling inspired! I almost exclusively write about mine or my friends’ personal experiences. I’ll always take note of certain phrases people say/concepts we discuss and throw parts of them into a song.
6. What is your songwriting process?
I feel like I am always writing in my head – there is just a constant loop of melodies streaming from my subconscious. A lot of it is not very good, but when I feel like I have something I’ll write it in my Notes app or record a voice memo and come back to it later. Very rarely do I write a song at a convenient time, or when I have all my instruments at my disposal!
7. In 2020 you released your debut album “Love Is.” What was the inspiration behind this album? Is your upcoming EP “Romantic, So Tragic” a sequel to your debut?
“Love Is” was a collection of my favorite songs I’d written in the years prior to its release, and I still couldn’t be more proud! It was important to me to start off my career with a full body of work to establish who I am as an artist. I’m still finding my footing, but after the album I released several singles that are moving closer and closer to what I think my true “sound” is. I’ll never put myself in a box and say I’ll stay in the same subgenre forever, but when I released the title track of the EP, “Romantic, So Tragic”, I got a really great response – the best so far, in fact! The EP is a collection of songs that I really feel compliment each other and live in that same world I created for “Romantic, So Tragic” (the single).
8. Mustard has observed humans all define love differently. How do you define it?
Great question – I kind of left the definition open, didn’t I? Love is complex. There are all different kinds, but I’ve found the best kind of love is unconditional and selfless. I guess you need to listen to my album and decide for yourself!
9. What can fans expect from your upcoming EP “Romantic, So Tragic?”
You can expect a roller coaster of nostalgia, fear, love, vulnerability, and reflection. There also may be a surprise ending to the last song that calls upon my roots as a Louisiana native!
10. A human gets invited to a Frances Praet show. What can they expect?
LOTS of corny jokes while the band is tuning, some classic banter with the crowd, and a whole lot of good old fashioned rock and roll!
11. Where can readers listen to your music?
I’m on every online platform you could ever imagine! Spotify, Apple, YouTube, Tidal, Napster, etc. I also have physical CDs for sale on my website if you’re into that sort of thing! I am so grateful for every single stream – thanks for having me, Mustard!!
Music Shelf With Mustard 