Based in Brooklyn, New York, Frandie is a rising star in the world of hip-hop, bringing a fresh perspective to the genre with his vivid storytelling and penchant for connecting with fans through the sheer refined emotion he injects into his music, a unique blend of English and Spanish lyrics and a diverse range of musical influences.
Raised in Brooklyn but with roots in the Dominican Republic, Frandie is a bilingual lyricist who tastefully infuses his heritage into his music and effortlessly switches from Spanish and English lyrics on occasion, dropping fire lyrics in both.
As a self-taught musician, Frandie's music is a testament to his dedication, passion for the musical arts, and artistic genius. His obvious talent for storytelling is showcased through his
poignant lyrics. He refuses to make shallow music, often showcasing a rare vulnerability in the genre while touching on complex themes of love, loss, self-doubt and self-discovery. That isn’t to say he isn’t confident, though; his rhymes are executed with a poise that indicates even if he may doubt himself, he knows he has the tools to succeed.
For the uninitiated, “Dreams” is the perfect introduction to the world of Frandie. Over hip-hop instrumentals that give off the slightest feel of trepidation and introspection, Frandie gives us the whole Frandie experience. Lyrics like “They're chasing me / Man, I'm talking about my dreams, I thought it was supposed to be / The other way around” allude to some of the introspection and vulnerability we mentioned earlier, yet lines like “But the killer was me / Telling me that I'm the one stopping my dreams” indicate that in Frandie’s mind, the only one who can stop him from reaching his vast potential is himself.
With each new release, Frandie further identifies himself as someone to watch in the world of Hip-Hop. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream “Dreams” by Frandie, available now on all major streaming platforms.
Welcome to BuzzMusic Frandie! We loved “Dreams,” we had to ask! What was the inspiration behind this release, and can you take us through the creative process you had for making “Dreams?"
Thank you, thank you! Glad you guys loved it! "Dreams" has been simmering for some time now. It's one of the first songs I wrote when I started taking rap seriously about 5 years ago. I kept having a recurring dream where someone sabotaged my happiness and enjoyment. I wrote this song to figure out what my subconscious was saying to me. I held off on releasing it for a while because I came up with the concept for the music video simultaneously, but I couldn't execute it the way I wanted to until now. So I'm glad my original vision finally came to life. So you mentioned you’re Brooklyn born and raised, but you also have roots in the Dominican Republic! How do you incorporate those roots into your music?
Yeah! I lived in the Dominican Republic for 3 years; they were super formative. To this day, most of my close friends are the people I met there during my childhood, so I'm in DR all the time. Those roots influence me beyond music, but in terms of writing and composing, many of my songs have English and Spanish lyrics. Some songs are completely in Spanish. I like transitioning between the two, finding words that rhyme in different languages but still delivering a cohesive message. It's also how I speak (laughs); I go back and forth between both a lot, so it felt authentic to incorporate that into my craft. Part of what sets you apart is your vivid storytelling. Can you take us through your creative process, whether it was for “Dreams” or in general?
Every song is a bit different, but it often starts with a small idea or concept, sometimes even a random lyric that popped into my head that I'd like to build a song around. From there, I start to compose the song or produce the instrumental. Before I started rapping, I was a guitarist and songwriter in a rock band, so I have a background in writing and arranging. It's important to me that the music brings the listener a similar feeling even if they heard it without the lyrics. From there, I start playing with melodies and flows, trying different things to see what's catchy and how one section leads into the next. The final step is to flesh out the lyrics within that template, which takes me the longest because I feel it requires the most tact. How would you describe your music to a new listener?
I had another interviewer ask me a similar question about how I'd describe myself, and these are always hard for me to answer because I feel like it's weird to talk about yourself (laughs). I'd probably say vulnerable, authentic, raw, and catchy. I feel like there are two Frandies musically. There's the confident and braggadocious Frandie, who knows what he brings. Then there's sad, mellow, and contemplative Frandie, who writes about heartache and how he can sometimes get in his way. But I think those parts can coexist. I like to show people that you can be self-assured even in the healing process. They're not mutually exclusive. What’s next for Frandie? Can we expect to hear more new music soon?
I'm releasing a few projects in the coming months that I'm excited about. Aside from featuring other artists' songs, I'll release "Twosday Deluxe Edition" soon. "Twosday" was a series of songs I released, two at a time, starting in 2020. There is six volumes total, so I will put them all in one place for listeners and add some remixed and reimagined versions of songs, which I had a great time working on. Later in the year, I'll release my second EP, a follow-up to my first release, "Focus.". I'm putting the finishing touches on that and am excited for folks to hear it. So, expect something new from me monthly for the rest of the year! (laughs).
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