Francesco Yates: Next Chapter

Let’s hop right into this latest single / video, “Jimi” — Tell me about this particular track; how did it actually come to fruition?

The track “Jimi” came about when I was looking at the Purple Rain poster I had in my studio, and then the one line that popped into my head was, “I’m on that Jimi Hendrix, I ball way out on Mars” and then “I love you like I love my Guitar,” and I thought, “Oh, I can work with that.” I think just seeing Prince in his natural element kind of inspired me to go and do that. And then I expanded the story and the lyrics further; I made it about getting trapped in a land that you don’t want to be in. That’s kind of what “Jimi”’s about.

How then does “Jimi” either differ and / or compare to previous entries?

It’s me now a little more refined, knowing who I am as an artist. I found a sound that’s my own. I think before, in the early days, I was trying to figure out what I was doing so I wasn’t as honed in as I am now. There’s an identity there; my identity makes it different.

Of course “Jimi” follows on the heels of your hit collaboration with Robin Schulz, “Sugar” — How did this situation even come about?

A Baby Bash loop floating around the studio that I was in at the time, and I decided to try my hand at it and I wrote the verses…and then I left the chorus as is, and then I just forgot about it for some months. Then the label put it out, and when it came out it took on a life of its own. It exploded out of nowhere, and before I knew it “Sugar” was a global hit.

As a songwriter, when you sit down to pen your lyrics where do you draw your inspiration from?

A combination of personal experience, and my own insane imagination.

In 2019, you opened for Justin Timberlake’s Man of the Woods tour — Overall, what was this experience like for you? And what was your biggest takeaway from sharing the stage night after night with an artist of Justin’s stature?

That was a life-changing experience, truly life-changing to see all that machine, how it operates and just watching Justin be the professional that he is…and taking away how he moved on the stage, how he was as a person, how he handles his business. Being an independent artist myself, I learned a lot from just watching.

Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music — When did you become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for Francesco Yates?

For me, the incentive into the real wonderland that is the music industry started with watching School of Rock when I was 11 years old. I always came in and out of music, but it’s something I kept to myself. I was singing ever since I can remember, but then when I saw School of Rock I was like, “Oh, for sure, now I have to do this!”

Now where exactly do you hail from? And growing up there, who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

I grew up in Toronto, Canada, and my strongest musical influences are Prince, Marvin Gaye…but also heavy Rock bands like Led Zeppelin. My main two worlds are R&B and Rock Music, that’s how it all comes together. Prince is a big one for me.

In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

Pop / Rock and R&B, all 3 mixed into one.

Switching gears here…

To date, what has been your greatest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?

It’s a toss-up between the Justin tour and meeting and working with Pharrell; those two were big highlights for me, big learning experiences. All I did in those sessions was just watch, watch and observe things to take it all in.

What’s an average day like for you?

Wake up, I get my hair sorted out, I do some gardening in the afternoon, and then I go to the studio to make some music, I work out and then I go to bed. The chaos that soothes.

Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…

I talk to them like I would talk to anybody else, I treat everyone with that same amount of respect. They’re the real superstars, they’re the reason for everything that happens with me.

What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?

That I get to do music is my favorite thing because I can do something that I love. The least favorite is the unknown, the uncertainty surrounding it.

What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Learn how to produce your own music, it will save your life, it will save you a lot of time and a whole lot of psychology. The mental gymnastics that a new artist gets told being in the label system can hurt. Make your own thing, then make it work and then go to a label if you must.

Lastly, what’s next for you, Francesco?

After the Backstreet Boys opening slot, I’ll be doing at the end of August on their DNA Tour, I’m working towards more shows and the coming of my new album, Neon Blond.

Any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?

Make sure to give the artist their ability to produce, I can’t stress that one enough. Learn that laptop, that laptop will save you. Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Spotify. I can’t wait for the states to see and hear my music and the fresh sound I”m bringing to the states!