We recently connected with Angelique Francis and have shared our conversation below.
Angelique , appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. It taught me everything I know. When I was a child, my parents would teach me about the world though song. They sang songs to explain everything, even how to spell my own name. And in turn, I learned to express myself from a very young age through songwriting. I wrote my first song at the age of 3 or 4 about how much I loved drinking chocolate milk for breakfast when the sun came up.
Everyday after diner we would get together as a family – my sisters and parents – and we would jam together and make music. My Father also had a music studio in our home as a side business. Despite our musical upbringing, my parents had come from more traditional backgrounds. Their families had raised them to strive for professions that delt with maths, sciences, or law. My parents originally wanted the same for my sisters and I. Music was fine as a hobby, or as a side hustle, but not a main career.
They also tried to get us into sports. Our parents would have us practicing tennis drills with a ball they hung from the ceiling, right outside of the music studio. I remember at age 5, hitting that tennis ball, while looking longingly into the window of the music studio. Watching my father create music felt like witnessing magic; and I didn’t want to hit balls, I wanted to craft spells.
When I was 7, there was an opportunity to perform at a televised event; the grand opening of our school. Education was very important in our household, and at the time my grades were not the best. So when I told my parents about the audition for the grand opening, they told me to focus on my studies instead. But I really wanted to try. Nothing had ever called out to me the way that music had, and I just knew I had to answer that call. It didn’t matter If I passed the audition or not. And so, I disobeyed my parents.
I couldn’t practice at home, so everyday at recess I would hide behind the outside school doors and sing. And to my surprise, it worked! I passed the audition and would be singing the national anthem on live TV. But there was one big problem, my parents would find out I disobeyed them, on live TV. I was scared to tell them of what I had done, but I knew I had to come clean. When I confessed, I told them I wanted to be a musician. They told me that they weren’t upset, and they were just disappointed that I had lied. They asked me to show them what I had performed in the audition. So I did. My mom started crying, my dad hugged me, and they told me that they would support me every step of the way. However, there were a few ground rules. I had to maintain an A average in school, and I had to learn how to play instruments. First the piano, then the guitar, then afterwards I could choose any other instrument that I wanted. And it was funny, because as soon as I started learning instruments, school got easier – especially the maths and sciences.
On the day of the grand opening in front of thousands of people, I thought I was going to be afraid. But it was the opposite. As soon as I stepped on that stage I felt more confident and freer than I ever felt off of it. When I sang, I felt like I was connecting with each person in the audience, on a deeper level then words alone could reach. I felt like I was home. And I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
At age 13 I started performing at music festivals, and I made my American national debut on Opera’s OWN Gale King Show, where my original composition was featured. As my sisters got older, they expressed their interest in joining me on stage. Now my family and I tour the globe together, rocking audiences of thousands. On stage, our main instruments are:
– Myself: upright bass, harmonica, electric bass, guitar, vocals
– My sister Kharincia: alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, vocals
– My sister Kira: trombone, Keys, vocals
– My sister Kayla: trumpet, percussion, vocals
– My father: Drums, vocals
We are The Angelique Francis Band, and together we love to share the joy that the magic of music creates with our audiences. They now call me “The Enchantress of the Blues and Soul”.
Angelique , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
JUNO Winning artist Angelique Francis, is a versatile and exceptionally gifted musician. This multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre singer-songwriter/composer has wowed audiences across the globe with her electrifying performances, instrumental abilities and powerful textured vocals. She is known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including Folk, Blues, Soul, Roots, Gospel and Americana. Angelique has shared the stage/opened for a large roster of well-known musicians such as Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Beth Hart, Tom Cochran, Burton Cummings, Sugar Ray and the list goes on. Her diversity, passion and love of music can be heard in all of her original compositions.
This highly sought-after musician and her band (The Angelique Francis Band) have been named by Folk Canada, as the 2024 Performing Artists of the Year. She has also been awarded with the 2023 JUNO for Blues Album of the Year, 2 Canadian Blues Music Awards, was nominated for 4 Canadian Folk music awards, a SOCAN award, and was a feature act at the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea festival (Miami to Jamaica), Grolsch Blues Festival(Germany), Sighisoara Blues Festival(Romania), Massey Hall, Montreal Jazz Festival, Philadelphia Folkfest, Stagecoach music series(California), Mariposa FolkFest, Calgary Folkfest, Ottawa BluesFest, and the list goes on.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, and no. I certainly have career goals for myself: people I want to perform and create with, festivals and stages I strive to play, and a Grammy win would be pretty nice. But I don’t necessarily create because of those things, I create because I love it. And being able to do what I love, with those that I love makes me a very fortunate person. If I had to list a specific goal, I would say to make positive lasting change through our art.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a musician is getting to travel around the world, and meeting some amazing people along the way. It is so wonderful learning and connecting with people from various backgrounds, cultures, and different walks of life. As a storyteller, getting to share and pass on the experiences of others is a great privilege. In addition, one of our main goals as musicians is to help people by spreading joy through music. In our shows we encourage the audience to take part of the music making process, connect with each other, uplift one another, laugh, dance, and have a good time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://angeliquefrancis.net/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/angelique.francis_music
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeliquefrancisofficialpage
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/angeliquesongs
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/angeliquefrancis
- Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3AoZtg3XjzbONsDfAXCene
- Other: https://linktr.ee/AngeliqueFrancis
Image Credits
Kiran Francis/Angelique Francis