We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Franki Pineapple . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Franki below.
Alright, Franki thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
As a solo artist, I officially became ‘Franki Pineapple’ and released my first single at age forty-five. Against the backdrop of ageism and sexism, it was confronting enough to release music so late in life; not to mention the song is called “F*ck It Man!” and uses The F-Word 26 times. To release such an explicitly un-terrestrial-radio-friendly song as my first single was brave or plain stupid. It was a challenge to find a PR team open to working with me, but I didn’t give up and eventually found publicists who were not just open, but excited to take a risk with me.
I released the in-your-face song and lyric video with a moderate publicity campaign. For the next few weeks, positive and negative feedback flooded my social media feeds and inbox. Of course, the negativity affected me more profoundly than the positivity. At first, the criticism mortified me. I wanted to crawl into a hole and quit. It was hurtful. However, I’ve since pivoted my way of thinking. I now understand—it’s what feeds us creatively that matters, not what stifles us.
See, I had been hiding in the shadows my whole life, afraid of what others might think if I expressed myself fully. “F*ck It Man!” may seem like a shallow, quirky song, but it comes from a real, deep place. Exhausted by people-pleasing and holding back my artistic authenticity out of fear people would judge me as a weirdo, a wannabe, or whatever; I wrote the song from a place of necessity. I needed to let go of seeking validation, and living in the confines of status quo, if I was ever to find peace. War waged within.
Some comments I received on social media were “dollar store lady Gaga,” and “dime store whore,” and “Courtney Love forgot to take her meds,” and “somebody’s grandmother needs to lie down and take a valium,” and “what do you get when you cross Lady Gaga and Yolandi from Die Antwoord? This atrocity.” Critics referred to my song as “nihilistic,” “negative,” and “anti-Christ,” but for supporters it was “my morning medicine,” and “my anthem,” and “my inspiration,” a “smash” and a “defining debut.” My producer Nataraj Tribino told me, “This is the best response you could ask for; people passionately love it or hate it, but nobody is lukewarm—the mark of good art.” That was the day I got over it. What other people think is not my business.
“F*ck It Man!” is about finding the freedom to express our uniquenss and to answer the calling of our passions in order to live a happy and fulfilling life. Releasing the song and surviving “what people thought,” after so many years of fearfully yearning to share my music, has set me free more powerfully than commercial success ever could. And, it’s my most popular song.
I say embrace your weirdness and let your freak flag fly, baby! It’s what makes you special.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Thank you. I appreciate this opportunity to reflect on my artistic journey and focus on my creative purpose.
Above all, I am a singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar in my hands and an original song pouring out of my heart. This is the purest expression of my soul, which took shape when I was twenty-seven years old and (Eagles songwriter) JD Souther hired me as his songwriter’s assistant.
I’d been writing poetry and prose since I was a child, as a coping mechanism—a great escape from reality—a method of allowing my imagination to run wild and express my complex emotions. Acting also came instinctively from a young age. I took part in school plays, competitive drama team, etc.
I got my BA in Telecommunications with an emphasis on Creative Writing from Pepperdine University. I was an anchor at the campus news station, which aired to all of Malibu. After graduation, I pursued acting and writing professionally. This was a natural inclination for me.
Music was a different story. Secretly, I loved to sing, and I had a particular fascination with lyrics, but I didn’t dare dream I could create music. This was for other people, not me. Mrs. Jones had kicked me out of the chorus in fifth grade. I was told by others I was tone deaf; couldn’t carry a tune and had no rhythm. Worst of all, I believed it. I was afraid to sing happy birthday at parties and I feared clapping out of time at concerts.
I didn’t know who JD Souther was when he hired me to transcribe his journals for an upcoming album. I gathered information as the days unfolded and learned he is a renowned songwriter who has penned some of the Eagles’ greatest hits. As a chief architect of the Southern California sound, he has written and co-written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, the Dixie Chicks, etc. Still, I could not foresee how working with this songwriter could dramatically change the trajectory of my artistic path, of my existence.
Considering myself an actress, I got a glimpse into his world and knew it was time to put my chops to good use and start acting “as if” I were a musician. Never had I dreamed of writing an actual song. Never had I held a guitar. I knew nothing of the business of songwriting. I only knew I wanted in.
My first full-day working with JD, he handed me a twenty-track songwriting demo and ripped several pages from a journal in which he and Jackson Browne had written a song but never finished. I gasped at the sight of him tearing what I perceived to be a sacred script out of his leather-bound notebook, as if it was no big deal. He slipped the pages into a manilla envelope, along with the CD, and gave them to me as homework.
That night I listened to those twenty songs for the first of countless times. They were already shaping me. The next day, I sculpted the scribbled words of these legendary songwriters into editable type and what I perceived to be an inherent song structure. As I emailed the assignment to my new boss, I was already in love with the craft of songwriting and knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.
JD told me I had natural rhythm and internal rhyme in my writing and that my instincts for the song structure were sharp. He marveled I had never done it before and told me, “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.” This encouragement sparked a flame in me.
My time working with JD comprised a lot of writing back and forth. When our project ended, he told me to put my words to music and thanked me on his album “If the World Was You” for “rendering lyric clarity from chaos.”
I’ve since spent twenty years putting my words to music.
It has taken longer than I expected to become comfortable in my new skin and make headway with my ultimate mission of touring and sharing my music around the world. At first, picking up the guitar and stretching my fingers into awkward chord shapes seemed impossible. Changing chords and strum patterns while singing in time is a never-ending challenge. I’ve faced doubts and fears, well-constructed creative blocks and severe stage fright. Every frustrating moment is worth the reward.
On July 21st 2022, I have a gig at the world-famous Viper Room in Los Angeles where I will perform thirty-minutes of original music in the acoustic lounge. You’re invited. 8PM. Save the date.
We’ve come a long way, baby!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Early in 2020, I was becoming Franki Pineapple. Taking on a new identity is complex, but I was doing it! Preparations for my debut single release were in full-swing and my website was up and running. John Pasche, who designed the famous Rolling Stones’ hot lips logo, had created my exploding pineapple grenade logo, and I loved it. My branding was blossoming! The prospect of releasing my music after years of writing songs for other artists was exhilarating—until Apple Inc. brought production to a screeching halt. My attorney shocked me with the news that the juggernaut company had opposed my ‘Franki Pineapple’ trademark filing for appropriating fruit.
Apple offered to settle on overreaching terms, less than optimal for me, while fully protecting them. The opposition was absurd, so I fought. The lawsuit continued for close to a year and I became obsessed. Apple Inc. had sued several other small businesses who had supposedly infringed their trademark with the appropriation of fruit. The “fruit suits” garnered significant attention from the press and public. Franki Pineapple popped up in articles and social media posts. Anxiety destroyed the excitement of my brand in the news. What if I had to scrap my creation?
I was in a mess. My brain ruminated down the rabbit hole of doom as I engaged in late-night Google sessions and devoured every bit of information I could find on the lawsuits. I lost sleep. My attorney implored me not to send the letters I wrote to Rolling Stone Magazine, Vice Magazine, and Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple Inc. The pending outcome drove me crazy because I had no control over it. I fed on the public outcry over Apple’s trademark bullying by tweeting out my frustrations, deleting, tweeting, deleting. I was doomed.
Then I pivoted.
In a meltdown, I contacted my attorney with some desperate question or complaint, and his response changed the way I would deal with all future affairs. “Find another project to focus on,” he suggested. “Let this go for now and give us space to do what you hired us to do.” He was asking me to have faith, and I heard him.
A switch flipped. I remember consciously understanding how to “let go, and let God,” a concept I had been trying to grasp for as long as I could remember. I vowed to put it into effect. This I could control. I had a choice.
For years, I had wanted to record and release my novel, “Father F*cker!” as a podcast. So, I pivoted my attention away from ‘Franki Pineapple’ and dove into research. I learned to use the proper recording software, to launch my podcast and distribute worldwide across digital platforms like Apple and Spotify. I branded myself as ‘FP’ since my attorney advised me not to release content as ‘Franki Pineapple’ until the case closed in our favor.
Weeks later, a call came from a New York area code. Flowing in the zone of producing my podcast. I didn’t even consider the call might be from my attorney, so I sent it to voicemail. I had nearly forgotten about my lawsuit.
“I’ve got news,” my attorney’s message said. “Call me back.”
I returned the call, and he exclaimed, “We won!”
Life is far more peaceful for me since my attorney inspired me to surrender. As an unknown, independent artist, winning a lawsuit against one of the biggest corporations in the world was indeed powerful; but minor compared to the power behind letting go of trying in vain to control the outcome. Creative potential lies in the present moment.
Producing my podcast has opened doors for me to host a radio show, produce my first audiobook for hire, and explore the world of voice acting. I’ve learned a lot by pivoting.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
“The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” by Steven Pressfield is the most effective “self-help” book I have read in terms of actually changing the way I operate. Mr. Pressfield’s predominate theme revolves around the concept of working through “resistance,” which is all that stops us from answering our deepest calling, finding our purpose, and manifesting our dreams. That voice inside that tells us we’re not good enough? That’s resistance. The War of Art audiobook became my bible for years while I broke through my lifelong tendencies toward resistance. When I back pedal, I check in with Pressfield for a refresher. This book is for anyone who wishes to get out of their own way and do what they really want to do. It’s doable!
Daily meditation practice clears space in my head to listen to my thoughts and identify the ones that feed resistance. Once I hear the lies my fearful little ego feeds my soul, I can’t un-hear them. Silent meditation is powerful, and guided meditation can also be valuable. I listen to the “Getting Into the Vortex: Guided Meditation Series” by Esther and Jerry Hicks every day. It helps me shape the life I wish to live with clarity and intention. I can’t overstate the benefits of a consistent meditation practice.
Cool stuff happens. Try it and see.
Contact Info:
- Website: frankipineapple.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankipineapple/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankipineapplepersonal/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franki-pineapple
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/frankipineapple/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCatudkuo651lxGP3ehqSPfw
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/first-self-love/id1530879936
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/franki-pineapple/1536324661
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Q1fpgaLGfGGzLG5SI5dOy?si=S1Hjw3N6TQ-dDl3iCqaKFw