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Neal Francis

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki




Neal Francis (born Neal Francis O’Hara on September 4, 1988) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Francis has released two full-length albums: *Changes* (2019) and *In Plain Sight* (2021). He was nominated for the 2022 Americana Emerging Act of the Year[1] and the 2022 Libera Award for Blues Record of the Year for “Can’t Stop the Rain.”[2]

Neal Francis
OriginLivingston, New Jersey
GenresPsychedelic Rock, Rock, Indie Rock, R&B
Years active2018-present
LabelsATO Records, Karma Chief Records
Websitehttps://www.nealfrancis.com/

Early life

Francis was born in Livingston, New Jersey, and a year later his family moved to Oak Park, Illinois. He was already playing the piano before he started lessons at the age of four. Francis studied with a classical teacher for eight years before taking lessons from the boogie-woogie legend Erwin Helfer.[3] O’Hara joined his first band while attending Oak Park River Forest High School. After graduation he studied architecture for two years at the University of Illinois at Chicago.[4]

Career

Francis began playing professionally during high school. By the age of 18 he was touring Europe with Muddy Waters’ son and backing up other prominent blues artists around the United States.[5] In 2012 Francis joined The Heard, a Chicago instrumental funk band, and became the band’s primary songwriter.[6] The Heard toured with The New Mastersounds and The Revivalists and appeared at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.[7][8] As The Heard began to find success, Francis was sinking deeper into addiction. By 2015 he had been fired from The Heard and evicted from his apartment.[9] Shortly thereafter Francis entered a rehab facility. He emerged from treatment with newfound ambition and plenty of new material.[10]

Releases

*Changes* (2019)

In 2017 Francis was ready to record his new material, so he reached out to two of his former bandmates from The Heard, bassist Mike Starr and drummer PJ Howard, and to producer Sergio Rios, who produced The Heard’s first album. Francis traveled to Killion Sound, Rios’s studio in Los Angeles, and began recording what would become the *Changes* album.[11][12]

While Francis finished recording basic tracks for *Changes* in Los Angeles in February 2018, he signed with Karma Chief Records (a subsidiary of Colemine Records). He spent the following months doing overdubs in Chicago with engineer Mike Novak. Novak also recorded demos for the project, which were later released as *Changes (Demos)* in 2021.[13]

The first single from *Changes*, “These Are The Days,” was released on January 16, 2019.[14] “Changes, Pt. 1” came out on May 7, 2019, and both singles were released on a 7” on May 31, 2019.

  • Changes* was released on Karma Chief Records on September 20, 2019, to critical acclaim. The album received Top 10 Album of the Year recognition from KEXP,[15] KCRW,[16] The Current,[17] KDHX,[18] Songpickr,[19] WYCE,[20] Radio Boise,[21] Indie 102.3,[22] Radar Radio (Portugal),[23] and Across The Margin.[24]

Changes features the following musicians:

Neal Francis – vocals, Hammond A100, acoustic piano, RMI Electra Piano, Hohner Clavinet D6

Sergio Rios – guitar

Mike Starr – bass

PJ Howard – drums, percussion, background vocals

Zoë Kosovic, Adryon De Leon – background vocals

Sam Halterman – percussion

Lucas Ellman – tenor saxophone

Ricky Lucchese – trombone

JJ Kirkpatrick – trumpet

*Don't Call Me No More* / *How Have I Lived (Reprise)* (2020)

Two songs recorded during the sessions for *Changes* that did not make the album—(“Don't Call Me No More” and “How Have I Lived (Reprise)”—were released digitally in 2020 and on a 7” on June 25, 2021, on Karma Chief Records.[25]

*Changes (Demos)* EP (2021)

Francis recorded demos for four of the songs that ended up on *Changes*.[26] These demos were released on a 12” 45 RPM record on March 12, 2021.

*In Plain Sight* (2021)

Before work began on his second album, Francis signed with ATO Records in 2020. That album, *In Plain Sight*, was recorded in the church where Francis was living at the time. Collaborating once again with Rios, *In Plain Sight* was recorded entirely on analog tape.[27] Francis and his bandmates (now including guitarist Kellen Boersma and drummer Collin O’Brien) built a full recording studio in the parsonage attached to St. Peter’s UCC Church during the pandemic lockdown of 2020.[28] Using several analog tape machines (including a Tascam 388 and Tascam MS-16) the band recorded the album with Rios between September 2020 to December 2020.[29] Overdubs were completed in January 2021, and Grammy Award-winner David Fridmann mixed the album later that spring.[30]

The album’s first single, “Can't Stop The Rain” (featuring Grammy Award-winner Derek Trucks on slide guitar), was released on August 17, 2021.[31] “Alameda Apartments” came out on September 21, 2021, and “Prometheus” was released on October 19, 2021. The final single, “Problems,” was released on November 2, 2021. The full album debuted on November 5, 2021.

In Plain Sight features the following musicians:

Neal Francis – vocals, Hammond A100, acoustic piano, Hohner Clavinet D6, Korg Prologue, Korg MS-20, Moog Model D

Kellen Boersma – guitar

Mike Starr – bass

Collin O’Brien – drums

Derek Trucks – guitar

Carlile, Allie Bradford, Tramaine Parker, Brandon Lampkin – background vocals

Bob Garrett – percussion

Mike Novak – acoustic guitar

Reaction

  • In Plain Sight* received critical praise from KCRW (“an unapologetically joyful, electric feel that makes for just the jolt to the system we needed”);[32] Rolling Stone (“Francis captures a sound that's somewhere between Elton John and Little Feat”);[33] Uproxx (“lovers of Dr. John, Leon Russell, and The Meters will immediately feel at home amid Francis’ fat-bottomed, bluesy bangers”)[34] and more.
Radio play

Francis’ first radio single from *In Plain Sight* was “Can't Stop The Rain.” It debuted as the #1 most added song on Adult Alternative Radio (Triple A)[35] and non-commercial radio. “Can’t Stop The Rain” peaked at #24 on the Adult Alternative Airplay (Triple A) chart on Nov. 27, 2021[36], and #3 on the Americana Radio charts. The song spent 26 weeks on the Americana charts and ended at #34 on the year end singles chart[37]. The second single, “Problems,” peaked at #33 on the Triple A charts on March 12, 2022[38].

Gear

Francis’ sound is based on analog keyboards and synthesizers including:

Discography

  • *Changes* (2019)
  • "Don't Call Me No More" / "How Have I Lived (Reprise)" (2020)
  • *Changes (Demos)* EP (2021)
  • *In Plain Sight* (2021)

References

  1. ↑ Nashville, Josh Ewers Main Street. "Americana Award nominee Neal Francis finds sanctuary while making album in a church". Main Street Nashville. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  2. ↑ Grein, Paul; Grein, Paul (2022-03-23). "Japanese Breakfast, Arlo Parks, Jason Isbell & More Nominated for 2022 A2IM Libera Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  3. ↑ "A Conversation With Neal Francis". Magnet Magazine. 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  4. ↑ "Neal Francis Was Saved by the Bell". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  5. ↑ "Lolla Indie Spotlight: Neal Francis". BMI.com. 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  6. ↑ "Review: Neal Francis Shifts His '80s Blue-Eyed Soul and Funk Closer to Mainstream on 'In Plain Sight'". American Songwriter: Music News & Songwriting Tips. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  7. ↑ DUGUAY, ROB (2022-02-03). "THE DIG INTERVIEW: NEAL FRANCIS". digboston.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  8. ↑ DUGUAY, ROB (2022-02-03). "THE DIG INTERVIEW: NEAL FRANCIS". digboston.com. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  9. ↑ "Neal Francis Gleefully Mired In 70s Style Funk". WGLT. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  10. ↑ Shanker, Adam (2020-02-18). "Sobriety brings Changes to Neal Francis". The Revue. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  11. ↑ day; jazz.com, remains a music opinion-maker at night His musings are strewn across the interwebs on; AllAboutJazz.com; Board, A. Football Discussion (2019-11-18). "Neal Francis - 'Changes' (2019)". Something Else!. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  12. ↑ "Neal Francis Gleefully Mired In 70s Style Funk". WGLT. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  13. ↑ "PREMIERE: Neal Francis Revisits Unreleased "How Have I Lived" Recording For Demos EP [Listen]". L4LM. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  14. ↑ day; jazz.com, remains a music opinion-maker at night His musings are strewn across the interwebs on; AllAboutJazz.com; Board, A. Football Discussion (2019-11-18). "Neal Francis - 'Changes' (2019)". Something Else!. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  15. ↑ "2019 Top Ten List Spotlight: Greg Vandy". www.kexp.org. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  16. ↑ "DJ Top 10 Lists of the Year 2019 | 89.9 FM". KCRW. 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  17. ↑ "Top 89 of 2019: Jesse Wiza, associate producer". www.thecurrent.org. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  18. ↑ KDHX. "Top 10 Albums of 2019: Hip City". KDHX. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  19. ↑ songpickr (2019-12-18). "Songpickr's 75 Best Albums of 2019". songpickr. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  20. ↑ "WYCE Top 50 Albums of 2019 > GRCMC". grcmc.org. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  21. ↑ "2019: DJ Top Tens". Radio Boise. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  22. ↑ Whitten, Jessi. "Music In 2019: Indie 102.3 Staff Picks For Best Albums, Songs, Concerts And More". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  23. ↑ "RADAR – 97.8 FM » 2019 POR INÊS MENESES" (in português). Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  24. ↑ "The Top 50 Albums of 2019". Across the Margin. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  25. ↑ "PREMIERE: Neal Francis Revisits Unreleased "How Have I Lived" Recording For Demos EP [Listen]". L4LM. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  26. ↑ "Neal Francis Announces 'Changes (Demos)' EP". JamBase. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  27. ↑ "How a Chicago singer-songwriter found himself living and recording a new album in a haunted church". WGN-TV. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  28. ↑ "Review: Neal Francis Shifts His '80s Blue-Eyed Soul and Funk Closer to Mainstream on 'In Plain Sight'". American Songwriter: Music News & Songwriting Tips. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  29. ↑ "The JamBase Podcast: Neal Francis". JamBase. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  30. ↑ "Neal Francis Announces New Album 'In Plain Sight' & Shares Single Featuring Derek Trucks". JamBase. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  31. ↑ "RS Country Music Picks for the Week of August 23rd". Rolling Stone. 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  32. ↑ "Premiere: Let Neal Francis' torrential "Can't Stop the Rain" shake your late summer malaise". KCRW. 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  33. ↑ Hudak, Jon Freeman,Joseph; Freeman, Jon; Hudak, Joseph (2021-08-23). "RS Country Music Picks for the Week of August 23rd". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  34. ↑ HydenTwitter, Steven (2021-11-30). "Steven Hyden's Favorite Music Of November 2021". UPROXX. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  35. ↑ "Neal Francis". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  36. ↑ "Neal Francis". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Americana Radio Airplay Singles of 2021". pages.e2ma.net. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  38. ↑ "Neal Francis". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-12-01.


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