'Early Retirement' for soulful folk musician Jack Francis - new album out 22nd March
SINGER-SONGWRITER CONFRONTS MODERN LIFE ON SOPHOMORE ALBUM
EARLY RETIREMENT OUT 22ND MARCH – PRE-SAVE HERE
‘A mix of raw soul, honest country heart and undeniable British resolve’ – Holler Country
‘This whole album should be declared an area of outstanding natural beauty.’ – Louder Than War
FFO: KEVIN MORBY, FLYTE, COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS
Following on from his 2022 debut, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jack Francis’ second album Early Retirement is due for release on 22nd March.
Shining a spotlight on his unique brand of soulful folk, Jack Francis’ new record Early Retirement (out 22nd March) explores a broad range of influences, touching on areas of great British, Irish and American songwriting. The lyrical content demonstrates the writer’s acerbic wit and attention to detail, compounding his experience navigating modern society and fallen dreams. On production duties once again is Archie Sylvester (of folk duo Ferris & Sylvester), making the entirety of the record at their home studio. Providing a wide-open window into his psyche, the musician tackles tough yet common subjects in the current climate with no filter, as he blurs the lines between folk, rock, soul and country.
Jack Francis: ‘Early Retirement is a record about endings and new beginnings. It’s about riding out fallen dreams and trying to navigate modern society as an old soul in a new world. It comes from a very personal place as a writer and conveys my concerns, doubts, sense of humour and stubborn determination to build a life in the field I’ve dedicated myself to.
‘This was a concept album from the very start – it was a conscious choice to make this a singular, coherent piece of work that would stand the test of time in both the aspect of the songwriting and the messages I’m trying to communicate.’
Opening with ‘Promised Land’, the album begins with an earnest energy, as the lyrics yearn to reach their goal, even with a bumpy road ahead. Following is the hazily drifting ‘Tired of Trying’, its lackadaisical rhythm matching its weary sentiment, singing ‘Cover me up and don’t let me down, because I’m getting tired of trying’ in the chorus. Continuing in this soulful air is ‘Mercy’, a quiet desperation seeping through the repeated refrain, while ‘Lifeline’ discards that sentiment as it picks apart some anger, but still looks ahead to the future – what else is there to do?
As a long-time musician (he began playing music at 15 years old), Jack has a whole heap of experience in this profession to draw from. The plaintive ‘Under The Bright Lights’ digs right into this, as the first verse aches with loneliness and conveys the plight of the lone travelling musician, yet in the chorus line ‘just one more night under the bright lights’, you realise this unforgiving life is not just a commitment, it’s a passion. ‘Failure’ also explores the journey of a music man, however the music is lighter, and the tongue is firmly in cheek lyrically: ‘They say the cream rises to the top, I guess I’m the milk.’ Continuing in this more positive rhythm is ‘A Bit Of Your Time’, exploring the exciting new freshness of a relationship, cruising along with a gentle Americana strum and delicately reverbed electric guitar.
Easing back into the melancholy, ‘Forever Alone’ is a gently-crafted strum of a song explained as such by Jack: ‘This is a song about self-reflection, confusion, regret, sadness and a horrible feeling that you are misunderstood by the people closest to you. You’re left wondering if it would be better for yourself and others if you were to navigate life on your own.’
The world is mad, likened to a ‘Merry-Go-Round’ in the foreshadowing penultimate track, comparing the insanity to a non-stop spinning ride and eventually boiling over with a dramatic guitar solo. In album highlight ‘21st Century Man’, this blues-tinged piano-led ballad taps into the millennial mindset and the crushing criticism his generation faces. ‘I don’t know much, I just know what I am… a 21st century man.’ Finally, album closer ‘Curtain Call’ sees the musician debate with himself about his chosen career in music in a lightly fingerpicked tune, bringing Early Retirement to a quiet, contemplative close.
Jack Francis’ career in music began when he was 15, honing his craft performing in pubs, clubs and venues. After more than 10 years of touring around the UK, he briefly became a songwriter for a publishing house, penning pop songs for other artists. This resulted in a creative fire being fuelled to write and record music on his own terms. Early single releases were championed by Tom Robinson on his BBC 6Music show and BBC Introducing, with further radio support down the line from BBC Radio 2 as well as Iain Anderson and Ricky Ross of BBC Scotland.
Upon release of Jack’s self-titled debut album, it received press support from Louder Than War, AmericanaUK, and Holler Country among many other titles. Jack has also gained a reputation as a must-see live performer, having played a slew of Sofar Sounds shows, opened for the likes of Flyte and Courtney Marie Andrews and appeared at several major UK festivals such as Isle of Wight, Victorious and Stone Free Festival at London’s iconic O2 Arena.
CATCH JACK FRANCIS LIVE (SUPPORTING FERRIS & SYLVESTER):
March
1st – Lafayette, London
6th – The Horn, St Albans
7th – The Booking Hall, Dover
8th – Bar Silo, Golant, Cornwall
9th – The Cornish Bank, Falmouth
11th – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
12th – The Mash House, Edinburgh
13th – The Grand Social, Dublin
FIND JACK FRANCIS ONLINE:
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / X (TWITTER)
