FRANCESCA LEE: PRESS KIT

Thank you for your interest in Francesca Lee.
For Francesca's Online Press Kit please click on the link to her Sonicbids EPK.
There you should find everything you need in order to feature Francesca in your publication or on your radio program including high resolution photos. If you are in need of something that you can't find on her web-site or online press kit, please feel free to contact us directly at francescalee@francesca-lee.com. CLICK on the SONICBIDS LINK BELOW.


Radio
If you'd like a copy of one of Francesca's albums to play on your radio program, or if you are a DJ who would like to have Francesca perform in-studio as part of your radio program, or if you would like to tape a phone interview with Francesca then please email us directly at francescalee@francesca-lee.com. Be sure to include your name, the name and city of the station, and information about what type of program you have.

Link to Music Connection Magazine Web-site

From Deli Magazine SF November 2007

When I first searched for Francesca Lee on MySpace, it brought up a big breasted woman in a bikini whose tag line was "party yr pants off!" and I was pretty sure I had the wrong page (but check it out, it's hilarious!) Luckily, I found our real Francesca Lee, and she's much more appealing. For the softer side of life, this new track is a definite bubble bath-er. She's got a lovely mellow style with endearing lyrics and the occasional surprise harmony or guitar fun. Elements of jazz creep in occasionally as well. If you dig it, she's got a show at the Hotel Utah on the 30th, so check it out.

author: anonymous coward
i saw her recently at the bazaar cafe in sf, and picked up this cd right after the show. she is amazing even with just an acoustic guitar, catch her live when you can! the album is fantastic.

author: Dominic Zacchino
This album is wonderful! I have spent many years trying to find something in female rock that is good, and not just a retread of something else, I found it with Lee’s powerful and unique voice and song writing ability. Each song is a trip into a new wonderful world.

Superb- waiting for the next serving!
author: Wolf E. Rahlfs
Listening to this album makes me wanna stop doing anything I could be doing. The diversity of the material and versatility of the performer quite easily stomp on most of the mediocre mainstram crap we are force-fed daily through the principal radio stations. Songs like TRICKS or I NEVER offer perfect contrasting alternatives to what I would usually listen to in my car on a major road trip. Moreover, a song like LIGHT FALLS crashes over you with energy and determination... inspiring you to do what you've always wanted to do. The albums heart-piece, GOODBYE, is beautiful and a major achievement in musical arranging. And with NA NA NA Francesca Lee proves that you should also listen to her on a smooth'n'sexy dancing night out. Four stars for this Californian/Texan songwriting wonder. The only thing I want to know is: where will she take her exceptional individuality on the next album? Further and further and further... I hope. Well, I know.

The beauty revealed in Francesca Lee's debut cd with 7 songs, "Tricks", "I Never", "Light Falls", "Goodbye", "Only Human", "Na Na Na", "Mystical Act", and an acoustic version of "Na Na Na", are in the siren's voice that lives on in your head after the song ends. I could rattle off a few famous names to compare or say Ms. Lee is influenced by but this music is fresh, new and all Francesca. Edgy, pop/folk style that also lends to the jazz genre, this is an artist with a bright future for whatever direction she chooses to travel on her musical journey.

The first track, "Tricks" has a great musical backup to compliment Francesca's playful vocals with just enough drums, guitar, bass and effects to make you want to get up and dance while listening and then the voice, strong and sexy, kicks in "tell me what this is all about!" Do tell us more, Francesca, as you've got the magic in you and it's bringing my speakers to life! While this cd has been described as pop/folk in sound, I hear a diversity of styles - jazz, blues, world beats - this is an artist who's talent shines through as a star on the rise.

The "Only Human" track is revealing the sultry side, Anita Baker influenced soulful rhythms, the harmonies placed perfectly - and again, a voice that is soothing, enchanting and gets you moving. The band behind the music really captures the feel of Francesca's words
and the production keeps the focus on the songwriter's intent. Ok, maybe a little Tracy Chapman peeks through on "Mystical Act" or "Light Falls" rocks you like N'chelle you know her last name with a bassline that powers up and down your spine while the voice, that daring dynamic voice, jazzes you with her breathy delivery. As Francesca sings the opening line to "Goodbye", her closest track to being a ballad, she gently begins "sounds just like an angel", I want to say, yes you do. Get this cd for your collection - and you'll be playing
it over and over and over again. The voice, the music, the songwriting and most of all, the talent, is wonderful and has me ready to listen again and again and again. "na na na na na na....."

I would also recommend you visit Francesca's website, and you'll read an amazing bio - I could include some of it here, but would rather you take a moment to really discover how this artist, at 22, is dedicated to her craft and it comes through on this groove driven, rhythm oriented, vocally poignant and musically arranged to delight the ears cd. If Francesca is coming to your town for a live concert, I'd not miss the event - this is an
artist to see in person - definitely!

(updated 20 September 2004) California-girl now based in Texas, Francesca Lee, introduces her self-titled debut album (Blue Iris Records (USA), 2002) from a pop/alt rock perspective. This singer/songwriter comes from a musical background, with an accomplished guitarist father, and a folk singer-songwriter mother. Her own musical experiences have been diverse, having dabbled in electronic music, modern soul, folk and avant garde bands.

She also attended Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. During that time, she performed solo and in various bands, and eventually created her own label, Blue Iris Records. She recorded her debut album while living in Liverpool. The album was recorded at The George Martin Studio. Says Francesca, "A variety of musicians from all over the world performed on the album including musicians from Scotland, Finland, Canada, England and Luxemborg." She continued, "Since then I've been performing solo acoustic primarily." She provided Musical Discoveries an exclusive sample of this extremely promising alternative.

The album consists of eight tracks, each showcasing Francesca's amazing talents. It is driven by soulful harmonies, interspersed in this pop/folk grouping of songs. She opens with "Tricks," where the listener is drawn into the upbeat melody with her beautiful vocals. "I Never" changes beat with an edginess in tone. This talented songstress delivers the goods in "Light Falls" with her sensual lyrics and rocky musical interpretation.

Her tender side comes through in "Goodbye" and "Only Human" with its more lilting and intimate tone. Her vocal warmth has a purity that is uplifting in "Mystical Fact." All in all, Francesca's efforts have not gone unnoticed, with some of her songs being featured on radio stations and in media publications. Her music was also showcased on an MTV Network production for The Real World.

Francesca Lee brings home a welcome sound from this talented singer/songwriter. She has a message that she easily delivers with her striking songs and vocals. Francesca delivers a dynamic performance throughout. She's been working on additional material since this album was released in 2002. Our review of it will be added here soon!

"Lee is a talented and interesting songwriter. The songs are very comfortable sounding, as is her voice. "

Interview

1. Where are you from, originally and what brought you to San Francisco

I’m originally from the Bay Area, but as a child and in my teens I moved around a lot. I’ve lived in the Southwest, West Coast, and in Europe. I was living in Liverpool, England for four years and decided to come back to San Francisco last year. San Francisco is one of my most favorite cities because it has so much character. There’s no other city in the US like it and I love it. It’s in a great location because it’s not far from L.A and it’s easy to travel to Portland, Seattle, and up into Canada.

2. What style of music would you say you do?

I’ve always written primarily on the acoustic guitar so naturally people have always considered my music to be folk, but if you really pull apart the songs and really listen, I play a lot of jazz influenced stuff that is represented a lot more in live shows. I also find that my song structure is never traditional folk either , instead it’s more of a crossover style. When I recorded my debut album “Francesca Lee”, I was going for a more pop/alternative feel and since then I’ve grown a lot and am making that transition into what I call Jazz influenced folk. In general, I’ve written all style of music from electronic, to country, to R&B.

3. What do you enjoy best - songwriting or performing and why?

I would have to say I enjoy both equally. I love the creative part of songwriting especially when all my ideas are flowing. Whenever I feel I’m getting writers block, I try taking a walk to clear my mind. I find it also helps when you move to another room. I love performing because I find it puts me in another element. I don’t think about the songs so much as the time I was writing them, instead everything comes together full circle.

4. Who are your musical influences?

So many artists have influenced me but I think my favorites have to be - Sting, Nina Simone, Nick Drake, Sade, Jeff Buckley, Billie Holliday, Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Ricki Lee Jones, Jacques Brel, Bebel Gilberto, Leonard Cohen, Suzanne Vega, and The Cowboy Junkies…. And the list goes on!

5. Describe your favorite song you have written and why is it so special to you?

Off the album I really like the song “Goodbye” – I like how the song starts out with just the acoustic guitar and piano and how it gradually builds up unexcpectedly. Most of all I love the simplicity of the song and the complexity of the meaning. I think this is a song that can mean a lot of things to different people. I wrote it when I lived in Liverpool. At the time I was researching a lot of stories on artists that lives were cut short by tragedy. I wondered what it would had been like to had known them. By putting myself in this sort of fantasy world I was also able to add a lot of what I felt was going on in my life. Somehow I placed two different ideas and was able to create a beautiful song from it. I always play this song in my set.

6. What are your goals for the next 5 years musically speaking?

First and foremost I want to keep myself fresh as an artist. I want to keep improving what I do, stay original, and stand true to my vision. In the next five years I would like to publish my work in Film, TV, and also for other artists to also record my songs. As a performer I want I’d like to stay consistent on making great albums, and I want to be able to reach out to a wider audience through touring on a consistent basis whether that be the US or outside.

7. Tell us about your recordings and what's in store next.

I recorded my self-titled album “ Francesca Lee” in Liverpool, which was released on my independent label “ Blue Iris Records” , I am currently working on an new EP which will be out this summer.

8. Where can we buy your music?

You can buy my new CD at Cdbaby.com

9. What are your views about where the music industry is heading in your community, or on a global level?

I think music has changed a lot over the years. With the internet most artists can easily promote and act as their own publicist now. I also think there are more and more artists now then ever before and new music genres are being made every year. That said, I think it’s a lot more competitive so as an artist you need to really define what makes you different from others.

10. Anything pertinent you'd like to say about Songsalive!

Gilli told me about Songsalive- I think it's a great organization! I'm so glad I joined and I'm looking forward to sharing my music with everyone!