Troubadour at nightfall

Robert Francis started his music career at an early age. Coming from a family of musicians, he decided early on that this was his calling.

“I started playing when I was really young, around 9. Being in a musical family guided me through a life of music,” Francis said. “I dropped out of high school and hit the road with my sister’s band. I had just turned 17. When I was 18 I started recording my own stuff.”

By the time he was making his own music, he had already toured and recorded in the family band, playing bass, so the transition was easy. His full-length debut, One By One was released in August 2007 by Aeronaut Records, and was nominated for a Shortlist Music Prize the same year.

In true singer-songwriter form, he did everything himself.

“For the first album, I arranged, recorded and produced it by myself. There was a lot of attention from various labels, so I did a few runs to satiate me in the meantime before I pursued a label and recorded the sophomore record.”

To record his second effort, Francis approached Atlantic Records. After reviewing his impressive résumé, including tutelage under Ry Cooder and John Frusciante, they snatched him up. Since then, he has been touring and creating quite a buzz for himself.

“I try not to make any plans to stay home for more than a month at the longest. I love being on the road,” Francis said.

He has already been across the country and to Europe for a few stints.

“Between American and international touring, I’m happy with both audiences. They’re different. European audiences are more enthusiastic and easier to please. In the U.S., you never know what you’re gonna get.”

As an artist, American audiences can sometimes be daunting to please, but Francis hasn’t really had to suffer a booing or walk outs just yet, and he counts his lucky stars.

Francis is currently on the road with Noah and the Whale. He brought along his backup band, which consists of bass, drums and a pedal steel and keyboard player that has been at his side since he started over three years ago.

After a two-week jaunt through the States, Francis will ship his band over to Europe for a several-country tour to include England, France and Germany.

“After that,” Francis remarked, “I’ll probably just hang out and enjoy the holidays, and start back out in January.”

He definitely encompasses the persona of a wandering troubadour—happier on the road than at home. Before Nightfall, Francis’ sophomore effort, recently hit stores and has already been a smashing success through the iTunes Store and Amazon.com Music Store.

Although he’s a bit young and naïve at just over 21 years old, Francis does understand the finer points of his craft and is savvy enough to hold his own in a world of lawyers and label executives. By being in charge of his music career he is ensuring to stay in charge of his destiny—and his money.

Francis and company are part of a gung-ho, die-hard troupe that is rarely seen nowadays, content on spending their life on the road, knowing that the glory comes from the fight and that performing is the only way to get your name out there.

Rather than waiting for people to come to him, he’s bringing his music to the people, sharing his life experiences and serenading the masses with his unique, soft-spoken pop. Hopefully his gamble will pay off, because he’s thrown all his chips in and called.