By: Lynn Butler
Franki goes to Hollywood
Francois Mallum, more commonly known as ‘Franki M’, gained commercial radio success in 2010 with ‘I Don’t Say Goodbye’, which peaked at Number Four on the SA Top 10 chart on Heart 104.9fm. Hailed as a ‘guitar maestro’ with killer vocals to boot, Franki M has become a dynamic performer on stage as he sings original hits such as ‘Colours of You’, which was inspired by his muse, fiancé Tarryn Voigt. Franki teamed up with International DJ SamWorld and recorded two hits: ‘Bedtime Stories’ and ‘Feel Good’. Both songs reached Number One and have established Franki as Cape Town’s newest superstar. However, Franki M’s success story is not finished. At the end of last year, Franki was chosen to represent South Africa in the International ARTS Talent showcase in Orlando, Florida coming up in June. Franki M also appeared as an artist on the guest panel at the annual star-studded Music Exchange conference at Cape Town City Hall on the 6-7 March. GAS caught up with him and his fiancée and chatted to him about his career and Music Exchange.
Q: Franki, tell me a little about what you have been doing these last few weeks?
Apart from being at Music Exchange, I’m in the process of launching my new single called ‘Let Her Know’. Now we’re just heading up to all the stations and our main focus is on launching this single and getting the brand out there.
Q: Let’s talk about Music Exchange. How did you get involved?
I was part of the very first Music Exchange when it was launched. I was one of the first artists to perform so I was there from the get-go and it was just an amazing initiative because what it stands for is just brilliant. As a young artist, I was los kop (as they say) and I had some bad experiences with an independent label that no longer exists… because I didn’t know I just wanted to make music. Then Music Exchange came along and taught me as an artist and musician how I could better yourself, get educated about the industry, learn what you need to look out for in terms of contracts or publishers. So I was immediately drawn to that because you’ve got to empower yourself as an artist… no one else is going to do it for you. Then I was asked to feature in a promotional video this year, which was fantastic. I love to get involved in Music Exchange because of what it can do.
Q: How has this platform helped you as a musician?
The platform it creates. When you get put into a room with people, you are exposed to people who could literally change your life and it’s an amazing thing. It’s always worth it to get educated and that is what Music Exchange is all about. It’s all about networking and worth it for anyone who is an aspiring musician or who wants to be involved in the music business. It has also stretched out into film, which is amazing because I have also gotten into acting now. I love the growth from the first one to now… and that’s why I support them fully.
Q: What is your song-writing process?
My song-writing process is inspired by many things, but one of the most important things for me is that you need to expose people to something… whether it’s something I’ve experienced first-hand myself (like the song I wrote for Tarryn) or whether it’s a situation I have placed myself into. Or try and experience someone else’s hurt, pain, happiness or whatever the case may be. Your job as an artist or as a musician (especially as a songwriter) is to make people feel that sense of emotion. When you have done that, you have done the job.
Q: How does it feel to have your song on the radio?
I have had a few tracks played on the radio now, so in the beginning it was like, ‘Wow, that’s my song playing on the radio’. But as time goes by, you’re just like ‘Yeah...’. But it’s good: the music is playing and people are hearing it. At the end of the day, it’s always wonderful to have people support you as an artist, so when they know who you are and the music is known to the ear. So every time I hear it, I say ‘thank you’ because people are listening.
Q: Tell us about going to Orlando? And what are your plans?
It’s coming along. It is an exciting opportunity, especially as an artist from South Africa to be involved in something at that level. It is something to take your career from being an artist based here before taking your music to an international scale. And it’s not just singing. There’s acting, modelling, dancing- the whole package. The plans are coming along: we have to raise the funds to go and represent South Africa to the best of our abilities.
Q: Tarryn, you have also been chosen to go for modelling. Are the plans all set?
I have already decided that we would rather focus on raising the funds for Franki to get the experience, because it’s his doing. The modelling just came to me, it wasn’t anything I really wanted to do and it is a lot of money. So I’m okay with not going and hoping he does us proud.
Q: How can fans get the latest details and follow you on your journey to success?
Facebook is Franki M, Twitter is Franki_Official, Instagram is Frank_Official and Soundcloud is Franki, but they are all mentioned on my Facebook page so check it out.
