Franki, based in Ghent(belgium), conquered numerous Belgian stages at the end of the 1990s with his chanson and pop crooner style repertoire. Passionate songs like "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Embrace" refer to Gavin Friday and Jacques Brel. Yet Franki is Franki : charming, strong personality, using the power of drama but always focusing on hope. Shy and addicted to being on stage. And a voice you wouldn't confuse with any other voice.
Franki's career starts in 1998, doing his first live gig only accompanied by a piano ( Anton Janssens, Saint-Marteau). Then Patrick Rigelle asks him for "Les Suivants de Brel". Franki impresses the audience and the press with his version of "De Nuttelozen van de Nacht". At the time he gathers a small version of a "Big Band" and works with top musicians from Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels. Things go well, and from 1998 to 2001 Franki plays with complete bands. The band varies from project to project, and some remarkable guest appearances happen on the same stage (Guido Belcanto, Mich Walschaerts/Kommil Foo, Guido Schiffer, Kris Dane,...)
There's more positive feedback following his concerts, and Franki is invited to do a concert with Dutch pop queen Mathilde Santing. He plays at Lokerse Feesten, Gentse Feesten, Paulusfeesten and Marktrock.
In 1999 Franki publishes an EP called "Franki", containing 5 songs. The EP proves his multi-faceted talent as a singer. Hij combines Dutch and English pop songs, like "Bodybag" written by Jef Mercelis. In 2000 his second EP "Embrace" is recorded with a series of top musicians like Armand Bourgoignie (Mik The Bishop), Bent Van Looy and Reinhard Vanbergen (Das Pop). Newspaper headlines are flattering and a national breakthrough is about to happen.
But in Summer 2001 Franki takes a decision. He stops doing concerts and gigs for more than 3 years. His motivation lies in the fact that he wants time to write and compose new music for his first full CD. Franki is on a musical quest and ends up in Sweden, visiting the legendary Polarstudios once owned by Abba. And he's not just a visitor, for he's recording in the same studios where songs like "Voulez Vous", "Super Trouper" and "The Visitors" have been recorded. Major names like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Ramones, The Beastie Boys and many others have recorded their music here. See : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Studios
In July 2002 Franki is producing at the Stockholm studios with Jeroen De Pessemier ( Bolchi, Foxy Lane, Lady Lin) for one of the songs he wrote himself , "Could you be my darling" ( produced by Luc Weytens, with Stephane Misseghers, Stef Van Leuven -dEUS/Soulwax- and Ruben Block-Triggerfinger).
The song is released on the album "Embracing Franki- The album" in 2009.
At the beginning of 2005 Franki surprises everyone. The dance-pop project "Frankilizer" with Olivier Jacques and guitarist Lode Sileghem is also played live. Chanson is now replaced by beats, cabaret is replaced by pop, but the on stage act by charismatic Franki is still irresistible. In the Summer of 2006 Frankilizer makes it to the Swedish radio playlists.
At the end of 2006, Franki creates his own record label " AreYouSure Records". The first EP-CD is the Frankilizer one, "Can't help loving that man". Franki promotes the EP in Sweden in March 2007 and is a guest on MTV Outside Sweden. In Spring 2007 Franki does a concert and goes back to the roots, reintroducing Embracingfranki. Shortly after that, he decides to bury the Frankilizer brand for now.
The first fans are happy ! Franki's first chanson and pop crooner songs are now being published on one album. In November 2007, production starts at Motormusicstudios, and Franki works with Christophe Albertijn to create the album entitled "Embracing Franki- The Album", released in 2009. The album contains previous songs and new songs like "Shine on Me" , "Love or Leave Me", "Can't help loving that man",...
At the end of 2008, beginning of 2009 Franki does concerts and guest gigs with a new live band to promote the album. He returns to Sweden in September 2009 to do a showcase at B&B Records in Göteborg. This short promo tour an a few guest gigs at "Vive L'Amour" are the only 2010 concerts Franki does.
At the start of 2011 Franki starts writing for the new album with Jozef Van Hove .
From April 2011 Franki is back on stage with a couple of new surprising musicians!..
See concert dates!
In October 2011 the first recordings for the new album with the working title "That's me!' are made in the Jetstudio's Brussels.
website by MultiMediaMakers | photo by Hans Ledin
