We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Frankie Silver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
I started off taking singing and piano lessons from an early age . At age 6 I began working professionally with the Philadelphia Boys Choir. I attended a performing arts highschool where I was given real world experience working in the entertainment industry. While matriculating I was granted the opportunities to perform annually for Disney‘s televised productions and I was able to guest tour with The Royal Ballet of London. After I graduated, I began working with different dance/theatre companies in both LA/NYC and internationally. It wasn’t until I suffered a life-changing, career stopping injury, (that really put me down and forced me to stop everything) that I even considered singing and songwriting as a career path. It was through both my network and my good friend, actress/rock artist, Taylor Momsen, that I began working in the music world. She supported and connected me with industry professionals who took me under their wing and began working with me as a recording artist and as a songwriter.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I briefly mentioned I was injured when I was 22. The journey has not been easy. Nobody was going to recover for me. No one was going to heal and do the physical therapy that was needed, other than myself. I refused to let something so tragic and random impact my life and keep me from doing what I love. Being an artist is never an easy journey. There are a lot of external forces that can impact what you do. My truth is, I am thankful that I’ve had to pay my dues and experience the negative side of the entertainment industry. This helped me to not only appreciate where I am today, but to also understand how to not get taken advantage of, and how to be confident and secure in my artistic choices. My struggles helped me to understand the kind of people I want to work with and have on my team and the kind of people I’d like surrounding me.
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Over the course of the last 8 years I’ve really had the time and experience to work on my sound and evolve as an artist. If you ask me what my sound is, I would say it’s very George Michael, meets The Wknd. Growing up dancing and very much being product of the ’90s, I am super inspired by Britney Spears. So stemming from that kind of inspiration, I am very proud of my own spin on my craft and my performance art. I live for creating choreography with my team and working with my dancers! I’m super secure with my performing abilities and I just, love it! You have to see me perform live to really get it. It’s unique.
Overall I would say I’m most proud of my music. If you put the instrumentation and the production to the side, and you really break the music down to the lyrics and melodies; I truly believe that my songs are timeless pieces of work. They can be enjoyed and performed by anyone, at any time.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Finding a mentor or a role model can be hard. Make sure the person you choose to work with lives by their methods. In other words, make sure they practice what they do, not just as they say. Especially when it comes to something as subjective as music and art, it’s really important to find someone who is truthful. Make sure that they are skilled and learned in the theory of the craft, and also honest, professional, and that they deliver quality work. Overall, you must be able to connect with this individual. You two have to vibe. There are a lot of “yes“ people out there. There are a lot of sycophants who have hidden agendas and ulterior motives that are usually driven by money. When it comes to art, you really can’t rush it. You can only do it right by making it in earnest. When something is done right it becomes timeless. It is a legacy you are leaving behind. It will still be here when you are no longer in this world.
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