Francois Klark talks about his sophomore album “Adventure Book” and upcoming projects. (Exclusive)

Written by: Gracie Lowes

Canadian musician, singer-songwriter, and producer Francois Klark is back and ready to celebrate the fact that his sophomore album, “Adventure Book” which was released in August 2022 is now a JUNO-Award nomination and a coveted feature on NPR’s Live Sessions.

This marks the artist’s first JUNO nomination in the 2023 Adult Contemporary Album of the Year category.

Although Klark lost out to Michael Bublé for his album “Higher”, Klark is continuing to grow and make his mark on the music industry.

I had the chance to sit down (virtually) with Francois Klark and talk to him about his creative process for his music, what inspires his stories, his future projects and more.

You can read the full interview below.

Gracie Lowes: Congratulations on your new song “Pirates” finally being out! How has this release and the days building up to the release been for you?

Francois Klark: “It was quite exhilarating – I originally planned to release this single a little bit later this year. However, as soon as my team and I found out that the album was nominated for a JUNO we quickly jumped into action and planned the release of the single around the nomination announcement. I was visiting my family in South Africa at the time which added to the excitement.”

Gracie: I know this is a track off of your JUNO-Nominated Album “Adventure Book”, I’m wondering how you decided that “Pirates” was your next single? Was there a process for picking it?

Francois: “I initially earmarked ‘Pirates’ to be released as the second single off of the album, however, after the release of the first single it just did not feel like the right time yet. I knew very early on while working with Velveteen Music on the production of ‘Pirates’ that it was a single that deserved a special release. I didn’t know when that would be at the time, but as soon as the JUNO nomination was announced, I knew that that was the special moment that I was saving the release of ‘Pirates’ for.”

Gracie: What was the creative process like making this song, and what do you hope listeners take from it?

Francois: “My goal for the music production of Pirates was to continue the underlying theme of intimate storytelling that is present throughout the album, while, as the song progresses, gradually taking the listener on an epic and almost ethereal and exhilarating dream-like adventure.

In order to create a sense of intimacy in the production I decided to use a warm, dry, and closely mic’d vocal paired with an old creaky Wing Upright Piano as the only two elements at the beginning of the song. The use of the Wing Upright piano is yet again, like the rest of the ‘Adventure Book´ album, a nod to my love affair with the beautiful sound of the piano as an instrument.

A single ethereal melody is then subtly introduced on a distant verbed-out electric guitar which hauntingly hints at what is to come later in the song. The first chorus remains bare with the addition of gentle layered backup vocals that are reminiscent of the layered backup vocal style used throughout the album.

It was important for me to gradually marry the acoustic singer-songwriter feel from the first verse and chorus with pop production elements by the time we get to the second verse. A simple groove consisting of programmed percussive elements is therefore introduced in the second verse.

In the second chorus, I wanted to abruptly transport the listener from the intimate, almost dimly lit singer-songwriter space into an epic brightly lit moment where giant flood lights are suddenly switched on revealing that the listener was standing centre stage in a massive stadium surrounded by a choir and a live band all along. A live drum kit enhanced with programmed drum elements and crashing cymbals drive the final chorus while ever-increasing vocal layers and electric guitar flood over the listener, fill the ‘stadium’, and come to a climactic build. The lights suddenly fade, and the listener is once again standing on a dimly lit stage with only the warm and intimate solo vocal and Wing Upright Piano.”

Gracie: Your music is so powerful and honest, how do you find inspiration for your music and their stories?

Francois: “My experience is that to write songs I need to live life. Beyond that, travelling, spending time in nature, and listening to lots of music inspire me to write.”

Gracie: You’ve had so many great accomplishments in your career so far, what are some dream goals that you have for your future?

Francois: “I would love to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, write with Chris Martin, and record with Timothy Lee McKenzie (Labrinth).”

Gracie: Do you have any future projects that you could tell us about or hint at?

Francois: “I’m working on a couple of singles for an EP that will feature some of my favourite female vocalists.”

Gracie: If you could describe your upcoming music in 3 words what would they be and why?

Francois: “Exciting Pop Departure – I chose this three-word phrase since the writing and production direction that I am pursuing with the music that I am currently working on departs ever so slightly into a more pop direction while still being rooted in the sound that I’ve been cultivating over the last decade.”