With debut album, Loose Ends out in January earlier this year it took a while for Californian garage shoegazers Francisco The Man to get round to the release. The results however were immediate having created a debut record you can really get lost in, the depth to this album is immense. We talk to founding member Scotty Cantino on how it all began…
How was Francisco the Man born and what were the common influences you guys had in the beginning?
I met most of the guys back in high school and we have been playing in bands since. Eventually, in college, we started up FTM and have been working on the project in various capacities since. It’s hard to pinpoint what inspired us in the beginning because of our history together and the different phases growing up takes you through. I’d say bands like Broken Social Scene, Yo La Tengo, American Football, New Order, Joy Division and The Velvet Underground are constants for all of us. We all have our own personal tastes though. I think a big goal for us as a band is to channel our influences in a way that will create something of our own to some degree. I want people to stumble when asked what we sound like. We aren’t recreating the wheel or anything but it’d be nice to leave some sort of imprint.
Your album was a little while in the making, was this a conscious decision?
Not really. The album itself only took 3 or 4 days to track. It just took us awhile to get to a point where we thought putting a proper LP out was the right move. We were putting out EPs and 7″s. We’d write a few new songs, get excited and put them out. That’s just the way we operated. Now that the LP is out though, we all can’t wait to make another one. It’s such a different process when you have 10 songs instead of 4. You can go so many different directions. It’s refreshing at this point.
How does the song writing process happen for you guys?
It’s pretty organic. Usually I’ll bring some rough idea of a song to the table and we all jam it out until it becomes something. Sometimes that happens instantly an other times it gets more tedious. The more we play together though, the more naturally things just come to be. We are pretty incestuous and constantly feeding off of one another.
What was the most immediate track on the album and most difficult to finish?
I think “It’s Not Your Fault” or “Progress” were pretty immediate. Songs like “I Am Not” and “In the Corners” took a little bit of work. Sometimes there’s just one little part you can’t figure out and then it clicks and you wonder how it took so long.
What is the plan for hitting the UK in May?
We are gonna try and do as much as possible while we are out there. Play a handful of festivals, some support dates and a headlining show in London. I’m pretty excited about it. I don’t know that there is much of a plan besides that. We have only toured the states before so it’ll be a new experience for all of us.
What new music are you listening to at them moment?
I’ve really been enjoying Melody’s Echo Chamber and Pure X a lot on tour. They both put out LPs on Fat Possum. We played with this great band Diners in Phoenix that’s been on repeat also. Fort Jams, Lucy and Dustin Lovelis are some great LA bands that I’m into right now as well.
Out on tour…
1 May – Leicester, Handmade Festival
2 May – Leeds, Live at Leeds
3 May – Glasgow, Stag and Dagger
5 May – York, The Duchess
6 May – Chester, The Compass
7 May – Sheffield, The Rocking Chair
8 May – Stoke-on-Trent, Sugarmill
9 May – Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge
11 May – Southampton, Joiners Arms
13 May – Guilford, The Boileroom
18 May – Cambridge, Portland Arms
21 May – Ramsgate, Ramsgate Music Hall (headline)
22 May – Manchester, Dot to Dot Festival
23 May – Bristol, Dot to Dot Festival
24 May – Nottingham, Dot to Dot Festival
27 May -St. Albans, The Horn
28 May – London, Sebright Arms