IMSTILLFRANCI TALKS KING
"Do not lose sight of what makes you happy"
Daniel John
What is ‘King’ about?
'King' is a story that combines personal experiences and the stories of people close to me. At its core, it’s about breaking free from toxic relationships, from those moments when you realize you’re always coming last, and you finally choose yourself. For me, the song reflects the pain of feeling hurt and unseen, the frustration of waiting for someone to change, and the strength it takes to walk away when you know it’s for your own good. I’m an empathetic person, and I tend to absorb the emotions of others, so 'King' is inspired by more than just my own experiences, it is also shaped by the struggles of friends and family who’ve faced similar challenges. For instance, one of my friends found it incredibly hard to stand up for herself in a situation where she felt stuck, undervalued and even psychologically abused. Writing this song gave me a way to combine my emotions and hers into something raw and true. Ultimately, 'King' isn’t just about romantic relationships, it’s for anyone who’s felt left out or overlooked, whether that’s in a friendship, a family dynamic, or even just within themselves. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is let go and reclaim your worth.
A debut single but you have been up on stage a lot longer than this release alone would suggest. You’ve been at it since you were just a kid?
Yes, the stage has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I was only three years old when I first stepped on stage, performing a traditional Romanian song that my grandma taught me. From there, I continued to immerse myself in music, taking piano and music theory lessons from a young age. Later I moved from my hometown to another city to study at a music college, where I spent eight years performing in concerts every three months. For the first four years, I focused on classical piano, and then in high school, I shifted to classical vocal performance. I also expanded my artistic interests by getting involved in acting with a local theater group, which I absolutely loved. So, I've actually been performing on stage in different forms. What makes this moment even more special, though, is that it is the first time I’m sharing my own songs with the world. Singing and performing my original work is a completely different experience. And it feels incredibly empowering to finally be able to express myself in this way.
Franci was a nickname given to you by your sisters so that in itself relates back to your childhood. Why are you still Franci in your music?
I started singing when I was little so music has always been my passion, from a young age, I knew this was what I wanted to do, which is why I pursued education and experiences aligned with that dream. However, as I grew older, self-doubt began to creep in, and I felt a bit lost. ImStillFranci is my way of reconnecting with my true self and a reminder of who I really am. I believe that when we’re children, we’re honest with ourselves, we know what we truly want. But as we grow, fears and societal expectations can pull us away from our passions, leaving us feeling disconnected. ImStillFranci is about resisting that. It’s about staying grounded, remembering where I come from, and staying true to my passion. It’s also a message to anyone who listens to my music to don’t lose sight of who you are or what makes you happy.
Do all you sisters create?
Yes, I got three sisters, Ligia, Maria, Flavia, and one brother, Iuliun, but only my sisters are musicians or actresses, but I also got a brother. We all have a bad together where we sing traditional Romanian songs but a little bit changed, so it is still fun for people nowdays to listen to. We do all the arrangements together with friends. They also have their own music projects as well, especially Ligia, my biggest sister. It is so fun being part of a family that inspire me and support me making music and some of my music inspiration comes also from artists my sisters used to show me when I was little, and being around them. My sisters are three of my biggest supporters.
While your pop songwriting carries storytelling qualities that I personally associate more with country and folk, do you think that’s just the way you naturally write, or is it shaped by different musical influences?
I’ve never consciously written songs, it is more like they just happen, and I love seeing how they turn out. My dad used to sing Romanian folk music to us when we were kids, and that might’ve had a lasting impact on me. Maybe that influence shows up in my songwriting without me even realizing it. At the same time I’ve always been a huge fan of pop and RnB artists like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, HER, Daniel Caesar and Frank Ocean. I’ve also loved indie and alternative music with a sense of cinematic sound, like Birdy, Lana Del Rey, Aurora, London Grammar and Nothing But Thieves. Even though 'King' leans more towards folk-pop, I think that my upcoming songs will show a lot of these different influences blending together.
What does it mean for you to be able to pour of your feelings and thoughts into your writing, can your music by itself help you “burn the paper” and move on?
Yes, absolutely. Music has always been a kind of therapy for me, helping me process feelings I did not want to face or even admit existed, it’s my way of coping, expressing, and analyzing what’s going on inside my head. It’s funny because I tend to push emotions aside and “shove them under the rug,” but they always find their way into my music eventually. So if I feel something today, you can bet I’ll end up writing about it a few months down the line. I think it's amazing how music does that for me and I hope that it can do the same for all the people who listen even if they discover it by accident.
After the release of your debut single you are now already looking ahead to another debut, your first EP set to be released sometime this year. What will that be rooted in, narratively and sonically?
It’s an exciting project that I can’t wait for the world to hear. The EP is rooted in the biggest breakup I’ve ever been through, and it became a deeply personal and transformative experience for me. We worked on it in Berlin with my amazing manager, Dan Healy, but also with Alex Freund and Ali Zuckowski and the entire process taught me so much about myself, my artistry, and music as a whole. Sound-wise, it blends organic sounds with synths, creating a unique balance between my raw singer-songwriter vibe and this electronic sound. I’ll reveal more as we get closer to the release but I'm so proud of what we have created and can’t wait for everyone to experience it!
