RnB Artist Franchesca Turns Her Pain into Praise

RnB artist with a heavenly flair, Franchesca, has always had a love for music. Birthed out of her involvement in a youth choir as an adolescent, she would later intertwine this love for music with her desire to write poetry, discovering her passion for songwriting. This passion followed her into her 20s, a time that was marked by her decision to commit her life to Christ. It was during this time that God led her to write new songs of hope within the style of music she most naturally gravitates towards: RnB. But although Franchesca has a deep love for the RnB genre, she’s certainly not confined to it, “I have no problem serving my community with whatever sound the Lord sees fit for me to share with them.”

Style of music aside, Franchesca, our For the Glory Artist of the Month for August, draws on her faith to shape her songwriting concepts and mission behind each song. She aims to touch on topics she thinks should be discussed within the Christian community. Her creative process is fueled by communion with the Holy Spirit, and listening to God to determine what message should be shared, rather than just what sounds good. 

For example, her song Rough Day reflects her personal struggles and the solace she finds in Yahweh despite life's challenges. Franchesca told us, “One aspect of the Christian walk that I love to display through my music are the ebbs and flows, the mountain tops and valley seasons that we encounter as we walk with Christ. ” The song's chorus captures this sentiment beautifully: “Today was a rough day, my mind went its own way… I found that it’s okay to sometimes not be okay, that’s when I called on Yahweh, like can you swing my way?” 

She explains the meaning of this song further, “In this, I’m saying to the Lord that I’ve hit a wall; my mind was not in the best state today, and the enemy is getting the best of me at this moment. Instead of staying in that place, lyrically, I creatively inserted that I believe if and when I call on His name, He will be a present help in my time of need. Trusting Him in a time when I could choose to see my circumstances as the finish line but instead choosing to direct the listener to fix their eyes on Jesus.”

Her testimony is one of overcoming abandonment and finding her worth in Christ. When asked about it, Franchesca shares, “Well, first off, glory to God for allowing me to even have a testimony that displays His transformative power and how He can change a life”. One track that highlights this change is Trust Issues, where she explores the pain of being abandoned by her biological mother and others. In this song, she grapples with questions of self-worth and forgiveness, and ultimately finding strength and healing through Christ. 

“Instead of holding grudges against these people who have left me, I have forgiven. Instead of allowing them to shape who I am, Christ has turned me victim to victor. The Lord has spoken to me that I am not how I was treated. I am not who left me. I am not my trauma. I am who He says I am. I am STILL loved. I am STILL worthy of being loved. I am not broken. I am whole.” 

In response to our question about the role of Christian RnB in today’s music landscape and its impact on both believers and non-believers, Franchesca offered insightful reflections. She explained, "Whether its aim is towards the believer, who we fuel with encouragement, transparency, faith [and much more] through experiences that we’ve faced. Or if its purpose is driven to the unbeliever, where now they are able to hear music that edifies them that points them into the narrow direction that they should be going. Especially in a generation where we have so much music that is detrimental to one’s soul. 

“Ultimately, I believe that Christian RnB and Christian music in general should be continuously pointing us to Christ, who He has called us to be and what He’s called us to do.”

Her goal is for her music to help people keep their focus on Christ, recognizing that everyone faces struggles and that no one is perfect but we are in a process of sanctification to be transformed into the image of Christ. With God’s grace, we can endure suffering, and her hope is that her music offers encouragement during those tough times.

“I hope my music will continue to put words to emotions and experiences that listeners haven’t quite been able to find the words for. My desire is that it will always bring people hope. I want them to listen to the music and say ‘She’s speaking to me’ or ‘She’s speaking to the person I am hoping to become’. I pray the hope they find is not in what they can do, but in what the Lord can do.” For non-believers, she wants her music and story to break down the false image of a perfect Christian life, showing the real, messy journey of faith.

Franchesca continually challenges herself to grow as a woman of God and as an artist. When she first began singing, she had insecurities about her vocal abilities, but through faith and perseverance she hasn’t allowed that to keep her from creating music or growing into the artist she is today. Reflecting on her early insecurities and the way they shaped her path, she shared, “These insecurities and experiences made me feel like I was incapable of being obedient to the very purpose I’m walking in right now. So to even be where I am as an artist currently is really a testament of what you can do when you trust God.” To expand her musical horizons even further, she's mastering the guitar and embarking on a new journey with her husband to create a home studio, diving into the world of music production.

Balancing her music career and personal life is achievable thanks to the unwavering support of her husband and manager, Hector, who handles childcare and schedules to give her guilt-free time for vocal training and studio work. Her routine includes therapy, quiet time with the Lord, and self-care, underscoring the need to pause for prayer and relaxation. Creating her second album, Beauty For Ashes, during postpartum depression highlighted the importance of prioritizing well-being, allowing her to thrive in both family life and her career without burnout.

Franchesca is excited about the release of her upcoming studio album in Fall 2024. Reflecting on the creative process and the vision for the project she shared,

"We are currently working on a studio album. [Cues streamers and confetti, haha!] I’m deeply excited about what the Lord has given me for the vision for this album. I’m praying that it will impact those who listen to it in a way that shapes the way that they see their walk with Christ in a very good way. " She also hinted at some exciting collaborations for the album, though she kept specifics under wraps, “We’ve gotta have a few surprises, right? But, I know that it’s gonna be amazing and we are looking forward to sharing it with everyone." 

To wrap up our interview, we asked Franchesca which biblical figure she would choose for a worship jam session and why. She responded, “I mean I don’t wanna sound cliché, but I’m gonna have to say David.” Franchesca admires David for his poetic psalms and his ability to write from a vulnerable place. She explained, “I think David and I get each other. For him to have played the harp for King Saul when he was troubled by evil spirits, and the spirits left, tells me that there was just such an anointing on his gift that it was deeper than something that just sounded good.”

Looking ahead, Franchesca’s goal is to use her music ministry for discipleship, as a way transform lives and share the gospel. She envisions concerts as opportunities for altar calls and prayer, encouraging readers to join in prayer for this vision’s fulfilment.

“So if you’re reading this please join us in prayer for what God has to come as far as this vision because we know He didn’t give it to us just for any reason,” she says. “We believe that He will give us the resources to allow vision to come to pass.” 

Be sure to look out for Franchesca’s album in Fall 2024 and stay connected by following her social media for the latest news leading up to the album release.

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