Less than a year ago Frances Madden was not even a blip on my radar. Yet now, on the strength of one live gig, plus several clips on the internet, I see her as a direct link to the popular musical landscape that obtained circa 1900-1950, and a definite asset to the current landscape. Hardly surprising then, that I requested an interview.
After establishing that she was born and raised in Sydney, I began with a very basic question, asking if she was from a musical background.
“Yes and no. No in the sense that no older generation of my family sang, or played a musical instrument, but yes in the sense that I grew up in a musical environment.”
Can you elaborate?
“Of course; both my parents were passionate about music, everything from classical to Ella Fitzgerald. In fact they were so passionate that they insisted that that all their children learn to play a musical instrument.”
Was that a specific instrument for each sibling, or were you able to choose?
“Oh, definitely; we were given a choice.”
And were there any clashes?
“Strangely enough there weren’t; we each gravitated towards a different instrument.”
Do you yourself play more than one instrument?
“No, but I am thinking of taking up the guitar, not so much for playing in public but because I feel it may help with my songwriting.”
Did any of your siblings take up music professionally?
“No, although each of them play to professional standards, but they play mainly for pleasure nowadays.”
So the piano was always your first choice?
“Definitely. In fact, mom tells a story that when I was about three I pointed to the piano and said ‘I want to play that,’ although of course, I have no memory of that.”
So what age did you actually begin?
“I had formal lessons from the age of five.”
Did you take to it naturally, or did it seem something of a chore at first?
“No, never. I loved it from the very first.”
Were you singing as well at this time?
“No, not at all. I was 16 and at university when I began singing. It was around that time I got together with other students, who between them played guitars and drums, and we began playing in local bars, clubs, even weddings.”
Were you writing at this time?
“More or less. I began writing when I was 21, about three years after I started singing.”
Had you established yourself by this time, I mean to the extent that someone might say ‘Frances Madden is playing on Thursday, let’s go and hear her?’
“I’m not sure I’d go that far, but I did get a lucky break around then, I think I’d have to describe it as serendipity.”
That sounds interesting, tell me more.
“We were playing a gig for a group of ladies, some kind of Women’s Club, and it was a really bad experience. They were talking loudly, laughing raucously, I doubt if they actually heard one bar of the music, or one word of the lyrics. At the end one of the women approached me and apologised on behalf of her colleagues. She told me that she herself had been listening and liked what she heard. She added that she ran a local club and wanted me to play for her.”
So all’s well that ends well.
“More than that. The club turned out to be The Basement. The top jazz club in Sydney.”
So what made you come to England?
“I guess I thought I’d run into a glass ceiling in terms of Australia. I’d established myself, recorded my first album, and I suppose I wanted to see if I could replicate what success I’d had in Oz, in the UK.”
I’d say you’ve done that all right. You’ve been here two years, I believe?
“Four actually, although not four years consecutively. For example I’ve just come back from France, where I played several gigs in and around Nantes, and I’m going to Nashville later this year.”
You’ve already played Ronnie’s and Crazy Coqs twice. Have you ever toured?
“Not as yet, but I’d love to.”
At the moment you seem to be content with bass, drums, and guitar, but I’ve seen you on the net with trumpet and sax, do you write the charts for everyone?
“Yes, I’ve always written charts.”
Will there be a new album anytime soon?
“I hope so. We’ve already laid down six tracks.”
How many will there be?
“Just 12. I’ve been on two five-day songwriting retreats this year and I really learned a lot from them.”
I”m guessing that songwriting is important to you.
“Yes it is. At the moment I have several residencies, the Brasserie, The Dorchester, The Londoner, but of course, those audiences want to hear covers of songs they already know, and my ambition is to be recognised for my own songs.”
That seemed an ideal spot to terminate the meeting and extend best wishes to a definite rising star.