Talent: Singer
Single: "Watch Me"
Label: Big Management
Contact: www.bigmgmt.com
               www.myspace.com/therealfrankee

 

 

'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'.
Or perhaps a better analogy would be 'Don't get mad, get even?' Whatever the catch phrase that applies, what can't be denied is it's stunning effect. Upon first hearing the out and out dis song by fellow Staten Island native and former beau, Eamon "F**k It", Twenty-year old Frankee, responded the only way she knew how. With pen, paper and microphone. The resulting worldwide smash, "F.U.R.B. (F U Right Back)", sees the usually sweet and demure Frankee not only setting the record straight with a stinging return burst of lyrical gunfire but in the process showing the world what an awesome talent she really is.

In fact, don't let her first single fool you. Long before Frankee felt compelled to record F.U.R.B. she had been generating quite an industry buzz. So much, so in fact, that heavyweight producers such as The Trackmasters (Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, R. Kelly) and grammy winner Rich Harrison (Beyonce's "Crazy In Love", Amerie) along with noted songwriters Makeba (Janet Jackson, B2K, Bad Boy, Jennifer Lopez) and Andre Deyo (Jennifer Lopez, Monica) had signed up to be down with the soulfully voiced alto.

Frankee began honing her craft in church at the age six in Staten Island's close knit community. School choirs soon followed and before long the then teenage protégée was studying voice in Manhattan with renowned singer and vocal producer Danny Madden while taking dance at the Broadway Dance Center. She received a full scholarship to the University of Tampa but left after only one year to return to New York to pursue her musical career.

"It's not a move I'd recommend to everyone" she says honestly. "But I knew New York was where I had to be. I'd already established a great rapport with various producers so it killed me to have to stop that in the middle and move to Florida.

Her instincts proved correct. By the time her demos had made the rounds, several offers were on the table. Frankeee wisely opted to sign with an indie, Marro Records, that had major label distribution.

"I've been working at this for a long time" Frankee says, "So I've learned not to believe the hype and get my hopes up too high because so much in the music industry is out of an artist's hands. All I can do is records the best songs I can and do it to the best of my ability and try to make an album that I would want to play over and over again myself. Something I'm Really proud of. I think I've achieved that. I mean I LOVE this record! Sometimes I play it and forget it's me I'm listening to and I'm thinking, 'Wow, this is a really great song.' If this was someone else's album, I'd definitely have it in my collection."

 

 

How did you get into singing?

I started singing when I was about six.  I started singing in the church choir and I kept singing all through junior high and high school.  One day I was doing a fashion show for my school and Hex Hector was there and that’s when I started working on it professionally.

Was there someone that influenced you as a child to sing?

I would say it had to be Mariah Carey.  I went around trying to copy everything that she did by dressing like her and trying to sing like her. 

Since F.U.R.B, what have you been up to?

Right now we’re just recording the next album.  We have been doing a lot of publicity trying to get the right label.  We have been working with a bunch of labels right now because we don’t know where we’re going right now but we still haven’t finish recording. 

What's the single that your pushing right now?

Its called “Watch Me”

When does your album come out?

We are trying to set a date for October.

Isn't there a label war going on over you right now in the States?

Yes, we’re trying to get the right deal.  Even though they’re offering deals, we want the right one. 

Is there a label that you prefer to go to?

I’m not going to say (laugh) because if I don’t go there its gonna be horrible and I’ll make some enemies. 

Rumors are involving you with 50 Cent.

(Laugh). Well the rumors about me and 50 Cent are so not true.  We were at a party and we had a conversation and that was it. People are making a bigger deal out of it.

At the end of your music day, what do you want people to remember you for?

That I make a statement and it’s just not that I’m singing that happy love song or a happy summer song but that I’m trying to make a statement.  We're trying to make women feel empowered and feel good about them and try to get rid of all the self-confidence issues with girls cause I know that it’s a big thing right now.  Girls are starving themselves and trying to be better then what they are when you should be confident in who you are. 

Is the music your recording now more of life experiences or more on motivational stuff?

I think it’s more of life experiences.  From the last album to this one, I have learned so much because I think on the last album I was so much angrier.  This time I’m sending out the same message but in a fun way.  Last album I was all about fuck you and I hate you and this album is all about self love. On that last album I dedicated the whole album to bad relationships and bad friends (laugh). 

Since being featured in Maxim, do you think more people see you as a model?

What's so funny, is when I go to parties now people are always asking me if I’m a Maxim model.  I’m like NO I’m a singer. I don’t want to be seen as a model. 

So you’re not thinking about doing more magazines when the offer comes?

I’ll do the magazines but I’m only doing it to promote the singing and not what I look like in lingerie (laugh).

What does a day off look like for Frankee?

Well today's day off is me being stuck in traffic.  I actually had a wedding last night.  I really don’t get that many days off. It’s always coming to a meeting, recording or writing sessions.  I really don’t get that many days off.  When I do, I like to go to the beach or read which I haven’t been doing a lot very lately.