RECORDS LiVE

Donna: What you got for me, friend?

Frankie: I bring gifts, a house-warming gift.

Donna: I thought you were going to say a house-mourning gift.

Frankie: A house-mourning gift, yes.

Donna: We can be in mourning for the Dodgers tonight. We are mourning.

Frankie: R.I.P.

Donna: That was fucking painful to watch, you guys. Painful to watch. And I don’t even fucking like baseball. No, that’s a lie.  I don’t not like it. I just did not play sports growing up. So, sometimes for me, sports are just hard. You know what I mean? Yeah, right. OK, you get it.

Frankie: Yeah, you’re real.

Donna: Yeah, we’re honest in this house. Alright, girl. What’s En-Vitro? What is this? What are we listening to right now?

Song Plays: En Vitro – Drown

Frankie: Absolutely. They are a local band. They’re LA-based.

[Audience Cheers]

Donna: OK, some En-Vitro fans in the house over here. OK. OK.

Frankie: Maybe. They’re like, underground or like, whatever. So…

Donna: Whatever, yeah.

Frankie: But, yeah. I think they’re so cool. I just think they’re cool as fuck.

Donna: This cover art is dope as fuck.

Frankie: It’s insane. I would have this image up in my bedroom or something. But yeah, no, this song–my favorite of theirs–it’s like “Ohh, it’s just so good.” The guitar. They’re the only band–maybe not the only, but they’re a band where I find myself mouthing the guitar parts. You know, when you sing the lyrics? I find myself singing their guitar.

Donna: Ooh.

Frankie: I’m like ba na na na ni ni (sings guitar part). I saw them the other night and that’s exactly what I was doing.

Donna: Are they local to Pomona or are they local to elsewhere in the LA area?

Frankie: LA.I have no idea where in LA they’re from, but they say they’re LA-based. So, I trust them.

Donna: Love it. What is it about their sound that originally captivated you?

Frankie: It’s just something so fresh and unique. A lot of bands, God bless them, a lot of bands love The Strokes. I fucking love The Strokes, but we have The Strokes. I just feel like En-Vitro was so–I listen to them and I’m like, “I can’t think of a lot of artists that I could compare them to,” you know? So, I see something special in them with their sound.

Donna: Where do you feel like they derive their influences from? Like, does it sound reminiscent of perhaps a specific era of time rather than a specific band?

Frankie: I don’t know. I think I actually showed them to my parents, and they said that they kind of give them Devo vibes, like a little freaky. My mom was like, “Oh, The Cure. His voice sounds like The Cure.” So, maybe that 80s kind of punk or ska. They give a little bit of ska to you.

Donna: Yeah, they definitely do.  

Frankie: It’s kind of like that in between 80s to 90s, that shift, I think.

Donna: Yeah, I definitely hear that because it’s also almost a little New York, you know? I feel like we were on stage at CBGB at some point.

Frankie: OK, OK, New York, I get it–a little gritty.

Donna: I feel like most of the bands that played there were not actually as gritty as we think they were. They were actually pretty self-contained. I don’t think the lore matches up to what actually happened there.

Frankie: Really? I need to talk to you later about that.

Donna: I think some people are lie. But this band…

Frankie: This one don’t lie.

Song Plays: Mannequin Pussy – Loud Bark

Frankie: Yes, I love Mannequin Pussy.

Donna: I feel like they’re just, like, a fucking classic at this point.

Frankie: Absolutely. They’re on repeat for me. I wake up early to go to work every morning, and I put this on and it’s kind of my confidence boost.

Donna: Ooh, OK.

Frankie: This song totally is. I’m at a point where I’m kind of in that in-between phase of my life where I’m so insecure, but I’m also finding myself. When I listen to this song, it just really motivates me. It puts me in that space where I’m like, “Yeah, I am a loud bark. I can do hard things. I’m tough. I’m confident.” So, I really try to like, embody what Mannequin Pussy is. The whole energy.

Donna: I mean, they’ve been around for a really long time at this point. So what was your first official introduction to them?

Frankie: First? Oh, it was this one guy, an old friend, he put me on them, actually. I listened to their song “Drunk II,” I think is what it’s called. I immediately loved it. The guitar, the whole big, like, presence that is in the song. I just really got hooked. So, that was my first introduction and then I kind of stopped for a while and then I listened to this album. It’s incredible. It totally reintroduced me to them and I’m obsessed again.

Donna: Yeah. Honestly, I think they have an incredible blend of like, definitely some ska undertones, but also like…

Frankie: Maybe I like ska?

Donna: …but also a lot of indie rock, you know? There’s definitely an interesting blend of “Is this it in life?” But also, “Fuck your mom.”

Frankie: Yes, that’s everything to me. The lead singer especially. Her emotions are so raw. She’s so real. She’s such a real bitch.And I just want to be that.

Donna: She always brings it home. Do you channel any of this energy? Because I know you make some music as well. Do you channel that in your own music, or do you feel like you’re a little more self-contained when you create?

Frankie: I’m a little more self-contained in the projects that I do have out, but I think in the future I want to release some stuff that’s a little bit more like this. A little grittier but fun, you know?

Donna: Yeah. What to you is the definition of gritty and fun? Like, what does that actually look like in your eyes?

Frankie: So, I said that but then I’m thinking, “OK, but you can kind of be gritty and then have fun with it too,” you know? Gritty…I kind of see as more of really raw, emotive, kind of brash, a little in your face, kind of outspoken. Fun is more like, “Let’s dance, let’s giggle, let’s frolic, let’s have a great time,” you know? Let’s kind of forget about all the things. Gritty is kind of more, let’s bring up the things, but let’s also enjoy wherever it is that we are right now. I don’t know if that makes sense.

Donna: Yeah. So, kind of like, “Enjoy the process.” Even though the process might be kind of like wild.

Frankie: Yes, yes. Mm-hmm.

Donna: Love that. OK, hell, yeah.

Donna: I know a lot of these songs are in order of personal importance.

Frankie: Yeah.

Donna: However, in terms of the release dates, they’re a little bit all over the place. Where does this one fall in the chronology of you falling in love with the music in general?

Song Plays: Strawberry Guy – Mrs Magic

[Audience member woos loudly]

Frankie: Yes, there’s somebody in the back there that’s so fun! When I discovered Strawberry Guy, it was in college and so this was around 2019, when I really started getting into his music and he’s just incredible. The atmosphere that he creates is something that really inspires me in my own music and then even in everyday life, or even in my creative pursuits, I would say more so. But yeah, to me, when I listen to his music, it takes me back to college for sure.

Donna: Were you already delving into music on your own in college?

Frankie: Yeah, I was writing.

Donna: What about this songwriting do you feel hits different? Because right now, so far, as a songwriter, you’ve only really talked about the vibe and the sound of the things that we’ve heard and not so much about the contents. Where do you feel that falls for you? Like, what do words actually mean to you when you put them into the context of a song?

Frankie: Right. That’s a great question. Now that you brought that up, I feel like I’m learning about myself even just being here. It’s true. I feel like as I’ve gotten older, words and songs have kind of mattered a bit more. But to me, it really is because you hear the instrumentals first and you hear the singing first, that’s what hits you, you know? And then the lyrics, you kind of get used to them more. And also, I’m like a deaf bitch. I can’t understand lyrics right away. So, vibe is so big for me because that’s the first impression, really.

Donna: You’re the type of person who hears the sound first?

Frankie: Yes.

Donna:  I have several friends who hear the words first and they’re like, “Oh, the lyrics aren’t good. I can’t get into it.” And I’m like, “Yeah, but I can never hear the lyrics at first.”

Frankie: Yeah, exactly.

Donna: Right? That’s me, too. If I like the sound, then we can figure it out.

Frankie: Then we’ll go from there.

Donna: At what point during your day, during your week, do you gravitate towards this song?

Frankie: This would be like an afternoon driving home from work, kind of decompressing a bit from all the bullshit that you have to endure. That’s at the point of my day when I would put this on. When I’m feeling like, “OK, I need to calm, I need to be chill.” Or when I’m really high. Then I’ll listen to this.

Donna: Yeah, this is definitely a nice little high anthem.

Frankie: It’s also so lovey. I don’t know. I’m a lover girl.

Donna: It just makes you wanna, like, romanticize your surroundings.

Frankie: Yes, yes, super inspiring for me. I love this guy. Incredible.

Donna: Yeah. Is his entire discography of this nature?

Frankie: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely.

Donna: You can just like, throw on whatever and just sail on down on away with your brain.

Frankie: Yes. Oh yeah, absolutely.

Donna: Well, you know this is going to be quite a little change up guys, so…

Song Plays: Chappell Roan – HOT TO GO!

Donna: You’ve been waiting for this one. I know you have.

Frankie: I’m excited. Shaking in my boots.

Donna: Alright. Lots of Chappell Roan fans in the house.

Frankie: Yes, I mean, come on. She’s iconic, she really is, and I’m happy to even say I kind of was there before she blew up. She’s awesome. The first song I discovered was actually “Casual,” another one of her really good songs, but this one–it’s so perfect to me.

Donna: What is it about her? What is it for you? Because, I love her, but I have some thoughts.

Frankie: Her attitude. She’s so fun. I love her outlook on art and life where she just doesn’t care so much. I wish I didn’t care so much. I wish I could have her energy and her mindset when it comes to everything, you know? Not take life too seriously. So, I just love this.

Donna: This album that came out, it took her four years to compile it. So, if you have a spare four years laying around, you too cannot give any fucks. Although over the course of four years, I’m sure she gives a lot of fucks at this point.

Frankie: Absolutely. She gives so many,but she knows herself and she knows her boundaries, what she’s worth. She cares but she’s also like, “I know who I am.” In that sense, she doesn’t really care about what other people think. She’s just so creative and she’s everything I want to be an artist really. Her style is so fun, frilly, and her makeup– it’s all what I’ve wanted to do, you know?

Donna: OK, so we have a lot of things going on here, right? We have like some dreamy atmospheric stuff going on. We have Chappell who is very outspoken at this point, and we have a lot of ska influence. If these are all things that feed your soul and that you feed off of as an artist, do you find that there’s a middle ground in there somewhere between all those things, or do you feel like these are just going to be stages of you as you progress through your career?

Frankie: I feel like every different genre is just an amalgamation of me and different parts of me that I enjoy. Sometimes I love super alternative rock like we just heard with En-Vitro, but then I love just being a girl. I like bouncing around and being with my friends.

Donna: Also, I do have to add that I think it’s really freaking cool that we have two female guests today. Yeah, snaps for that. Yes. Thank you so much for being here.

Frankie: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you.

Donna: Chappell also gives center stage to a lot of other performers, especially people in drag. You run your Instagram page supporting local talent of different kinds. So, I wanted to ask what inspired you to do that?

Frankie: I’ve always loved discovering new music. I started Frowny Face Records when I was going to graduate college, and I didn’t have anything lined up. And I was like, “This isn’t good.” Sometimes that’s not the path for everybody and that’s totally OK, but for me there’s always that pressure of needing to find something as soon as you graduate. So, I was thinking, “OK, what am I going to do? What am I going to do? I don’t know anybody. No one wants me.” So, I decided to take it upon myself to start my own page and see if I could create a DIY label or something that would promote local music, because there’s so much talent around here that goes unnoticed. I wanted to bring awareness to how much beauty there is around here.

Donna: And how do you feel, thus far, it has been received?

Frankie: Really well, yeah. I think people be fuckin’ with it.

Donna: So where do you see yourself going next with Frowny Face Records?

Song Plays: Archer Oh – Sophomore City

Frankie: What’s next? More shows. I would love to actually sign somebody and work with someone and help them grow a bit and we can kind of work together. That would be really nice. I love Archer Oh. They’re local. They’re from Moreno Valley, and they’re doing very well. They played with Keanu Reeves’s band, Dogstar. They’re coming up. I love them and I would love to work with them one day, like, knock on wood, that could happen.

Donna: OK, bit of a bit of like a post-punk vibe here off top. Love it.

Frankie: Yeah, indie rock, garage, really good stuff. They’re my favorites. I absolutely love them.

Donna: You know, this reminds me a lot of the local LA lo-fi from the early 2010s. Was anyone around for that era a little bit? OK, OK. Yeah, they remind me a little bit of this band that I used to really love called Criminal Hygiene. They remind me of them.

Frankie: Hygiene is underrated. Let’s bring back hygiene.

Donna: Yeah. This band is a little similar. There’s definitely a lot of overlap there. I feel like it’s very LA 2010s.

Frankie: OK. Yeah. Oh, I love 2010s music. I’m a big fan.

Donna: Yeah, it’s a very garage, lo-fi vibe. Really good. They only had one album, Criminal Hygiene, but it was very fucking good.

Frankie: Yeah, I’ll check it out.

Donna: Yeah. Please do. I think you’d really like it.

Frankie: Yeah. Put me on.

Donna: This is super vibey. These guys listen to Ty Segall, can we all agree on that?

Frankie: Yeah, I hear what you’re saying, yeah.

Donna: Honestly, I just want to, like, sit here and just vibe to this. I’m just like, chillin’.

Frankie: I love this record. It’s super important to me. It was the first song that really made me feel like I wanted to get into the local music scene.

Donna: So, this is the OG?

Frankie: Yes, absolutely. I listened to this live at Viva Pomona when they were performing in 2021. I was just standing there with my friends. I didn’t know who they were, and I was watching them, and the crowd was super into it. The energy was crazy. I was like, “Damn, I love indie rock. I love indie rock music. I need to be here. I need to be a part of whatever this is.” And here I am.

Donna: Oh my God. Now that’s a love story if I’ve ever heard one. Beautiful.

Frankie: Yeah, I love them.

Donna: So, we have potential shows on the horizon. Potential band sign signage on the horizon?

Frankie: Band signage. Actually, En-Vitro’s performing at a show I’m hosting.

Donna: Tell us about the show.

Frankie: November 15th at The Haven in Pomona. Yeah, they’re headlining and it’s their first time headlining. If y’all could come out and support, that’d be fantastic.

Donna: Amazing. Oh my God. Hell yeah. Is it a free show or are there tickets involved?

Frankie: There are tickets involved. You can get your tickets at thehavenpomona.com, all that jazz. I’m putting it together with another collective called AKA Musique, and they’re awesome. So, I’m super excited for this show. En-Vitro is insane.

Donna: Amazing. Wow. OK. Well, if you are already a fan of what you heard here, please come on out to Frankie’s show. That sounds absolutely incredible. Are there any other bands involved that you’re really excited about?

Frankie: Yeah, there’s Chicano Mosh. They’ve been stepping into the scene in a big way. El Segundo, also incredible live performers, and The Faye. They’re all very indie rock, punky grunge, alternative–however you would love to describe it. They’re cool, so you should come out.

Donna: Amazing. Oh my God. Well, Frankie, thank you so much for sharing with us and for hanging out, showing us some of your favorite tunes. I love it when artists bring in music that’s like a little bit more current because I feel like we don’t often get the pleasure of hearing the newer stuff, so thank you so much for being the one to oblige.

Frankie: Yes. Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

Donna: Of course. So happy to. Well, everybody, that is our show for the night. Thank you so much for being here. Goodnight!