francis white - so they say

Francis White 

So They Say
love music studios; 2013

3,7 out of 5

By Demieria Harris

It isn’t hard to tell when a musician puts all of his or her heart and soul into their music; every note and touch seems loaded with emotion. The same holds true for Francis White’s EP So They Say, a short but poignant spiritual journey through the mind of a man struggling with everything that being human entails. 

He doesn’t wait to get the ball rolling with “Lie Or Crime,” a heavy-hitting song out the gate employing deep punctuated bass, steady rhythm guitar  and a punchy lead guitar along with mid-range vocals. The next track “Be Me” features more involvement on the bass and lead guitar. The lyrics in this song are powerful, striking right at the heart of anyone struggling with independence and individuality. The singer also shows off a bit of range here by pushing the envelope with aggression and more edge in his voice. It’s almost tantalizing hearing him stretch his chops a bit. 

“Keep Me Waiting” employs just an acoustic guitar and vocals, which is all it needs. He does a great job singing the vocals quickly; though the words seem to tumble out of his mouth at times, they all remain clear and easy to understand and those quick parts become more catchy and fun to repeat.  

The ballad “Mr Perfect” is a dreamy, sweet arrangement that perfectly suits the title. The plucked guitars have a little Oriental groove while maintaining the overall theme of the music. The vocal range is pushed even further, as he steps outside of the midrange for a higher pitch that sounds fantastic. One almost wishes he used that voice more; it’s clear there is a lot of talent there waiting to be unleashed.

“My Girl” is a love and loss song of the ages, combining the uplifting feeling of love with the weighty sadness of regret. The simple piano notes work really well to accentuate the stronger guitar chords, and it ends the EP well. 

So They Say is a peek into the mind of Francis White, and, into the minds of humans in general. You’re sure to find at least one or two tracks here that speak to you deeply, making this the perfect EP to toss on during reflective periods or when you need a gentle, but utterly realistic, serenade. It will be very interesting to hear his full0-length album and see what direction his music continues to move in. 

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