Tag: dear francis

How Did Jennifer Clavin (Dear Francis) Get Here?

Jennifer Clavin has been near the top of my interview bucket list since the inception of this site a whopping 15 years ago. (!) I’ve followed her career through Mika Miko to Bleached, watching her mature as a songwriter while I’ve matured along with her, with her music helping me navigate my life. She’s recently stepped out from behind the comfort of a band and has released three singles as a solo act under the alias Dear Francis. We discussed her career and craft and even hit on the joy of rescuing animals.

She’s been posting links to her new music here as it’s ready to share. She’s playing Heavy Manners Library in LA on Sunday, October 27th. This is her first solo show EVER, and I’m sad I can’t come down for it. But you should if you are in Southern California. Tickets here!

Single of the Week: “godheads” by dear francis

dear francis is the nom de plume of Jennifer Clavin, my personal favorite songwriter, possibly ever? She spent her teens and 20s co-fronting the legendary Mika Miko, then she broke off and put together the power-pop tinged Bleached, and now she’s gifted us with the third release as a solo artist, and it’s bloody intense. Produced by No Age’s Randy Randall, this song is about losing a dear friend to addiction and the complexities of the emotions involved. If you’ve been through this, the song will feel like a warm hug. If you haven’t, this track will get you a little closer to understanding someone who has. 

There’s exciting stuff on the horizon with dear francis. New tracks can be found here as they arrive, and for those in LA, she’s debuting this project live ON MY BIRTHDAY (10/27) and Heavy Manners Library! (I’m on the Bay Area and can’t make it, but you should!)

 

Single of the Week: “touchdown (4-track) by dear francis

I’ve been following the music of Jennifer Francis Clavin for a long time now… I believe I first heard the music of Mika Miko while working at a chain music store in 2006, when I would play anything the Kill Rock Stars would send us, and fell in love. Her band after Mika Miko broke up, Bleached, immediately became my favorite band. In the passing years, Clavin’s songwriting seemed to mature with me. Were we psychically connected? Or is she just that good at conveying her own emotions in a way that feels like “mass empathy”? Does any of this even make sense? I don’t know, but “touchdown (4-track)” is a her debut solo single (under the moniker “dear francis”), and, man, this song just tingles the soul. 

“touchdown (4-track)” is just the beginning of a whole new side of Ms Clavin. The track can be streamed and saved and purchased and all that good stuff in all the usual places. Expect more news in the coming months!