Talking Shop: FrankMusik

Advertisement

Watch the video for FrankMusik's new single Better Off As 2

Last week, rising electro-pop star FrankMusik was dumped at Loch Ness with £20 in his pocket and given 10 days to get to London, playing five gigs on the way.

Vincent Frank used the web to beg fans to give him lifts and meals, was taken in by fans and their families, and in return played gigs in shops, living rooms, beds and cars.

The Live & Lost Tour was filmed for MySpace and Channel 4 as a cross-country promotional stunt, but one which the art school dropout and former beatbox champion says allowed him to get closer to his fans and test his own mettle.

The singer, who is supporting the Pet Shop Boys this summer, completed his challenge on Wednesday, when he arrived in London to play a launch party for his new single Better Off As Two.

---

Did you really only have £20 for the whole duration?

I started with £20. I was able to earn money throughout the tour by doing gigs. I did a DJ set in Manchester and worked in a clothes shop in Manchester and they gave me free T-shirts.

How did you get around for the 10 days?

MySpace has been the reason why this all worked. I only had the help of my MySpace fans to get me from A to B, and then possibly to C as well.

FrankMusik (centre) used MySpace to get in touch with his fans

What were the essentials you took in your backpack?

I still had to look good when I did a show, and I still had to not freeze to death. So I thought I'd go to a hiking shop in Inverness, wear all the clothes I thought I'd be wearing most of the time, and then keep a series of T-shirts and jumpers and two pairs of jeans with me.

I wanted to travel as light as possible. The most important things I had with me were my laptop and my Blackberry.

What were the strangest places you played?

I played in a bagel shop in Birmingham - that was pretty strange. I did a solo gig with a light-up keyboard in a living room in a town just outside Glasgow. And I did a clothes shop gig.

Didn't you play a private gig in some guy's bed?

I did a short show in Harry's bed in Blackpool, which was very very funny, in his pink heart night trousers. Superb. Harry's bedroom is pink. He's got Little Mermaid ornaments around the place, there's a giant Hello Kitty. He's a colourful chap to say the least.

Did you wind up in any situations you didn't want to be in?

Everyone's been amazing - I've never felt awkward with any of the people. The one thing that's was really hard was when I had to get to Coldstream [in the Borders].

It's on the border, it's in the middle of nowhere, there's nothing there. There was no-one there to help me, I was stuck there, I was ill. I was like, why the hell am I here? And eventually someone came and picked me up once I really got in touch with everyone.

Did any boys or girls take advantage of your desperate situation?

I think it was more the other way around. I was desperate full stop, and no-one really took advantage of that.

A lady in Wetherby turned up with a bag of medication because she found out I was ill. She was there with antiseptic, throat lozenges, ibuprofen and everything. No-one's really tried to get anything out of me. I've always offered a gig in return for anything.

You were sitting round kitchen tables with fans and their middle-aged parents - a bit different from a normal tour?

The situations where I was walking into people's houses were wonderful. It was a great opportunity for me to step into their lives, and it's something that not many people get to do.

Those parents had no idea who I was. But I got brought up correctly, I'm very polite, I say please and thank you and hold doors open. I generally made a good impression.

Did you feel that you lost your artistic credibility anywhere on this 10-day promotional tour?

I would actually say quite the opposite. I'd love to see some other pop acts doing this. I'd love to see them putting their tour buses and tour support money to one side.

I was merely doing this as a social experiment, and it worked. There were times when I wanted to give up but it was a test of character for me. Even if no-one ever hears about it, I know that I did it and it's the first time anyone's ever done it.

Are you going to do the same thing for the Pet Shop Boys tour?

No, sadly, but I might be doing it in America. That's an idea that's come about from this. I'd love to do it again.

That's a much bigger country.

It's a lot bigger country but there are a lot more people so it would probably balance itself out quite nicely.

Finally, is your uncle really Elton Welsby?

Who?

Your Wikipedia page says Elton Welsby, the venerable ITV sports presenter, is your uncle.

That is hilarous! No. The only uncle I have is a transvestite. And he's not even my real uncle, because he was adopted. Sorry!

FrankMusik was talking to BBC News music reporter Ian Youngs.