Artist Spotlight ~ Francesca Fuentes

Artist Spotlight is a segment that we started to introduce our readers to some deserving up and coming artists/bands. They have made an impact on us for all of the right reasons. We think they kick ass, and we hope you do too! Let’s shine the spotlight on indie singer/songwriter Francesca Fuentes!

Francesca Fuentes is a singer / songwriter & author from New Jersey. She has a degree in English and Creative Writing from Monmouth University and was known on campus for her work with The Blue Hawk Records Group, who featured her on two compilation CD’s: After Midnight & Phases. Her first music video for her song “Rock W Me,” was awarded Best Film at the 2019 Lovesick Film Festival in Jersey City. Two years later, her first album Diary Of Dreams, was backed up onto a hard drive after the ending of her romantic relationship and long time collaboration with her music producer. Since finishing studio work on her second album, she has begun penning the third. Francesca loves to explore variations of pop and rock. Her lyrics often include themes of romance, breakups, mental health, artist angst & even her faith. During the day, she teaches creative writing & works as a music marketing assistant. She hopes her story will help other women and artists who have struggled with their artistic identities. Her new music video, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again,” is currently being featured on MTV Spankin’ New.

We sat down with Francesca for a short but fun Q&A session.

Every superhero or villain has an origin and a band is no different minus the radioactive spiders and secret government experiments. What is the origin of how you got into music?

Francesca Fuentes: I first got started with music taking guitar lessons from my neighbor at age 11. By 12, I was writing songs and then at 13, that same neighbor recorded my first demo. It was called “Behind Your Eyes.” I wrote it for my 7th grade talent show. It was about a love triangle between me, my best friend & a boy. As you can see, my dramatic songwriting definitely started there [LOL].

Band names can have a meaning or it can be a name pulled out of a hat. What’s the story behind (insert band name)? Individual artists usually skip this question, but you chose not to.

So I am an individual artist, but I will not skip this question! My stage name “Francesca Fuentes,” is not my legal name. I actually took the last name of my maternal grandfather, Jose Angel Fuentes, because I resonated deeply with that part of myself in college. He passed away just last December, but I know he was proud of me for everything I did and I love that I get to continue a piece of his legacy through my music.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I am working on getting things together for my next single, which will be a renewed version of one of my first releases. I am really excited for this project because I want people to hear some of the music I made in the years I spent with my college partner, Max Wolf, who produced the track. When we broke up, I felt like I had nothing to show for my hard work, but now I do. After I first made the song, I remember thinking: “Wow, I made a song that really feels like me,” and when I lost it, it was like “Who even is Francesca Fuentes?” It’s going to be empowering for me to be able to feel like I have reclaimed a piece of art I made that people never got to experience.

You’re on the road and stop at a convenience store for a “pit stop.” What is your favorite snack to pick up?

Goldfish, Cheese-Itz or Chili Cheese Fritos. Drink of choice is usually coconut water or an iced tea.

What are your five favorite albums?

This is a hard question. I love so many albums, but here are five albums I feel like significantly shaped me as an artist at different pivotal times in my life:

– Stronger Than Death: Black Label Society

– Reputation: Taylor Swift

– Frank: Amy Winehouse

– Diamond Life: Sade

– No Rain, No Flowers: Sabrina Claudio

Do you collect anything? If so, tell us what it is and your favorite piece of your collection.

When I studied abroad in Spain, my Madre had a sun shaped mirror and ever since then, I started collecting little suns. Anything sun shaped, sun key chains, sun plates. It reminded me of home and there’s nothing more comforting than warm sunlight! I also love to collect iron on patches from different places I travel to and that makes it way too hard for me to pick a favorite because I have traveled to many places!