Interview: Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad – 2023 (Written)
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life bring you an interview with classic rock artist, Franck Carducci of Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
I grew up in Lyon, France, in an Italian family where 70’s classic-rock music was part of everyday life. We would listen to the Beatles and the Stones as well as Billy Joel or Supertramp, Led Zeppelin and old Elton John records. As a teenager, I grew particularly fond of a band with very weird album covers. They had this cow with no band name on it, and another one had 2 guys shaking hands but one of them was on fire. My favorite one pictured a pig flying over an old London power station. They went by the name of Pink Floyd, and their music changed my life. So I started to play covers in pubs and clubs downtown Lyon, where I was not even old enough to be allowed in as a customer.
I was also doing some studio sessions work in the area. In parallel, I was writing my own songs and recording some demos. Regularly, friends would tell me: “Hey, these songs sound good, you should make an album!” and I would always give the same answer: “What for? Nobody knows me and it’s never gonna work!”
Later on, I moved to Amsterdam and joined the local scene there. Then I got to meet one of my childhood heroes, Steve Hackett from Genesis. I opened a gig for him and we had a long discussion. At some point he said to me: “Your songs sound good, you should record an album!”. So I fired my usual response, but then he replied: “Well, just do it for yourself, that way you can’t be disappointed, if it works you’re happy, if it doesn’t, you’re still happy because you just did it for you anyway!”
The next day, I started the recording of my first album “Oddity”. Steve was very supportive in the process and he apparently enjoyed the album because he then offered to play on the next one, which he did on “Torn Apart” in 2015. So I guess, everything I achieved as a solo artist, I owe it to Steve somehow, I wouldn’t be here without his wise words.
Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
My music is widely influenced by 70s classic-rock, so I’d say I’m a new classic-rock artist with a lot of visual stage effects. Some call it “Theatrical Rock” I like that label a lot.
What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.
After releasing an acoustic album as a duo with Mary Reynaud + a live album with my Fantastic Squad in 2023, I’m now currently working on my next studio album.
In the meantime, we’ll be touring the UK in 2024:
FEB-28 : LONDON – The Bedford
FEB-29 : SWINDON – The Victoria
MAR-01 : PORT TALBOT – Seaside Social & Labour Club
MAR-02 : STOURPORT – Fusion Festival
MAR-03 : SOUTHAMPTON – The 1865
MAR-06 : LEICESTER – The Musician
MAR-07 : LIVERPOOL – Cavern Club
MAR-08 : GLASGOW – Ivory Blacks
MAR-09 : NEWCASTLE – Innisfree Sports & Social Club
MAR-10 : OUNDLE – Queen Victoria Hall
What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?
I guess opening for STING in front of about 15000 people was surely one of them!
Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?
Being an indie artist means a life full of challenges. You have to wear so many different caps.
How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band? Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows?
Luckily we are touring quite a lot, which means we have some time off the Internet. Although this is not totally true because, even on tour, we try to keep up with what’s going on in virtual life, plus of course, we need to keep the promo going …
Anyway, social medias are unavoidable for indie artists nowadays, so I guess it goes with the deal!
What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?
Well the obvious thing is that you need to be “famous” to get signed, but on the other hand, you’ll never get famous if you’re unsigned. So it’s a bit like a snake biting its own tail… Networking and friendships rule the business!
I guess what we’d need is a more 70s-like mindset, when labels would invest in artists, not willing to have a quick-return-on-investment but letting them time to develop instead.
Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?
Well, since it’s mainly about social medias nowadays, I’d say, share, share, share. Add us to your playlists on streaming platforms, talk about us to your local promoter, … Word-to-Mouth can go a long way!
Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?
I enjoy travelling a lot. Meeting new people. I also enjoy cooking, especially Mediterranean food!
Where can people find you?
Very easy: www.franckcarducci.com
And of course Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple, Bandcamp, Amazon, Deezer, … you name it!
