Interview | Francesco Yates

Photo Ben Cope / ben_cope /

After a first listen to Francesco Yates, there is no turning back. The singer from the mega-hit “Sugar” produced by Robin Schulz makes timeless pop with a romantic feel and has a unique timbre that holds your attention and sparks your emotion. Cementing his status as a truly unmatched talent, the star found international success from working with Pharrell Williams to opening Justin Timberlake’s tour last year. 

Just before releasing his new album, French Fries chats with Francesco Yates about songwriting and what inspires his music.

ALLY FERRARO: Are you in LA? Where are you right now?

FRANESCO YATES: Right now, I’m in St Louis Missouri, I’m on tour with AJ McLean and we are doing a little project, as well as with a friend of his known as DJ Lux. I’m excited to be doing a couple of dates with them.

ALLY FERRARO: You are born in Canada, do you ever travel to LA? Just because I use to live in LA and I am in with the city.

I travel a lot, yes. I’m there almost half of the year. I go back and forth between Toronto and LA, but I’m also looking forward to spending more time in LA this year than I had before, it’s really great.

ALLY FERRARO: You like the city as well, yes? It’s a really good vibe for the artists. You feel free in LA to express yourself.

FRANCESCO YATES: True, it is something about that, it gets the wheels turning, for sure.

ALLY FERRARO: What was the soundtrack to your childhood?

FRANCESCO YATES: My parents played me so many different types of music. I used to listen to Led Zeppelin when I was a kid, I used to listen to Di Angelo and Bob Marley. I had this very wide range of musical styles I was listening to.

ALLY FERRARO: Is music something that runs in your family or are you the first one to venture into the industry?

FRANCESCO YATES: I was the first one, it was something that kind of took off on its own, it was like a happy accident, I call it. None of my parents had any musical background or anything like that. I will say though that they played me a lot of music when I was a kid. 

ALLY FERRARO: What is the best moment so far in your career?

FRANCESCO YATES: I would have to say it’s a tie between working with Pharrell and recently having been the opener on Justin Timberlake. Those two were such monumental things to me. I, even now to this day, really can’t believe that happened to me, to be honest.

ALLY FERRARO: Why do you think the amazing track “Sugar” that was written with Robin Schulz resonated with so many people?

FRANCESCO YATES: I think it has a little bit of nostalgic appeal to it and also because it feels really good and it has that kind of summery energy about it. It’s a happy, feel good song.

ALLY FERRARO: What typically inspires your song-writing?

FRANCESCO YATES: It comes to me at very random times. If it’s something I heard, some movie that I watched, I can have a conversation with a friend and that sparks it. I could be in the shower randomly and it just happens. To me, it’s almost like life inspires the music. The music kind of writes itself, I think.

ALLY FERRARO: Is this something that you need to express? Is it something inside you that you need to let out?

FRANCESCO YATES: I would say so, yeah. I’m almost like a workaholic. I have to get something out of me. I almost don’t feel good when I’m not doing it and I have to get it out.

ALLY FERRARO: Do you feel vulnerable sometimes to let it out for everybody to hear?

FRANCESCO YATES: Not really because I feel that music is the only place where I can do that and feel secure about it.

ALLY FERRARO: Your new album “Superbad” is coming out March 13th. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

FRANCESCO YATES: It kind of has this alternative twist on what pop music is. It still has a little bit of romance, but this album has a certain edge that I didn’t introduce to my music before. It is a little bit darker and it’s a celebration of women too.

ALLY FERRARO: What was the story behind the song “Call”?

FRANCESCO YATES: It’s like the one line says, “You’re close enough to hold me, but not to tell the truth. It’s a sort of unspoken feeling that something might not be right in the relationship, but you are still there.

ALLY FERRARO: Last, but not least, your favorite French Fries?

My Italian mom makes the best homemade French Fries.