francene rouelle
francene rouelle is a brand new artist coming all the way from Austin, Texas.
She’s debuting her first single “love wasn’t enough” and it’s a pop/r&b record that brilliantly highlights her soulful and flawless vocals with dazzling melodies. Produced by artist/producer waverly, the debut single is the perfect introduction to francene’s universe.
She has more songs coming up, so get ready for a sensational year !!
Released via Asian-American label mHart, ”love wasn’t enough” is now available everywhere.
Photo credit: Chie Endo
Hi francene, how are you? What's your story?
I’m so well! Such a difficult question to answer but something that I think has made up who I am is being raised in a family of music lovers. I’m a first generation Filipina who always grew up with music around me. My dad always wrote songs for me and my siblings so I think that’s where I got the majority of my musical inspiration. I started musical theatre at the age of 11 and got the bulk of my training pursuing that career path.
When did you know you could sing?
(laughs) I was very young because my mom was a singer. Even if I didn’t know I could sing I was always singing with her. I think I realized I was passionate about it at the age of 8 years old when I performed in front of my first audience.
What did you grow up listening to?
Acoustic anything. My dad plays guitar and is a big Beatles fan so I honestly grew up listening to singer songwriter acoustic music. I also was a big kpop fan growing up up so first generation k-pop has my whole heart.
At what point did you know music was more than just a hobby? When did you know you had to be an artist and release your original music?
Because I had such great role models in my life I knew very early in my life that I wanted to pursue a musical path. I always wrote songs to cope with different experiences but It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college when I finally decided I wanted to release my own songs.
Who's helping you build your artistry/career?
100% my producer and manager waverly and the whole Mhart team. I don’t think I could ever do this alone. I tried and it was the most difficult thing to do so I’m forever grateful for them.
You’ve just released your debut single "love wasn't enough" - what's the inspiration behind this song?
Releasing this project is quite scary because I’m not the type to point fingers or put blame on anyone. I never had the confidence to speak up about my experiences in love I did go through when I was young and that’s what this song is about. It’s definitely just my processing of past relationships and finally putting closure on those situations.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process behind this song?
It was actually the first song I ever co-wrote with my now producer and manager, waverly. He had the production already semi built and we built the lyrics and melody around it. I remember being so anxious to open up about the what I wanted to write, but it went so smoothly and I I think it was the moment we realized worked well as a team.
What did you feel when recording this song?
Because this was a song about something that happened in the past it’s safe to say I didn’t necessarily feel the trauma I would have felt if it was being recorded presently. It is a topic that still makes me feel a little bit sad so there was something in that but I think the pressure was more in writing a good first song.
What do you feel every time you listening to this single?
Proud. It’s my first born baby. Obviously I love the message and its relatability but more than anything I am happy that there is something that I created finally put out that I am genuinely proud of.
What's your favorite lyric on "love wasn't enough"?
“Is my heart supposed to breaking cause heart broken now has a ring to it”
It just captures what it feels like to find closure in something that still hurts.
What made you want to release "love wasn't enough" as your debut single?
It’s a song about realization and discovery. I wanted to share an experience where sometimes being in a relationship with someone may not feel right even if you do love them.
What message do you want to deliver through this song? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
Just because you love someone does not mean you have to stick it through, especially if they are doing you more harm than good. I want people to feel empowered, but also relief that they are not alone in such a unique relationship experience.
How's it like to collaborate with waverly? What makes this team work?
This is going to sound a bit cringy but it really is easy collaborating with him. I think we have similar mindsets and if not that there’s a mutual understanding making writing together a breeze.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album?
I never thought I would be able to release an album this quickly, but I’ve always had a lot to say just didn’t know how. This album is everything I should’ve said and everything I wanted to say when I was going through relationship struggles. It’s my processing of an unfortunate relationship and doing better because of it.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
Emails I Can’t Send, the album by Sabrina Carpenter was the biggest influence for me and this project. Her album mostly inspired me to tell a complete story and make each track unique in its own way.
What are your goals for 2024?
I definitely want to continue on this path of music and hope to grow everyday as an artist. One big goal is to build a lasting community of supporters.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Understanding and patience.
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