Frankmusik

Frankmusik
Frankmusik performing at Lovebox Festival in London on 18 July 2009
Background information
Birth name	Vincent James Turner
Also known as	Vincent Did It Vincent Frank Mr. Mouth (beat-boxing)
Born	(1985-10-09) 9 October 1985 Thornton Heath, London, England
Genres	Synthpop dance-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter record producer musician remixer
Instruments	Vocals synthesizer keyboards beatbox
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Apparent Island Cherrytree Interscope VDI USA Inc.
Associated acts	Ashley Roberts
Website	www.frankmusik.com

Vincent James Turner (born 9 October 1985), better known by his stage name Frankmusik (and between 2011 and 2012, by the name Vincent Did It), is an English synthpop musician.^[1] The name "Frank" is derived from the Christian name of his grandfather, whose name he took in tribute.

Early life

Vincent was born on 9 October 1985 in the Thornton Heath district of the London Borough of Croydon.^[2] He attended Christ's Hospital boarding school in West Sussex and was member of the house 'Maine A'. He entertained his housemates with constant piano playing.^[3] He completed a year-long foundation course at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design^[4][5] and went on to study at the London College of Fashion, dropping out to concentrate on music.^[1][6]

Career

2007–2009: Frankisum EP and Complete Me

During 2004, Vincent performed as a beatboxer, under the name Mr Mouth.^[7]

Vincent released his debut EP, Frankisum, in 2007. Former school friend and then assistant of A&R at Island Records, Ben Scarr, introduced Island colleague Louis Bloom to Frankmusik's MySpace page, which was getting a significant number of hits at the time.^[8] Although already known for high energy electro and happy hardcore, Frankmusik's signing to Island was in part because Bloom recognised a pop star performer beneath the electronic music, telling HitQuarters: "Underneath all the madness there was some great hooks and melodies, and buried even deeper was a voice; it took a lot of time after signing for him to have the confidence to sing without putting loads of effects over his vocal."^[8]

In December 2008, Frankmusik made it on to the long-list of the BBC's Sound of 2009 poll.^[9][10] In the UK, Gaydar Radio was the first national station to champion Frankmusik and tracks from his debut album, Complete Me. Initially interviewed by Alex Baker as part of the station's coverage of National Student Pride, Frankmusik performed a number of live tracks, which were then playlisted as part of an album teaser.^[11] His rise to fame was also followed closely by his local radio station, 107.8 Radio Jackie, which was the first station to broadcast his music.

In January and February 2009, he was the support act for Keane on their Perfect Symmetry tour in the UK.^[12] In March 2009, he headlined National Student Pride in Brighton's seafront club Digital with Jodie Harsh and Dan Gillespie Sells (The Feeling). In June 2009, Frankmusik was support act for the Pet Shop Boys in London, Manchester and Liverpool. He did a short tour to launch the album Complete Me, starting in Brighton on 17 July and taking in London, Glasgow and Manchester.

Complete Me debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number thirteen in August 2009,^[13] after its second single, "Confusion Girl", was A-listed by BBC Radio 1^[14] and reached number twenty-seven on the UK Singles Chart. The other singles were "Better Off as Two", which peaked at number twenty-six, and "3 Little Words".

In August 2009, a more extensive UK tour was announced to take place during November and December 2009.^[15] Just two days later on 20 August 2009, it was announced that Frankmusik would join the Perez Hilton Presents tour in Autumn 2009.^[16] Frankmusik was part of a line-up at The O2 Arena 3D ELEKTRO RAVE alongside Caspa and Rusko, Tinchy Stryder, High Contrast, and Dancing Robot Music.^[17]

During recording and promotion of his debut album, Frankmusik remixed material by other artists, including Pet Shop Boys' "Love etc.",^[18] Lady Gaga's "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)",^[19] Alphabeat's "Fascination"^[20] and "10,000 Nights",^[21] Mika's "Relax, Take It Easy"^[22] and CSS's "Move",^[23] and has covered "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse^[24] and The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights".^[25] Frankmusik also co-produced "First Place" on Tinchy Stryder's 2009 album, Catch 22, and "Wish I Stayed" on Ellie Goulding's Lights (2010).

2010–2011: Do It in the AM

In 2010, he featured on a Far East Movement track called "Fighting for Air", from their album Free Wired; he also appeared in Far East Movement's music video for "Rocketeer" with Colette Carr and Mohombi. The same year he collaborated with Computer Club on a track called "Losing Streak".^[26]

It was announced in February 2011 that he has begun work producing the new Erasure album in Maine. Entitled Tomorrow's World, this was released on 3 October 2011 in the UK, and 4 October 2011 in the USA. During October and November 2011 Frankmusik was the supporting act on the Erasure tour across the US and Europe.

In an April 2011 interview, his A&R Louis Bloom said that Frankmusik was at work on his upcoming album. According to Bloom: "The challenge has been for him to simplify the structure of his songwriting whilst still encouraging him into taking risks on the production duties."^[8] The album, Do It in the AM, was released in September 2011 and peaked at number 178 on the UK Albums Chart.

On 19 October 2011 Frankmusik announced via his official Twitter page that he had parted ways with his UK label, Island Records.^[27]

2012–2013: Between

In an interview with music blog Flop of the Pops on 3 January 2012, Frankmusik announced that he would change his stage name to Vincent Did It, along with the exclusive premiere of a song titled "Dynamo".^[28][29]

On 10 March 2012 Turner announced on his Twitter page that he has decided once again to go by his former stage name, Frankmusik.^[30] He then released two new acoustic demos titled "I'll Know" and "This Is Who I Am" on his official SoundCloud account for Frankmusik.^[31] Throughout 2012 Turner released thirteen demos online.

On 31 October 2012 Turner released a single titled "Fast as I Can". The song was released independently through digital distribution company Tunecore for international release. The song was originally meant to be the lead single off of his then-titled album, You Are Here. Turner announced a track listing for the album and set a release date for 2013. The album was soon later scrapped, Turner claiming that he wanted to start fresh and not with "songs [he] wrote six months ago". On 14 February Turner released his sixth EP, titled, Far From Over. The EP consisted of four songs and was released for free through his website. The EP was not available for purchase, instead it was free but fans were asked to donate to Just Giving what they thought the EP was worth.

Shortly after the EP's release, Turner announced that his third studio album, Between, would be released on 1 April 2013. In March 2013, Turner announced that the album would no longer be released in April, along with revealing the cover art. The album's lead single "Chasing Shadows" was released on 9 May 2013 along with its video. On 11 May 2013 Turner announced that Between would be released on 7 June 2013.

On 10 September 2013, Turner released a full acoustic album called Between Us featuring 10 songs from Between as well as a new song called "Hymn" to coincide with Between.

2013–2014: By Nicole

On 13 December 2013 Turner released a single, "Ephemeral Summer", on iTunes and its video two days later. In January 2014 Turner announced he was working on his new album, titled By Nicole, and announced its lead single, "Dear Nicole". "Dear Nicole" was released through Turner's YouTube account on 14 February 2014.

In February 2014 to coincide with the launch of Season six of RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul released his sixth studio album, Born Naked, including the track "Fly Tonight" featuring Frankmusik.

On 1 April 2014 the album's third overall single, "These Streets", was released accompanying its music video through Turner's YouTube account and was made available the following day on the iTunes store.

Turner announced through his YouTube, Facebook and Twitter pages on 18 April that the album would be released on Monday, 28 April 2014.

2015–present: For You

On 9 March 2015 Turner confirmed the title for his fifth studio album via Twitter,^[32] Not Right Now. The first single, "This", was released on 4 May 2015.

Frankmusik provided guest vocals for RuPaul's 2015 album Realness on the song "Die Tomorrow". This makes the second consecutive appearance of Frankmusik on a RuPaul album.

On 13 August 2015 Turner announced a new album title "For You",^[33] along with the track listing and a release date for October 2015.

Artistry

Frankmusik cites Daft Punk, Erasure, Electric Light Orchestra, Razorlight, Hard-fi, Pet Shop Boys, Late Of The Pier, Oasis and Killa Kela as influences.

In popular culture

• Frankmusik appeared naked in the British gay lifestyle magazine AXM in 2009.^[34]
• A lyrical reference is made to Frankmusik in the Colette Carr song "(We Do It) Primo". A drawing of Frankmusik and his Logo are also displayed on a screen behind Colette Carr when the reference is made. He also produced and co-wrote the track.^[35]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Other charted songs

EPs

• Frankisum (2007)
• Brushing Off (2008)
• Chasing Shadows (2008)
• Long Live Frankmusik [Pt.1-3] (2011)
• The SOPA Opera (2012, as Vincent Did It)
• Far from Over (2013)
• The Moongazer EP (2014)

Songwriting and production

• TEef - "Take Me Out" (2009)
• Tinchy Stryder - Catch 22: "First Place" (2009)
• Sky Ferreira - "American Dream" (2009)
• Ellie Goulding - Lights: "Wish I Stayed" (2010)
• Colette Carr - "(We Do It) Primo" (2011)
  • Skitszo Part 1: "F16", "Delusional", "Killswitch" (2012)
  • Skitszo Part 2: "Hearsay (2013)
  • Not Sure Yet: "Jealous Type", "Rebound" (2014)
  • Static.Start.: "Static", "Moments in Love", "3%", "Walking in Place" (2015)
  • Believe in Us: "Play House" (2016)
• Erasure - Tomorrow's World (album) (2011)
• Quigley - Pleiades (EP) (2012)
• SRH - Drive and Smoke (EP) (2012)
• Kentö - "Complicated" (2013)
• Katrina - "Ready to Love" (2013)
• Ellie Rose - Memory Foam / Speed Bump: "Memory Foam", "Mask" (2013)
• Ashley Roberts - Butterfly Effect: "Midas Touch", "Wild Heart", "Standing in the Rain" (2014)
• Ray Noir - "Double Trouble" (2014)
• Secaina Hudson - "I Ain't with You" (2015)
• Supercub - "Dancing Inside" (2015)

Remixes

• Amy Winehouse - "Rehab" (2007)
• Chromeo - "Needy Girl" (2007)
• Dead Disco - "You're Out" (2007)
• Mika - "Relax, Take It Easy" (2007)
• Remi Nicole - "Rock N Roll" (2007)
• I Was a Cub Scout - "Out Smallest Adventures" (2007)
• Alphabeat - "Fascination" (2007)
• The Clik Clik - "Did You Wrong" (2008)
• Alphabeat - "10,000 Nights" (2008)
• CSS - "Move" (2008)
• Daft Punk - "Digital Love" (with Alphabeat & Leon Jean-Marie) (2008)
• Keane - "Perfect Symmetry" (2008)
• Go:Audio - "Made Up Stories" (2008)
• Telepathe - "Chrome's On It" (2008)
• The Black Ghosts - "I Want Nothing" (2008)
• Erasure - "Phantom Bride" (2009)
• Lady Gaga - "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" (2009)
• Pet Shop Boys - "Love Etc." (2009)
• Space Cowboy - "Falling Down" (2009)
• Nelly Furtado - "Night Is Young" (2010)
• Natalia Kills - "Zombie" (2010)
• Erasure - "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" (2011)
• Nicole Scherzinger - "Right There" (2011)
• Natalia Kills - "Mirrors" (2011)
• Far East Movement - "Rocketeer" (2011)
• Killian Wells - "STRFKR" (2012)
• Simon Curtis - "Flesh" (2012)
• Alphabeat - "Love Sea" (2012)
• Ride The Universe - "A Little Better" (2012)
• Buffetlibre - "Fade Into You" (2013)
• Empire of the Sun - "Walking On A Dream" (2013)
• Ride The Universe - "You And I" (2013)^[38]

References

External links

• Frankmusik on SoundCloud