Just Jaded

Interview: Frawley and New Music!

By Kelly Carciente

Singer-songwriter Frawley is entering her pop star era. The New Jersey native always knew she wanted to become a singer, and with her songwriting and her raw, heartfelt vocals, she is destined to reach new heights.

Frawley first rose to success with her SoundCloud cover of Alessia Cara’s ‘Here,’ receiving over 13 million plays. Now, she has earned accolades working with and writing for some of today’s rising pop stars, such as Tate McRae and Bebe Rexha. Her talents, received by millions, transfer into her own music with her 2021 single ‘No One Can Fix Me,’ earning 50 million streams on Spotify. Her success only grew, with 2022 single ‘If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry,’ receiving another 36 million streams. Her discography continues to grow and so does her success. Earlier this year, Frawley released her heart-wrenching single ‘Crying My Eyes Out, ‘ and followed it up with upbeat single ‘Figure You Out’ released on August 25th. Jaded Productions met with the multitalented 23-year-old to discuss her two latest singles, her creative process, her writing, and more in this exclusive interview.

You released your newest single, ‘Crying My Eyes Out,’ last April. How would you say this song differs from your previous work?

Well, I would say that in general, to me, all of my songs feel like they live in their own world, if that makes sense, because they're all different experiences, different stories, different versions of heartbreak. So, to me, ‘Crying My Eyes Out,' in general, just feels like it’s its own thing. But also, you know, production wise and lyrically, I think I went down a different path, compared to a couple of my previous songs, like, ‘If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry,’ and ‘No One Can Fix Me.’ They were very production heavy, like, there was a lot going on. And this song. I wanted it to be very focused on the lyric and my vocal. So definitely, that would be something that I would say, makes ‘Crying My Eyes Out’ differ from the rest.

Based off of that, what was your creative process when writing this specific song compared to your other songs?

I honestly didn't think that I was going to be able to write this song. I had gone out and I saw this guy that I was just having the hardest time getting over. I was a fool for this guy for the longest time. I was trying to get over him. I went out with my friends, and when I was out, I actually saw him. And he was with another girl. My heart shattered. It kind of felt like something out of a movie, you know? It was like, “you cannot make this up.” I was like, “of course, that would be my luck.” So I went into the studio that following Monday, tried to write this song where I tried to write about the experience and totally flopped. It just was not it. I was not happy at all. When I went home. I was so frustrated. And then same thing happened Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. And then I called my manager on Thursday, and I called the producer, and I was like, “I don't know if I should go back in on Friday because all I want to do is write about this experience, but I'm not writing it in a way that feels like I'm hitting the nail on the head”. But I ended up going in and I wrote ‘Crying My Eyes Out’ on the last day.

That's great. That's a breakthrough!

Yeah, I feel like it was like double heartbreak because it was like, I'm going through this experience and now I can't even find the correct words, the right words to say what I'm going through. But yeah, was a breakthrough.

I gathered a lot of heartbreak through the lyrics. So I was wondering, on a deeper level, what does the song mean to you? Like, how do you use songwriting as a means of expressing your feelings or difficult moments, like what you were just describing? Is it any way cathartic at all?

Oh, for sure, for sure. I find, because I'm such a storyteller, when it comes to my writing, I find that it’s just so therapeutic: In a way, I relive it. I really relive the moments that I write about while I'm writing it, but while I'm writing it, it's kind of like I'm in the process of healing.

What was it like working with incredible writers and producers like Russ Chell and Jon Levine on ‘Crying My Eyes Out’? I’ve noticed you have also released covers in the past of songs by other artists who have also worked with such producers, like Alessia Cara and Tate McRae. Did that feel like a full-circle moment? Or was there some sort of significance in the way that you approached producing or working with them?

For Alessia Cara’s ‘Here,’ that song was actually produced by Oak Felder. And I got to work with him I believe in 2021 for the first time, and that was the craziest full circle moment. I got to work with him and Sebastian Kole, who had also worked on ‘Here,’ and yeah, I was so nervous going into that session. It was, because like you said, I had done a cover of their song, and now I'm working with them, writing for me, we're writing my song. It was a crazy experience and they're such sweet people. But in terms of working with John Levine and Russ Chell, I've known them now for what feels like forever. I feel like I met John and Russ separately, but both when I was 17. John, at the time had just done Dua Lipa’s single ‘Mwah,’ which was like really taking off in the UK. That was a great experience working with him, because, you know, love her. She's an incredible artist. And with Russ, I think the first time that we worked together was with Tate McRae and that was a really great experience. That kicked off our working relationship and our friendship in general.

Would you say these artists that you've worked with, such as Tate McRae, and these producers and songwriters, would they be some of your musical influences? Or did you draw from other musical inspirations when you were creating your music?

I've been able to write with a bunch of artists that have inspired me in so many different ways, even if it's not, you know, in terms of music, like, just career wise. You know, John Legend Metro Boomin, Bebe Rexha, Tate. I feel like those were all incredible experiences and in general, I feel very inspired by the people that I work with, like, producers, even if they've never had a song come out before, I usually just find myself very inspired to be in a room with anybody creative at all.

I totally get that. Do you have any other musical influences that you would want to work with?

Oh, my gosh, yes. Well, a musical influence that I recently got to check off my bucket list was working with this songwriter and artist Bonnie McKee. I grew up listening to all of the songs that she's written. She did a lot of like early Katy Perry and Britney Spears and Ke$ha. She was heavily involved in Max Martin's camp. And Max Martin is just one of the greatest producers and songwriters of our time. So you know, working with her was incredible and you kind of get a taste of Max's style when working with her.

Kind of shifting gears a little. You're releasing a new single, 'Figure You Out’ this month. What is that song about? How would you describe your new sound or the new direction you're going for?

I would say that, in general, the song and the sound, and what I'm talking about… I feel like it's just elevating itself. The music is much more pop and I feel like I've always kind of been afraid to fully lean into it, but I'm just going for it with this record. I have a lot of other music on the way and I'm just fully leaning into my pop star era! I feel like I wrote previously, like I wrote a lot of heartbreak songs and being sad, but now I get to do the same thing just over, you know, music that is more fun. It has evolved with me, I feel like I'm in that kind of era in my life where, yeah, I'm going through heartbreak, but I'm in my early 20s and I'm going out and I want something to listen to while I'm doing my hair and my makeup and I want something to listen to on the car ride home from the club or wherever I am, so the music definitely reflects that.

Yeah, another thing I was wondering is, where would you want to hear your music play? Like, in what setting would you want to hear it? Like let's say you were just a bystander and you heard this song live or you heard it in your bedroom or like at a festival or at a club? Where would you envision people listening to your music?

That's such a good question. I mean, hey, listen to my music any and everywhere, right? But maybe I kind of, I don't know why, but when I listened back to the songs, I just feel the most immersed in it when I'm in my bedroom, like, it's just super pop. It's kind of like a nod to the early 2000 or late 2000s, early 2010s you know with, like I said, the Katy Perry, a little bit of the Ke$ha melodies, Kelly Clarkson. So I feel if I could set up the perfect situation to listen to ‘Figure You Out’ or like any of the new music for the first time, I would say like, while the girls are getting ready to go out or like a slumber party. Something super relaxed and fun where you can just turn the music up super loud and just start dancing.

I love that. That's the perfect pitch for me. Would you see your songs, in those specific settings, ever played a movie or in sync?

Yeah, I'd love that. I think it  depends. Depending on the song. I released the song, two years ago, called ‘No One Can Fix Me,’ and I feel like that song, if it could, or if I could, I would have put that in, like Grey's Anatomy.  It was like, it's just very that vibe. So yeah, hey, I'd love to see my music, in a show, in a movie and anything like that.

Right! That would be great! So my final question… What is something you would hope your listeners would take away from your music, whether that be through a message or lyrics or sound or vibe?

I hope that they can feel understood when they listen to my music. You know, heartbreak is not… I’m not the only person that is going through it and navigating life and love and breaking up with someone or figuring out that you might like someone more than they like you. So, sometimes when I'm writing these songs I get in my head, and I'm like, “this is just me, I'm the only person in the world that could be going through it.” And then when I start teasing it on social media, I get comments on there, people are like, “Oh, my God, you wrote exactly what I'm going through.” So it's heartbreak, and what I'm writing about and going through, is very universal. So if a listener can take away one thing, or feel one thing after listening to my music, it would be, hopefully that they felt understood. Not so alone.

Where to find Frawley: Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Spotify

Listen to ‘Figure You Out,’ out now!