Single cover
We haven’t hosted Frankie Wesson on Indieterria since the release of the critically acclaimed single “Just Friends” in December 2022. Welsh songstress and multi-instrumentalist is known for working at her own pace and she spent the last six months touring and recording new material. That obviously meant absolute media silence on the topic. You would not get a single word of commentary on new songs, even if you were a grandmaster of ninjutsu.
But the wait is over and we can officially review a new offering from Frankie and her band entitled “Unviable”. It stands at almost five minutes and marks quite a departure from signature love songs that Frankie is known for. Written during a pandemic, the song brings into the focus what independent artists have been through in the last three years. Not only the lack of income or being able to play, but also being told they should rebrand – like finding work in IT. I think we all remember the racist ad Conservatives ran in the middle of a lockdown, openly mocking those in the arts and telling them to find new roles outside creative industries. There are tons of articles written about why Tories hate art and humanities (like this write up from DAZE) so I won’t repeat myself, but the issue has always been a good one to tackle in a song and we finally have a good attempt at it.
Frankie doesn’t sugar-coats her dismay at the treatment she and other artists received, opening her track with the words: “I guess I was mistaken when I thought I was making some progress here”. And it only gets harsher from here. “Unviable” is a desperate, in-your-face testimony of how it feels to be making music while constantly being at loss: financial, reputational, professional. Measure this song against the facts: musicians make less than 10K a year, which is below poverty levels, costs of touring are too high for many to endure, nearly all artists that `made it` are manufactured by big labels (as Laura Snapes from The Guardian nicely put it: “it’s worth remembering that much of what was hawked as rock’n’roll in the past decade were actually very well-tended industry plants raised with the expectation of adulation”).
When the pandemic was raging, all independent artists were playing charitable gigs to help venues, NHS and other affected sectors, for absolutely no fee. You`d think that once business was back on its feet, the same artists would have more chances to earn a (limited) living. But the opposite is true. Festivals are now booked almost three years in advance with less and less slots being offered to unsigned and independent acts in favour of heritage acts. Massively popular radio DJs such as Chris Moyles call upcoming artists `crap`, working class musicians are priced out from the industry (and music education for at least twenty years as this article from 2004 will show you).
Frankie Wesson Band at the AR Studios in Hereford – photo by Honey B McKenna
How can we have this data in front of our eyes and still pretend no harm is being done? Now go back to Frankie Wesson and listen to “Unviable”, maybe that part where Frankie sings how she lost all confidence in herself and feels worthless.
I have been saying this for many years now. I have spent many times talking people out of giving up and even suicides. It takes a lot of stamina out of me too at the end of the day. The government and music business have been working in cahoots and took almost every option away from artists across the spectrum, closed all the doors and chuck out only mindless porridge created by the ultra rich.
This is no art or culture – this is a monoculture, nepotism or payola. Choose your description please here folks. What is happening is that our industry is taking not just the future away from those at the biggest risk of being disadvantaged but also the dignity of our artists and musicians. We are collectively making young people from ethnic minorities, excluded groups, working class backgrounds feel worthless and not needed. Then we wonder why 73% of independent musicians suffer from mental health issues and suicide rates are higher than other industries
There is an old proverb that says: “no hope, no fear” and you don’t really need a PHD in the study of Hagakure to connect losing the sense of self-worth to losing will to live. You can’t stamp out hope, prospects, dreams and expect people to stick around and be happy.
I mentioned at the very beginning that Frankie Wesson was known for her incredible love songs. But they were so much more than that. Frankie has been a leading voice in LGBTQ+ storytelling on the South Wales music scene. Her lyrics tell of struggles of a community, joys and trials. She organizes concerts, open mic nights, participates in Pride events and leads a band that includes a transwoman and a non-binary drummer. Everything she has done is far away from media attention but on the grass root level is vital. It is a lifeline.
I regard “Unviable” as another example of Frankie`s brilliance. She loudly calls out what others have been afraid of saying. And she`s doing it in such an eloquent and beautiful way. You`d expect Frankie to seethe with anger and drop a metal track (not like she wouldn’t deliver) in protest. She instead opted for a country inspired ballad with an energetic and uplifting chorus. “Unviable” is closer to what Tina Arena or Lara Fabian sound like these days. The single proves a point that Frankie is a huge fan of the likes of Eva Cassidy and she can write hauntingly serene melodies on par with James Dean Bradfield.
At three minutes in, guitarist and poet Ruby Ravelle comes in with her powerful solo that makes “Unviable” such a great track. I am of the opinion that Ruby is one of the best shredders on the Welsh music scene currently (and could be one of the best in the last decade). She can play anything – from folk to black metal and her skills are just jaw droppingly impressive. Do not try to follow Ruby`s fingers on the neck of a guitar with your eyes. You will end up with a vertigo, that’s how fast this woman is with her instrument.
It`s hard not to see the irony. “Unviable” is a showcase of huge creative potential of not only Frankie but also Ruby`s and the rest of the band. These are the people on the outside, from LGBTQ+ community who make art the only way they are allowed now – DIY, at their personal loss. While the music industry rallies around and throws unlimited budgets on individuals who cosplay as musicians and pretend to not know what a Gammy is.
The sad take away from this review is this – if you advocate for the rich and manufactured, at the end of the line there is another Frankie or Ruby or any other young person with passion, talent and dreams who will be feeling worthless and unable to achieve any form of success.
My dear colleagues in the music business, so outspoken about supporting females in the industry, this is a song for you. And for once, don’t deny it. The message in “Unviable” is exactly what you wanted for the vast majority of the musicians in the UK to feel like.
“Unviable” was recorded at Alt Republic Studios in Hereford. The single was out on October 6th.
As usual, you can follow Frankie Wesson and her band on socials:
http://www.frankiewessonmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/frankiewessonmusic
https://twitter.com/FrankieMayJones
https://www.instagram.com/frankiewesson/
https://soundcloud.com/frankiewesson
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZWxoAHLNVfiTH0IzRaSs2A
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3SBpmZcOOC9HkUEJVR11QT
Additional readings:
https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/entertainment/singer-songwriter-frankie-wesson-to-launch-new-single-in-abergavenny-642325
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 
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