Interviewing Mikol Frachey: A Tennessee Whisky Girl
Can you tell me what your earliest memory of music is?
My earliest memory of music I would say is of hearing classical music during ballet classes as a young child. My ballet teacher was the first person to recognise that I had a good musical memory and she would often note that I had memorised the musical sequences so well. At the same time, I have a vivid memory throughout my childhood of my dad listening to country and rock music - especially Bruce Springsteen who was one of the first artists that I fell in love with.
When did you realise that you wanted to make country music?
I never really thought that I would get into making country music but I noticed that my songwriting and performing sounded typically ‘country’. The way that I like to tell my stories through songwriting has a typical structure that comes through in country music, it became obvious that I was naturally leaning towards country as a genre. I write in both English and Italian but I mostly sing in English - I feel like I sing better in English, I seem to have a completely different personality when I sing in Italian. I love writing in Italian - poems and songs for other people - but for now I stick to only karaoke-ing in Italian.
What was the biggest challenge you faced whilst breaking into the country music scene?
Primarily, the fact that country isn’t a big genre in Italy has been difficult. Especially as I sing in English most of the time there is a language barrier that is hard to overcome - in Italian radio and TV there is a set threshold of songs that must be played in the language. This has cut me off of certain opportunities that may have otherwise accelerated my career at a faster rate. Geographically, it has also been hard being located on the other side of the world to the USA which is the home of country music. I’m very lucky however because I have a varied fanbase - my listeners come from America, Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland - which means I am invited to play shows in different countries.
How do you approach the songwriting process?
I don’t have a specific method for songwriting, lyrics pop into my mind at different times during the day and I’ll type them onto my phone or in a diary. Sometimes I choose to pick up my guitar, I play around to find a melody. On my website I advertise curated songwriting, it’s called ‘A Song for You’ where people can commission me to create a song for their partner, parents or friends. When I’m writing these custom-made songs I will work with my guitar or piano and try to write down a loose outline of what the song should be about. I like to let myself play and see how a song will unfold itself naturally. I always like to say that “a song is like a baby” - they’re born naturally and will become their own thing, you’re there to support the process but not control it.
What are some of the themes/topics that you address within your music? Is there a specific message that you regularly hope to push through?
In general my songs focus on resilience and identity. Being a female in this industry definitely impacts the themes of my songs - I like to reflect upon my personal struggles be that breakups or simply just fighting for my dreams. I like to reiterate the message that if you feel like you belong to something, or should be somewhere, you shouldn’t let anybody stop you.
What is your favorite song to perform live?
Definitely my song ‘Tennessee Whiskey Girl’ - it allows me to really go crazy at the end of a performance. I like that it puts my audience into a ‘rock and roll’ mood when I’m playing. I will generally perform ‘Tennessee Whiskey Girl’ at the end of my set playlist - I like to pour all my energy into the song and play my guitar until I’m no longer in tune and cannot stand up on my feet. I enjoy ending my shows feeling that I have given all I can give of myself to the audience. The song is about female empowerment - I wrote it about a guy I once dated who was always focused on telling me about how rich he was and how important his family were. Once, he said to me “if you want to be famous as a female you must date an important man”. At that point the thought popped into my head ‘you could taste like the best champagne in the world, but I’m a Tennessee Whiskey Girl’. I love to play the song and see my audiences connect with that message.
Do you feel that you have ‘made your mark’ in the music industry?
I feel that everybody is out making their own marks because everyone who takes the time and uses their energy to play is making an important contribution to the industry. I’m proud to see that more people in Italy are sending me messages to say that they’re coming to my shows and are listening to country music because of me. My recent album charted in the Top 100 in Italy and it was the only country album in the list for that month. To see my album at number 84 and to know the people in the same list included big artists such as Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert has given me a feeling of hope.
Ending on a fun question - if you could curate a tour lineup, which three acts (dead or alive) would you choose?
First, Miley Cyrus - she’s one of my favourite performers ever. Definitely I’d choose Bruce Springsteen. And finally, Janice Joplin. I have a condition though - I’d like John Mayer to play the guitar with all three of the artists.
