GrooveOut Denice Franke Gets Real by Chris Sill

"I just want to talk about real things. I don’t want to talk about the weather. I did that every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family."

Denice Franke is quietly carving out her own path deep into the heart of Texas folk music. A singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Franke has caught the attention of critics and colleagues alike with her second CD Comfort. Sharing the stage with the likes of Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett, the openly gay Franke boasts a career 20 years in the making, using Houston as her home-base.

OutSmart: Do you feel comfortable being described as a folk singer?

Denice Franke: I think that’s how my music has been presented. I don’t particularly care for the boxes they put it in, but I understand it.

How would you describe your music in your own words?

There was a time when I described it as "folk-angst." [laughs]

Folk-angst?

Yeah, but now I think I could do several genres of music if I had a working band with me. I have that passion to explore other genres. A friend of mine who wrote one of the songs on Comfort really got me excited again about singers.

Who are some of your favorite vocalists?

Oh, there are so many. Nina Simone, Mercedes Sosa.

I love her!

Oh God, I love her! And Nilton Maimento. That’s how I heard of Mercedes, through his music. There was this one particular duet they sang, and the coming together of those two voices brought me to my knees. The music just takes you away. That’s what I hope to accomplish with my music, whatever genre I wind up doing. I have the urge to branch out and try different things.

Your second album, Comfort, seems to be a step in that direction.

When I did my first record, You Don’t Know Me, I had been out of the music business for eight years. Eric Taylor, my producer and good friend, has been a really good mentor to me, teaching me how to write good lines, and letting go of trying to make things glossy. My voice had a lot of rough edges from not using it for eight years. I knew in my heart of hearts that I could do so much more, but the voice is a muscle and if you don’t use it, it gets lazy. I noticed that a lot on the first record. When we recorded "Rainy Night in Detroit," my voice cracked. I was crushed and thought I would have to re-cut the whole thing. During the playback Eric said, "No! Leave it alone, don’t touch that. It’s the fingerprint in the song." He helped me realize that just because your voice cracks or your thumb hits a string too hard, it’s good to leave fingerprints on records because a lot of records, especially in pop music, are so slick that all the soul’s been sucked out of them.

So much of it is so easily discarded.

Yeah, it’s like chewing gum. Once the flavor is gone, you throw it out.

You recently received some recognition winning the Houston Press Critic’s Choice for Best Folk/Acoustic. Do you have a following in Houston, and is it difficult getting gigs here?

I don’t play here very often. I’ve lived here for 12 years, and I pretty much call Houston home, although I grew up in Dallas. There are not that many venues for folk music in Houston. If I had a band, there would be a lot more options. I’ve really been trying to work on building a national audience. I have had some little glories here being played on KPFT and KTRU. I was kind of shocked seeing my name in three categories for the Houston Press awards. It was like "Who’d a thunk?" So it’s nice to be recognized. It means that somebody’s paying attention.

Do you think people have a hard time not only being exposed to your genre of music, but understanding it as well?

I wish more people were interested in it. I’m happy that my friend Lyle Lovett broke through that barrier. I remember many years ago when Lyle was shopping his first record in Nashville. It was a slow climb for him until he became a household name. It’s kind of frustrating that more people don’t want to hear songs about real life. I get the term "dark" put on my music a lot and I’m like … dark? This is life. We don’t live in an Ozzie and Harriet world. There are moments when the sun shines and it feels good on your face, and there are times when life throws you a hard ball and you need some help. I have a hard time with people who don’t want to go there. I just want to talk about real things. I don’t want to talk about the weather. I did that every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family.

I think we all can relate to that. It seems the Internet is fast becoming the way for artists to expose their music to an audience who they would never get the chance to. Have you done this yourself, and what do you think about it?

Well, I think the Internet is a great tool. I use it because it opens so many more doors and you reach so many more people. It also makes us available 24 hours a day, and I think the challenge in today’s world is when to make time not to be available.

It’s becoming harder to maintain your privacy as well, especially with the media.

Do you think the media coverage of Melissa Etheridge’s breakup with Julie Cypher is good for our community?

I understand curiosity and I understand gossip. It’s a natural thing, but sometimes we go overboard. I feel for them just from watching what’s happened to Lyle. I knew him when nobody knew who he was. Now I don’t get to see him anymore. If I was in that situation I would be very uncomfortable because everybody knows who you are and they’re going after you. I know the media needs that, but it’s a very private thing and has nothing to do with us. It has to do with two people who are struggling.

I think our community may have been a little let down with the breakup of Melissa and Julie and Ellen and Ann, but we have to realize that they are human, too. I think there is a tremendous pressure on them, because they are out and famous and they automatically become role models whether they want to be or not.

Yes.

I do think it is important to be out because we’re still not playing on a level field.

How do you feel about "outing"?

I think it’s a case-by-case thing. I don’t think anyone should be outed if they’re not ready. I understand people who have already crossed that line, but remember the struggle you went through before you came out. They will come around when they are ready. I think the beauty of people who are high profile and have acknowledged it, like Melissa did, is that it opened other doors for her to be more visible. For me it’s just a part of my life. I’m not really conscious of it, it’s like breathing. I applaud people who refuse to hide and live in the world as they are. They accept who they are and live their lives regardless of prejudice or rules or obstacles.

It’s a very hard thing to do.

It’s very courageous. It’s beyond courageous.

Your songs are your own way of expressing your feelings, and on Comfort you write a lot about relationships. I love the way your writing can be simple, yet completely genuine and honest. The song "To the Light" captures this beautifully.

Thanks. A lot of people comment about that song, because I think everyone can connect with that song. But I’ve gotten criticism for the way I write because of my use of gender in songs.

Using certain pronouns?

Right. He or she. Because I’m out, some people think I should write that way. But that’s not my life experience. These songs contain a little bit of me and a little bit of you and a little bit of someone else. Just because I sing in the first person doesn’t always mean I’m the person in the song. I want all people to be able to embrace my music. I don’t want to be in any box. I went to see Eartha Kitt recently and something she said really spoke to me. She made a comment back in the old days when people tried to categorize her. They asked, "So you’re a blues singer?" and she said "No, but I can sing the blues." "So you’re a gospel singer?" "No, but I can sing gospel music." "Well, some people say you’re a jazz singer." "No, I’m not a jazz singer but I can sing jazz." It reminded me of how we’re put into boxes. Why can’t it just be good music?

What is comfort to you?

Hmmm. A cat playing with a piece of paper in the middle of the night making you laugh.

Comfort is energy or coming into contact with energy that says you can do anything. Being who you are and not being afraid, that’s comfort.

For more on Denice Franke, visit her website @ www.denicefranke.com.