Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Francesca Monte and Kevan

THE RELEASE

Together, Francesca Monte and Kevan create the hypnotic track "Holding On To You." Alt-pop artist Francesca Monte, with an amazing 12.5 million plays across multiple digital streaming platforms, teams up with Kevan following the success of his latest single "Call Me," which garnered over 2 million Spotify listens. Together, they create a captivating song that explores a relationship that endures in the face of numerous potential causes for its failure. Their captivating vocals have sufficient room to breathe inside the song, which is complemented by unique stabs and synths. The core of the song is the idea of "dragging," as the lyrics examine the battle to maintain a fraying relationship. A relentlessly catchy rhythm permeates the entire song.

The release of "Holding On To You" not only introduces a captivating musical collaboration but also unveils a visually stunning music video. Filmed in the picturesque location of Varenna, Lake Como, Italy, known for its appearances in iconic films like 007 and Star Wars, the music video captures the essence of the song's narrative. The artistic vision behind the video extends to its meticulously crafted visuals, featuring head sculptures by Giuseppe Fata, renowned for their presence in fashion shows by esteemed designers such as Balenciaga and YSL. Renzo Raviello, a talented photographer, captures the essence of Francesca Monte and Kevan's collaboration in the accompanying artwork. Additionally, the fashion choices within the video align with the artists' fusion of music and fashion, with contributions from renowned fashion icons like John Capannolo and Michael Ruggiero. Through the combination of their musical prowess and artistic visuals, Francesca Monte and Kevan have created an immersive experience that transcends boundaries, captivating listeners and viewers alike.

THE INTERVIEW

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

The big four faces that we both can agree should be on our Mount Rushmore are Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain and Ella Fitzgerald.
Michael Jackson at Lincoln's spot of course.

Were there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the creation of the music video, and if so, how did they shape the final product?

The music video was shot in Lake Como, where I (Kevan) was born and raised.
I have a recording studio there where we recorded the track and it's 15mins drive away from the famous Varenna, the town that is often showing in the background.
We really wanted to shoot a music video there, for a song that we love in particular like this one. Beyond personally representing Kevan's home in general, Lake Como looks just unreal, like a dream. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the director chose Lake Como as a location for the planet Naboo, a planet of peace, where Anakin could live a happy life with Padmè.

If you could sum up the essence or overarching message of the music video in a few words or phrases, what would they be, and why are those concepts significant to you?
The video is showing both of us together on a ride to the unknown on a boat, but it is also showing us being on our own, away from each other. Holding On To You, is quite an explanatory title for this track, which is about a relationship that can't die.
That's why there are scenes where we run, both of me on the horse and Francesca down the lighthouse's staircase, that represents us running back from our loneliness to find each other again.

Can you discuss any unique or unconventional techniques or choices you or the producer made during the song's creation process that helped to shape its distinctive sound?

The unique part of the sound shaping is very technical, there is just a lot of research.
We are very proud of the production's teamwork, we think that it really represents us sonically. There is always something unconventional in our productions too, we wanted the vocals to be really dry in the recording and I remember recording them with a very thick blanket all around the mic, so we could really experiment with reverb afterwards.

When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?

When it comes to songwriting we both can agree that the more you are real, the more the feelings you have inside can get to other people as well.
It's all about honesty and opening your heart when it comes to write lyrics.
We think that the topline then just has to follow the music and the concept, as if you were trying to say out loud what you wrote.

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