The British composer showcased snippets of his latest album before hosting a short Q&A.
Alexis Ffrench is one of the UK’s most decorative classical artists. From performing at King Charles Coronation to composing for films such Minamata and collaborating with fashion houses Miyake and Hugo Boss, Ffrench boasts an impressive portfolio of achievements. And the artist boasts an equally impressive discography. His song “Bluebird” is certified gold in the U.S.–selling over 500,000 copies and he’s one of the highest streamed classical musicians in the world.
Ffrench’s newest album “Classical Soul Vol. 1” will be released in September. To celebrate the album’s upcoming launch, a listening party was held at the Chelsea Hotel on Tuesday. Ffrench performed snippets of his upcoming work and past singles as well during the listening event. He additionally teased a collaboration with a renowned bass vocalist on the album.
“Classical Soul Vol. 1” pays homage to several iconic soul musicians by featuring snippets of their songs’ instrumentation. Ffrench expressed that feeling inspired by musicians such as Etta James, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin truly brought the album together. Toward the end of the listening party, he played selections from their music. He closed with a performance of his hit “Bluebird,” and spoke briefly about crafting the song and watching his daughter dance while filming the music video.
Ffrench then officially received his Gold plaque for the record.
When asked about how he gets started on creating instrumentation for his works, Ffrench said, “A lot of what I do is intuitive. There are things that I can do that I’ve always been able to do. My music is born out of organization. I’m a really keen listener so I listen to everything. I listen to the world around me, and the universe. I listen to people’s interactions. But the simplest answer is “I put my hand on the piano, and then stuff happens.”
It’s easier said than done however. What Ffrench creates is nothing short of remarkable. Each note resonates with a power and precision that most can’t comprehend. And with this upcoming album, Ffrench continues to impress us with his exceptional talent.
“Classical Soul Vol. 1” will be released September 20.
