Interview with Jake Francis

As a little boy, Jake always had a love for country music. Born and raised in Coral Springs, Florida, he grew up with a love for competition and sports. He played baseball, golf, football, and hockey throughout his childhood. His father bought him his first guitar at the age of twelve, but he never got around to learning until hanging up a career as a professional golfer.

While starting a farm in Central Florida where he grew produce and sold it to the small town’s restaurants and community, Jake fell in love with the art of songwriting. After selling the farm only a few short years later, Jake moved back home to sunny South Florida. He began playing the local bars and made a name for himself in the South Florida music scene in a very short time. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2021 where he is playing and writing music.

Jake recently took on the title of “dad,” and is cherishing his time with his newborn son and is focusing on playing several famous Nashville Broadway bars such as Jason Aldean’s.

What first got you into music?

I always loved listening to music since I was a little kid. My father bought me my first guitar for my 12^th Birthday, and I never got around to learning to play it. Fast forward 9 years. I visited Nashville for the first time on my 21^st birthday and of course, was doing the whole tourist thing down on Broadway. I stumbled into a bar called Swinging Doors Saloon, which is now Losers Downtown. I met a guy playing on stage named Carlton Anderson and listened to him play his whole gig. I thought it was just the coolest thing in the world, what he was doing. When he finished, we had some drinks together and stayed in touch after I went back home to Florida. When I got home, I picked up that same guitar and taught myself to play off of YouTube. I advanced quickly and was playing tons of songs for friends and family in just a few months. I then got into songwriting about a year later.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with Riley Green. I love his sound and think lyrically he is one of the best in country music these days. His songs are all very real and honest and I think we would make some great music together because of that.

What’s your favorite song to perform?

My favorite song to play at the moment is “Feathered Indians” by Tyler Childers. I do a more upbeat version of the song that usually gets the crowd really into it!

What do you enjoy most about being an artist?

I love being on stage and being able to connect with people through music. Whether it’s playing a popular song that everyone knows the words to or playing one of my songs that somebody is hearing for the first time. It’s the greatest job in the world.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

When I first started playing music live in South Florida, a friend of mine in the industry told me “no matter how many people are in the room. It could be 5 or it could be 5000, give every second you’re on that stage your all because you never know who is watching”.

What are your plans for any future releases?

I already have another single that I just finished up. I’m planning on releasing it sometime around the beginning of the year. It’s a fun love song and I can’t wait for y’all to hear it!

1. What is the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?

I’m definitely a steak and potatoes kinda guy. I would say a nice ribeye, some au gratin potatoes, and fresh broccoli.

2. What’s the last TV series you’ve watched?

We just finished watching a series called “Shooter” on Netflix. I 10/10 recommend it and the main character, Bob Lee Swagger is defiantly not one to mess with.

3. If you were talking to a younger version of yourself, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself that I’m doing just fine, and I don’t have to have it all figured out already. Also, don’t spend time worrying about things that you can’t control.

4. Do you sing in the shower? What Songs?

Of course, and anyone who says they don’t sing in the shower is lying! Right now I think my top shower song is “Thinking Bout You” by Dustin Lynch.

5. If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be and your superhero name?

I would want my superhero power to be able to read people’s minds. I mean how cool would that be. My name would be Mad Mind.