Joël Francis
Singer-songwriter | R&B Artist
“START TODAY. IF THERE'S A DREAM YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF, TAKE ONE SMALL STEP TODAY”
How are you doing?
I'm doing okay! To be honest, I'm a little stressed at the moment. I'm in full production mode, and planning an event is definitely not for the weak.
But overall, I really can't complain. I'm doing well.
You're an amazing artist. How did you get started?
First of all, thank you so much! I always say there are two answers to this question. The first one goes all the way back to when I was around eight or nine years old. I remember constantly making up little melodies in my head. Whenever I managed to remember them, I'd write lyrics to them, or what felt more like poems at the time, and keep everything in little notebooks. That's one of my earliest memories. I've always loved singing and creating.
The second answer is when I started professionally. In 2022, I released my first song. That actually came from a very emotional period in my life. I was going through my first heartbreak and felt completely overwhelmed by everything I was feeling. I naturally went back to what I used to do as a child, writing music. What surprised me was that sharing those songs publicly became part of my healing process. It wasn't just about writing anymore. It was about connecting with people who related to those emotions. Looking back, that's really what started everything.
Apart from singing, what was your first ever job?
Haha, hospitality,(Horeca) just like so many people, I think! I was around 15 or 16 and worked in a bistro on the coast in Blankenberge. I was serving tables, clearing plates, helping customers... all the classic horeca jobs. It definitely taught me how to work hard and deal with all kinds of people.
What's your favorite part of being an artist?
Without a doubt, the creative process. I'm always fascinated by where my mind takes me, how certain lyrics, melodies or ideas suddenly appear. Every writing session feels like I'm taking myself on a date because I genuinely get to know myself a little better each time. It's also interesting to look back and analyze my own process. Every project feels different, but I've realized I actually have a bit of a playbook. I usually start by freestyling melodies, then I free write whatever I'm feeling that day or whatever I want to talk about. From there, everything slowly starts coming together.
Do you ever get stressed before a release?
Definitely, but not because I'm scared of people's reactions. The stress is almost always on the practical side. Did I submit everything on time? Did I pitch the songs to the right playlists? Are the copyrights sorted? Is all the admin done? And of course, finances. The artistic part actually excites me. It's all the behind the scenes logistics that keep me up at night.
As an artist you need to be active on social media. Do you like it, or does it feel more like a must?
Absolutely! Although it definitely didn't start that way. At first, it really felt like, "Oh great... another thing I have to do as an independent artist." And I do want to emphasize independent artists, because I think artists with a label or a full management team probably experience this very differently. The pressure to constantly show up online, promote yourself, and make your presence known felt exhausting in the beginning. I kept thinking, "Can't the music just speak for itself?" But over time, my perspective completely changed. Since I've been putting a lot more focus on building a genuine community around my music, I now see social media as an opportunity to connect with people rather than just promote my work. It's almost like a filtered live diary. Being an independent artist today means being incredibly flexible. You have to wear so many hats if you want to survive and keep growing. Whether that's unfortunate or exciting really depends on your perspective.
Which artists do we need to add to our playlist right now?
Jazmine Sullivan! And honestly, her entire Heaux Tales project. It's such a soulful, therapeutic body of work. Every time I listen to it, I discover something new.
Yessir!! If you could open for any artist, who would it be?
Victoria Monét, without a doubt. Her music really resonates with me, and from everything I've seen through interviews and social media, she seems like such a genuine, grounded person. She's also an incredible songwriter. Her catalogue is absolutely insane. It would honestly be an honour to open for her, but even more so to simply have a conversation with her about music, creativity and songwriting.
I could definitely see that happening! What are you working on at the moment, and when can we expect to hear something new?
Right now I'm working on the deluxe version of my latest EP, Rooted in Love. The first single from that project, "Time Flies," comes out on July 31st, so definitely pre save it! I guess that counts as something new! But for me, it feels more like a continuation of the story I started telling on Rooted in Love. It's another chapter in my journey of exploring self love and romantic love through R&B. At the same time, it's also a bold statement. I truly believe R&B deserves a much bigger place in Belgium, and I want to contribute to changing that.
We're so excited to see your future plans! Tell us something to inspire the culture.
Thank you so much, and thank you for having me! Honestly, I don't think I have one magical quote that's going to inspire everyone. I actually think the most inspiring thing is yourself. As human beings, we're so much more powerful than we often realize. We have the ability to shape our reality through the choices we make every single day. If there's a habit you want to break, don't wait until Monday, next month or next year. Start today. If there's a dream you've been putting off, take one small step today. I genuinely believe we're far more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Once you start living from that truth, so many more possibilities open up. The world really is your oyster.