Singer-songwriter and producer Francesca Fuentes recently unveiled her new single/music video “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again,” about the unapologetic thrill of a former romance that still lingers. The song was lifted from her latest EP, Can’t Hide.
Born and raised near the Jersey Shore, Fuentes began playing guitar and writing songs when she was 12 years old. When she was 18, her music was creating buzz—her debut music video, “Rock With Me,” won Best Film at the 2019 Lovesick Film Festival in Jersey City.
Two years later, after a personal and professional split with her producer, she was left with a broken heart and an unfinished debut album. Instead of giving up, Fuentes used her music as catharsis, purging her emotions through her projects.
Now 26, Fuentes is diving headfirst into her artistry—fearlessly pushing creative boundaries and baring her soul to the world. With a brand-new versatile, stripped-back album on the horizon, she is ready to take on anything that comes her way.
At once sultry and luxuriously evocative, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again” finds Fuentes revealing a beguiling emotional vulnerability that’s irresistible.
Guitar Girl Magazine caught up with Francesca Fuentes to talk about her music, her Fender guitars, and her fascination with film.
What three things can’t you live without?
If we’re talking daily essentials then definitely my Stanley, my blanket hoodie, and a Laneige lip balm (berry or vanilla scented). On a deeper level, certainly music, family, and faith.
What inspired your new single/music video, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again?”
The song is derived from heartbreak but puts an optimistic spin on it and creates this sweet, endearing tale of missing someone without being angry at them. The bridge even says I’ll always love you, even if we are never together again and I think that’s a touching message. I love pop culture, 90s movies, and romance, so those things seeped into the visual. I wanted to create a video that paid homage to the decades (‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s) while honoring some of the women from those decades. They also sang of heartbreak and yet they came out stronger and more successful than they could have ever imagined.
Who directed the video and where was it shot?
I was in charge of creative direction and my videographer, Kris Khunachak, was director of cinematography and photography. It felt like a team effort between the both of us, which was really fun. We had a few locations for the video. One was the rooftop of Kris’s apartment building in Hoboken, New Jersey. I love that you can see NYC in the distance!
You’re working on an album right now. What can you share about it?
My album details every piece of my ‘Dark Night of the Soul.’ It is about the darkest time in my life when I departed girlhood and entered womanhood. They say you can’t actually enter womanhood until you experience a deep pain that initiates you into it. This period brought me to writing with great passion and sorrow. One song turned into another and so, creating this album was a great outlet for me. It was the healing process in real time. When it comes out, it’s going to be like ‘Yeah, so come get to know this frail version of me with black hair and angry eyes,’ and that’s just what it is. There are many artists out there who are afraid to be vulnerable, but the truth is, you can’t be any good without being vulnerable.
How did you get started in music?
According to my mom, I was at the park one day and spotted a 20-something hop out of her pickup truck, spread a blanket out on the grass, and started singing and playing guitar. I looked at my mom and said, ‘I want to do that.’ The rest is history.
Which singers/musicians influenced your sound?
Taylor Swift for her cathartic storytelling, Amy Winehouse for her legendary experimentation with jazz and reggae, and Zakk Wylde for his dedication, power, and incredible skill level. I don’t feel like I sound like anybody, but upon listening to some of my music, you can hear these influences in little slips, lyrics, and production choices. Zakk is my number one dream songwriting collaboration because, to me, his songs are raw, spiritual, and eye-opening.
What kind of guitar do you play? Which amps and pedals are you using?
I rotate between a Fender acoustic and a Fender jazz master. I don’t play the jazz master too often, which is a sin, but she always comes out during the live performances and people love her. As for amps, I have this really pretty VOX amp I got on sale at Guitar Center!
What is your definition of tone? And is your tone evolving?
I think the definition of tone is different for everybody and for me, it’s the personal sound you create based on the emotions conveyed in your music. For me, that’s always evolving because the songs I make reflect the chapters of my life and life never stops changing.
What can you share about your creative process?
I realized from a young age that I was developing this creative ability to observe my surroundings and convert what I absorbed into pieces of work. I think the most interesting part about my creative process is how that is still happening. What I experience always turns into art. It’s how my brain processes things.
Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practicing, or playing live?
While performing live would have to be my number one out of that list, my favorite part of getting to make music is creating the visuals for it. I am obsessed with music videos, and I love realizing the human experience through film. My interest in film has peaked recently and it’s my dream to make a short film to pair with my full-length album. I don’t want to just make music. I want to build a world for people to explore with that music.
What is your definition of success?
I have asked myself this question a lot throughout my journey and as I get older, the way I think about it is, my accomplishments are like a resume that I get to keep and look back on; something to show for my hard work. It’s never about making tons of money or getting to the top of the chain. For me, it’s always about collecting small accomplishments so that maybe one day, I can score a bigger one. Success to me is defined by the little hilltops and even if you never get that mountain-top moment, you still have tons to be grateful for, which is so cool.
What’s next for Francesca Fuentes?
While my full-length album is finished, I am still planning the release. Right now, you can expect me to remain active on my socials, sharing covers and originals. I am also trying to step into the live music scene and play more shows. I think it’s very important to not drop off the face of the earth after a big release or a great accomplishment. You have to take everything you got from that release, carry it on your back, and use it to get the next thing. And that’s what I will be doing.
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