Community Highlights: Meet Frankie Nicole of Frowny Face Records

Today we’d like to introduce you to Frankie.

Hi Frankie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey with music began like how it began for a lot of other people. When I was little, I loved listening to whatever was on the radio from Britney Spears to Lifehouse and Rihanna to Maroon 5. My Grandma used to play the piano whenever I stayed at her house while my mom was at work, and I was put in drum lessons in the fourth grade. Music enhanced my imagination and made me the creative person and deep thinker I am today. As I entered middle school, I realized that I wanted to pursue music as a career. I listened to a lot of emo and pop-punk bands of the time like My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, etc. who sparked my interest in live music and songwriting. Once I discovered these bands, I wanted to make my own music, be in my own band, and get to tour the world with musicians who -I would hope- later become my best friends. I learned how to sing, play ukulele, guitar, piano, and any other instrument I could get my hands on. I scribbled lyrics in a notebook, practiced my vocal chops alone in my room, and took notes from various Hayley Williams performance compilations I watched on YouTube. However, like most artists, I was influenced to seek out an alternative career. I thought of pursuing live sound engineering, managing, A&R, and any other job within the music industry I could think of.

In 2021, as my music taste expanded to bands and musicians around me in the valley, something clicked. I knew that I wanted to integrate myself into the local music scene, so I started a playlist on Spotify called “So(lo)Cal”. This playlist consists of songs made by bands and musicians based only in Southern California and currently has a total of 201 likes and is the largest local music playlist in the world with over 300 artists added. This playlist introduced me to so many talented individuals who put so much time and effort into what they love despite the little to no recognition they get in return. It was incredibly inspiring for me, and everyone just looked like they were having a lot of fun. I wanted to have a bigger part in the success of these artists, so I kept looking into what it takes to become an A&R Rep for a record label. After many conversations with people in the industry whom I met while attending Cal Poly Pomona University for music, I quickly realized how competitive this field is and how I would go nowhere without experience or connections. So in January of 2023, I decided to become my own boss and created Frowny Face Records, an independent record label and local music resource based in Pomona, CA.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say the road has been bumpy but like the kind of smooth bumps that make you wonder if you have a flat tire. I’ve lived a very fortunate life thanks to my parents but I’ve had to overcome a few barriers. As my passion for pursuing music as a career blossomed in my teenage years, I was also going to a private Catholic school. There, I was limited in how I could express myself especially musically because there were absolutely no classes or clubs to foster my creativity. Also, with the school being so small it was rare to meet another musician who I could make music with. It only existed there once I revived the music club in my senior year in 2018 when it was too late, and I had to start thinking about college.

I would also say that another struggle in my journey has been with my mental health. Growing up, I dealt with severe social anxiety that constricted my confidence. I’d start crying if I was put in a position where I had to sing alone in front of anyone because of how debilitating the feeling was. Having this anxiety looming over me all of the time prevented me from connecting with others or improving my craft. It still affects me to this day, but I have found ways to cope with it and not let it ruin me.

Despite these setbacks, I’m grateful to have lived a beautiful life and am happy where I am now. I’ve met so many incredible artists, many I can call friends!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Established in January 2023, Frowny Face Records is a record label and local music resource dedicated to promoting local bands and musicians based in Southern California. We do so through reposting show fliers, curating playlists, designing artist highlights, hosting interviews, etc. We also have a music blog where people can discover new music through reviews written by our team of writers and we have a resource database for artists to find promoters, venues to perform at, recording studios, and more! All of these efforts are done to promote and help the many talented songwriters that may go unnoticed by the public eye. What sets us apart from other organizations/collectives is our attention to design and our commitment to making the page as accommodating as possible so that any musician looking to get into the industry has the support they need to succeed. We’re consistently working toward abolishing the barriers the music industry continues to put up.

Regarding what I’m most proud of brand-wise, I’m so proud of how fast the label page has managed to grow in a short amount of time and how many valuable connections have been made because of it. Every day, I get to work and communicate with local artists and creatives I admire! Frowny Face Records has also had the chance of collaborating on a ticket giveaway provided by Live Nation and I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

I want readers to know that Frowny Face Records is a safe and welcoming place for every artist to get the resources and recognition they deserve, especially for those who are just starting out in their careers.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I feel like I have experienced plenty of luck with how successful Frowny Face Records has become so far thanks to those who have helped get the word out about our existence like Sept, Porkboii, The Offtrax, and other established acts in the local music scene who I love! However, I also don’t want to discredit the hard work it took for the page to get to this point. As of right now, I’m the only one who runs everything. This is my 9-5 job! I make all of the posts, design the graphics, directly communicate with artists and those interacting with our content, etc. Any luck I have had has been a result of the hard work that’s already been done.

Regarding bad luck, I have had my fair share as someone who has just started cultivating a name in the industry. I’ve been rejected, ignored, or snubbed by artists, especially their teams. But despite these misfortunes, I see bad luck as fuel for my motivation to keep trying and working toward establishing a professional brand that people will take seriously.

Contact Info:

• Website: frownyfacerecords.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frownyfacerecords/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChubF0gEwRFtKLcgx3wklIg

Image Credits
JTB Media