DIY pop ruler - Frankie Rose; photographed by Esme Rogers Smith.

Some artists need no introduction. Some artists have been helping shape the creativity canyons of our consciousnesses for years now. These are those that have inspired us then, now and forever. They are the folks that have inspired other artists who have then gone on to share these informative rays of light with other luminaries to make for an ever growing chorus of expansive craft makers with a glow that perpetually increases in volumes of radiance. These are the ones that curate the pages of the pop art presses, fashioning the styles of contemporary pop cultures, they can make the present feel like the past and the past feel like clandestine detours to the present and future alike. Their catalogues are collected. Side projects treasured. And with every new offering — our universe of creatives sit up, stand up and pay heed with close attention.

The bands have become canon: Vivan Girls, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, Fine Place, et al. The artist stands as a singular force of visions and volition, the prolific Frankie Rose with the brand new album Love As Projection for Slumberland/Night School. Nearly six years since the release of Cage Tropical, Rose releases her most grandiose record to date in a full length that basks in the maximalist glow of big time productions and affectionate expressions. Projection shines at the top of every stylistic chart that it embraces, like an electro-emblazoned display of purpose, pride, presence and limitless persistence.

A creative cycle that exhibits Frankie Rose’s established arts emanating at their brightest cadence yet, synths abound and surround the audience from the psychic moods of “Sixteen Ways”, to the lingering lullaby starlight twinkle on the closer “Song For a Horse”. The ingenious “Anything” reinvents the 80s power ballads that you once know for something greater than the inspirational source material in a track that is a study in synth pop perfection. Pensive moments of pause linger on the saudade solitude of “Had it Wrong”, to the smoldering gazed goth sway of “Saltwater Girl” that gingerly sashays like an esoteric 4AD track made by Fraser / Guthrie.

The eye and ear opening energy of "Feel Light" slowly percolates like a kettle in anticipation of the day's first sip of coffee and/or tea with the arrival of the morning's first glimpse of sun. "DOA" brings about some electric stepping bops, as the heavy-lidded enchantment of "Sleeping Night and Day" surrenders to the abandon of restful indulgence in excess. Attitudes are cryptic, subversive and gleefully radical on the righteous ethereal radio wave ripper "Molotov in Stereo", before the disco dalliance of "Come Back" takes flight toward futures of fancy in projections of higher forms of love, affections and unlimited affinities. Love as Projection casts a beam of love and light that is a reminder of all the good things that are still possible in an imperfect and outright weird world. Join us after the jump as Frankie Rose presents some items of inspiration and fascination:

Current creative canons by Frankie Rose

Stroom (record label)

One of the most interesting labels around right now, reissuing and releasing things all over the map but really specializing in Belgian post-punk, EBM, ambient and whatever. All kinds of musical curiosities. They issued an Adult Fantasies compilation of greatest hits, odds, and ends a few years ago and it has one of my favorite songs of theirs — "The Party is Over":

My project Fine Place did an interpretative cover of that track on our LP [This New Heaven] for Night School. Everything and anything that comes out of this camp is excellent and worth hearing, whether it's new or archival. Makes me realize there's still so much good stuff out there that hasn't been distributed or rediscovered.

Ursula K. Le Guin (author)

Everyone should read her. She deals in possibility. What would an anarchist planet look like? Is there such a thing as a truly egalitarian state? What would our troubles look like if there was no such thing as gender? I am constantly brought back to the short story The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas. A question is raised regarding living in a society that is supposedly prosperous, while totally dependent on the suffering of one child without reprieve. Is it worth it? If the price of happiness is suffering and if one cannot exist without the other? Le Guin has always inspired me to think beyond my (our) current circumstance and imagine better, or sometimes just different.

Kiddie Boi ( my cat)

I love my cat. It's easy to make fun of a lady and her cat or whatever, but to be honest I didn't plan on having a cat. I'm the victim of the cat distribution system. KB chose me. He's a bodega baby and he just about jumped into my arms. He is a brat and he barfs a lot, but wow. What a special little guy. Sometimes I just look at him and I can't believe I get to hang out with this funny little animal every day. We play tag and hide and go seek. And apparently, he has a dangerously small bladder but it doesn't stop him from standing with his nose in the corner until I give him a treat. I suspect he knows exactly what is going on at all times.

Brad Troemel (artist)

An artist from Chicago. He's very much a theorist and in my opinion, he is making really interesting work. His takes are spot-on regarding what is art and what does being an artist in 2023 even mean. He has a very unromantic view about art and unapologetically speaks about capitalism privilege, and gatekeeping. His commentary is biting and honest and I think he is one of the most interesting voices around right now.

The arts of interest by Frankie Rose; photographed by Esme Rogers Smith.

Cathode Cinema (film curation project)

Which started as a curated stream of movies on the internet. but now has programming almost every night. It features experimental features, shorts, cult classics, weird TV and special themed programming. Where they find this stuff I have no idea but a lot of it is material that would only be found in the deep archives of Kim's video or something. they have an Instagram where you can keep up with them.

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George Kuchar ( fillmaker)

I was lucky enough at 17 to have been able to take his class at the art institute in San Franciso during my one semester of art school before I realized that I couldn't afford art school. A peer of John Waters, his entire curriculum constituted giving us a camera and $200 dollars, sending us off to buy costumes, write a script and shoot a little movie. It was the epitome of punk being given permission to make something with no rules is maybe one of the greatest gifts a teacher can give to a young artist. I definitely took that inspiration when I started my first bands and had no idea how to play an instrument. Beauty in art so often lives in imperfection, happy accidents and sometimes just not knowing what the hell you are doing. I will eternally be grateful for George Kuchar and his exquisite brand of damaged filmmaking.

And here’s a pic of Kiddie Boi:

Frankie Rose’s Love as Projection is available now via Slumberland/Night School and everywhere.

TOUR DATES:

March

11 Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool *

April

13 Orlando, FL - Wills Pub *
14 West Palm Beach, FL - Propaganda #*
15 Miami, FL - Gramps
16 Tampa, FL - New World Brewery +

May

14 Washington DC - Songbyrd $
15 Durham, NC - Pinhook $
16 Atlanta, GA - The Earl $
18 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves $
19 Austin, TX - Empire Control Room $
21 Albuquerque, NM - Sister $
23 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar $
24 Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon $
25 San Francisco, CA - The Chapel $
26 Sacramento, CA - Starlet Room $
27 Portland, OR - Doug Fir $
28 Seattle, WA - Madame Lou's $
31 St Paul, MN - Turf Club $

June

01 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club $
03 Chicago, IL - TBA
04 Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag $
05 Toronto, ON - Monarch Tavern $
06 Montreal, PQ - Bar Le "Ritz" PDB $
07 Troy, NY - No Fun $
08 Brooklyn, NY - TV Eye $

* = w/ Donzii
# = w/ Postcards From Paradise
+ = w/ Romeo Blu, Offerings
$ = w/ SRSQ

The pop proclamations of Frankie Rose