Canción Franklin Interview | Respect the Dreamer
Canción Franklin has lived a textured life. Often seen roaming in a tall pair of red armadillo cowboy boots, a wrap-around head-scar from a childhood illness peeking through his wild hair, Cancion propels himself with the energy of a 21st century musical nomad.
He grew up in Arizona, in a small adobe house a stone's throw from the Union Pacific railroad, and taught himself to write songs on a 100 dollar nylon string pawn shop guitar that’s almost as scarred up as he is. Behind the wheel of his aging pick-up truck, he has carried his music across the country and back again, from desert roadhouses and Southwestern cantinas, to Midwestern highway motels and trendy Manhattan clubs, only pausing to smack the engine’s starter with a mic stand when it needs to be coaxed onto the next show.
What inspired you to pursue your dream, and how did it all begin?
It first began when I heard Hubert Sumlin's opening guitar lines on Howlin' Wolf's "Spoonful." That riff might have brought me into full consciousness for the first time. It taught me that I needed to play guitar, because I could be both cool and down at the same time.
Can you share a defining moment in your journey that shaped your perspective and fueled your passion?
I think playing in the NYC subways at a young age informed me that somehow I could do this. Like people have no reason to give a guitar player money down there, they only do it if they like the music. So for the first time I made a pocket full of change from people without motive.
How do you handle setbacks and keep pushing forward in the pursuit of your dreams?
I don't look at setbacks as setbacks per se. I see things that don’t work out as protection. Rejection is protection, or so I've heard.
Are there specific individuals who have inspired you along the journey?
Anyone who relentlessly pursues music inspires me. Especially late bloomers like Bill Withers.
How do you maintain a balance between pursuing your dreams and handling everyday responsibilities?
Well I've heard when a person achieves his dreams he still needs to keep following them. So I try to see maintaining everything as part of following my dreams and no something separate from that.
How do you overcome self-doubt and stay confident in your abilities?
I don't overcome self doubt, and neither do I try. It is relentless and always part of the equation. I just keep going despite that. I have noticed that my self doubt doesn't really attach itself to anything realistic, like what's going on in my life. It's attached to how I feel about things, which is usually an inaccurate perspective.
Can you share a memorable success story or achievement that resulted from your determination?
Every year has been better than the last. More touring, more recording, more writing, more performing and session work is coming to me than ever before. I'm also better at what I do than ever, I've put the time in and it's looking better than ever. Growth is all I can ask for.
In what ways do you stay motivated during challenging times?
Sometimes times are so challenging that I can't stay motivated. I just try to forgive myself and move on from that. Trouble comes, but it fades and makes way for good times. I'm definitely not in control of any of it.
What dream are you living right now?
I feel like I'm actively engaging in the music business, which took me a long time because I was afraid of rejection, but also probably not ready to truly contend. I'm in my truck with my guitars in the back driving to a gig all the time these days. I'm posting on social media the way everyone has always told me to. I'm working with other musicians that I love and respect. I just recorded a great full length record that's better than anything I've ever done. I'm shopping that record around. It feels like success.
What advice would you give to someone with a dream?
People spend their whole lives trying to go the safe way. Well, the safe way through life is 90 percent as difficult and dangerous as the unsafe way, and you still deal with all the heartbreak and terror no matter what. We're all born with a blank deck of cards, a person might as well do what they want, because there's nothing that says that insulating yourself from the possibility of failure is going to work. I mean people do everything "right" in life and things don't work out for them all the time. People do everything "wrong" and boom, success. It's all in God's hands.
Website: http://www.cancionfranklin.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cancionfranklin
Facebook.com: http://www.facebook.com/cancionfranklin
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