Instrumental bliss abounds on the new release from Pittsburgh guitarist Ernie Francestine. His song “If It’s A Flower” could be the perfect soundtrack to your next nature walk.
Ernie recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
What’s your musical history up to this point?
I began playing guitar in high school and started playing in bands pretty quickly. I have been releasing music under my own name since 2020 and have tried to supplement my guitar playing with instruments I’m not as familiar with such as piano, synthesizers, assorted percussion and samplers.
How do you describe your sound?
Instrumental with elements of cinematic, psychedelia, folk, ambient and world music. Warren Parker, who runs WarHen Records in Charlottesville and is releasing the record, has dubbed it “Cucumber Folk” and I think that’s a good encapsulation of it.
"Alternate Place" is a rather evocative name for an album. Did you set out to build this world or did you just find yourself there in the process?
It was intentional to build the world that is captured on the album. I often find myself starting songs from song titles as that helps guide a concept before even sitting down and I had all of these connecting songs “Pre-Crest," "Crest," "Red Eyes Blue Skies," "Blue Skies Red Eyes," The Stone & The Evergreen PT. II" etc., and it felt like a good way to anchor and guide an instrumental record.
I originally planned for a larger concept record, but I found myself getting hemmed in by that idea and it was delaying the creative process. I took a break from writing, and I started again with the song “Alternate Place,” which was originally supposed to be a low stakes exercise meant to get the juices flowing again, but it turned into the concept that I wanted the album to be built around. There is something I love about starting a song with no expectations and watching it grow into the blueprint for the entire album.
Tell us more about the song "If It's A Flower." What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
I was considering when the album would be released and how someone may be walking around with it in their headphones and seeing different colors of flowers. The verse guitar part was one of the first things I wrote for the entire record in 2024, and I couldn’t find the right fit for it. I sat down one day and it all kind of fell out together as a single piece. I added a couple of different elements with synthesizers and horns and it coalesced in a really beautiful way. “If It’s A Flower” means a lot to me because it's a good representation of the sound I hear in my head and gets across the vibe of the entire record in an abbreviated presentation.
What was the first album that really changed your life?
I want to call out "Pet Sounds." We just lost Brian Wilson and when I first heard that record, I mean..really heard it…the depth and feeling really stuck with me. The complexity of the harmony while keeping the music based in a pop sensibility is something few have ever achieved. By the way, "Pet Sounds" is a Christmas album, I can’t explain it…but it is.
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to?
Pittsburgh bands I dig: Sleeping Witch & Saturn, Pat Hodge, Sweat.
Any other super interesting things about you we should know?
I play in local Pgh bands The Buckle Downs and Townsppl. "Alternate Place" drops June 20 and portion of each sale will be donated to FreeRide, a volunteer run donation driven bike co-op in Pittsburgh. People donate their used bicycles and FreeRide utilizes their network of volunteers to ensure that they are roadworthy and get them out to where they're needed the most.
"If It's A Flower" also appears on "Save The Waves: People For Public Media" — a new compilation benefiting PBS.
