The moment Neal Francis began his interview with The Beacon, he said hello before taking a moment to light incense. Dressed in a slick jumpsuit that could have been pulled right out of Disco 45, Francis leaned back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other. Radiating a soothing warmth, Francis mirrored the intimate burn of the incense freshly lit in front of him.
A week ahead releasing his third album, “Return To Zero,” which he calls “an eclectic anthology” of all the sounds that have inspired him since the ‘70s. This anthology’s goal? “To make people dance.”
“Return To Zero” doesn’t just make people move; its songs create conga lines with their infectious grooves and stylish synths. Each moment on the 11-track project embodies flared jeans and bell bottoms through a nostalgic yet refreshing approach to disco.
The album isn’t the only thing Francis has up his sleeve. “Return to Zero”’s release will be accompanied by a tour starting on March 20, including a stop at The Sinclair in Cambridge on March 26. This era of triumph didn’t come easy for Francis, as crafting “Return To Zero” was “messy” at times. That mess simply came from the demand to create a project.
“Executing under the pressure of a deadline and following through on [creating songs],” said Francis, “[then] being able to tell when I’m being perfectionist versus when something actually needs more work, and then, however painful that might be, going back and retooling things”
Francis enjoys nothing more than rehearsing with his band to flesh out each track. But even if something feels unfinished, he strives to balance his inner critic as he lays the final touches.
The process of creating music is honored in the name of the album “Return To Zero.” In a promotional video, Francis presses an RTZ button on the tape machine, granting him the ability to go back to zero, restarting his take and in effect, giving him a moment to meditate before his next take—then he tries again.
Francis also revealed that the album name has another personal meaning: It serves as a sort of overall mental reset for his projects going forward.
“This album represents zero, and the next album is going to be my first real album as an adult,” said Francis, laughing. “I was basically a child until I was 27. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to make a living off my own self-exploration.”
This self-awareness and reflection is the “zero” Francis refers to on the record, along with the more literal meaning of wiping the take and giving himself a fresh start going forward. Francis, now 37, directly pinpoints how his “shift in values” is translated to his work.
“I still want to bring those aspects of my inner child into my daily, creative, and personal interactions, but I’m more interested than ever just seeing what I’m able to achieve. What am I really able to do in the studio?” said Francis.
Balancing his childlike curiosity alongside his creative process as an adult is what led to such a refined body of work on “Return To Zero.”
“I’m not seeking a boring life, but the prospect of being in the studio and practicing for eight hours is more interesting to me than going out and getting into trouble.”
Francis says he’s inspired by artists like Iggy Pop or Jack White, who are both known for their stage presence. His own, more genuine after embracing changes.
“[The energy is] what the audience is most gratified by. I get to share that if I’m feeling rage or anxiety, you have to translate that into a performance,” said Francis, “that’s when I really feel the most connection with an audience.”
Prioritizing the time to perfect his stage presence, his identity, and his craft is something Francis holds dear.
“I’m saying I’m getting a late start because some people are able to do this at a very young age, I’m finding myself here,” said Francis. “I’m grateful that I arrived at all. Just being myself is the most compelling and most fulfilling thing of all.”
