Frances Ancheta battled breast cancer and still standing stronger than ever! She spreads the good word through her eclectic music and Frances proves that she is a true fighter. Not only is Frances a musical force, but she is also a philanthropist with associations to groups/organizations such as: American Cancer Society, National Alliance for Mental Illness, Music and Memory and Fiona’s Project. ‘Hidden Gems’ is the new release and it’s about to be revealed to the entire world that Frances Ancheta is the real gem that is sparkling like a Golden Songbird.
J Rae: I first want to talk about your new album titled ‘Hidden Gems’, which is your third installment over the span of 12 years. What is the meaning behind the album title?
Frances Ancheta: I decided to call my latest album ‘Hidden Gems’, as each song included on the album contains some kind of hidden gem of meaning for me. The songs on the album contain a reflection, inspiration, life lesson, or grain of truth in my life, based on all of the life experiences I’ve gone through and the people and observations I’ve come across.
J Rae: Your music includes many elements like: acoustic folk and indie pop/rock, which has been referred to as “tropical new wave folk”. Where does this style of music come from; how does your music speak to you personally and what does it say?
Frances Ancheta: Growing up as a first-generation Filipina American Gen Xer in a multi-cultural environment like San Francisco, I couldn’t help but absorb all of the musical influences around me. My parents listened to a lot of Filipino folk songs and Latin hits of the 60s and 70s, as well as the popular international songs in English during their generation. I was old enough to remember the classic 70s hits, but primarily grew up in the 80s. The new wave and post punk alternative groups really spoke to me, and I admired these musical artists’ individuality and refusal to conform to the norms of the time. I guess I loved both the calmness of the mellower styles of music, combined with the freshness and innovation of the musical groups of my childhood and youth.
J Rae: I couldn’t help but notice that it took a little over eight years to release your third record, ‘Hidden Gems’, and wonder if there was a reason for the timing on this particular album?
Frances Ancheta: It was a combination of factors. My first two albums were released back in 2008 and 2011. I was single when my first album was released, and I was married and pregnant during the making of my second album. My second album was released just in time before the birth of my son, and unfortunately I developed some health complications which required me to take a step back. In addition, I was starting to feel discouraged about the overwhelming and sometimes scary business of being an independent musician—it was hard to know who to trust. So I ended up focusing on my family and on my work as a creative arts therapist, playing therapeutic music for hospital patients. My turning point was back in 2017, when I turned to music during my breast cancer treatment, and in 2018 I decided to record a new album. I didn’t care how expensive it was going to be, I just knew I had to do it! I spent all of 2019 recording ‘Hidden Gems’, and in January of this past year I released it.
J Rae: How does ‘Hidden Gems’ compare to your previous material and what makes this album special and different from the prior albums?
Frances Ancheta: ‘Hidden Gems’ is a very special album to me. I would say it’s my very favorite album so far, and I enjoy all of my albums. This album is a personal triumph for me, in that it was my first album after so many years and after surviving cancer. I didn’t even know if I’d be around to even record another album, and yet here it is! I’m so grateful. This album also signified so much growth and evolution for myself as an artist and a person. I learned so much from my producer Chris von Sneidern. In addition, I was so excited to pursue more of a full band sound this time around, and it was such a pleasure to work with my team, my band members Gavin Jones (who recorded and produced my first two albums), Matt Sather, and Bill Moya.
J Rae: How has the response been thus far for ‘Hidden Gems’ and what’s the one key aspect you want listeners to take away from this recording?
Frances Ancheta: So far the response has been amazing and positive, which I’m grateful for. The album has garnered many positive album reviews online, and so many family and friends have approached me with the response “Wow”! I also was very touched to receive a fan e-mail from a young lady in Hawaii, who said that she and her good friend were introduced to my music by their community college music teacher. The teacher discovered my music and story online and shared with her class—they all were inspired by my music and story, and I am so extremely grateful. The one key aspect that I want listeners to take away is that music, creativity, positivity, and authenticity really do heal.
J Rae: As a breast cancer survivor, let me first say congratulations and give you a big round of applause!!! How does this part of your life fuse into your songwriting and also what would you like to tell all the people out there fighting cancer right now?
Frances Ancheta: Thank you so much, I appreciate it! I think being a cancer survivor has made me face the uncertainties of life a lot sooner than most people, so I’ve found myself to be more direct in my thoughts and feelings, which can catch people off guard sometimes. Surviving cancer has made me less afraid in terms of expressing myself, in my personal and professional life, and in my music. Life is too short, so I feel less need to beat around the bush nowadays. I feel less afraid to come up with those song lyrics and melodies. I am less worried nowadays about what other people think of me because I’ve been through so much already, and I know my style or vibe is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay. I’m grateful to be alive. The thing I would tell my fellow cancer survivors is to live fully, live genuinely, and be kind, patient, and loving to yourself. The cancer is a sign that you’ve paid your dues in trying to keep up with the hecticness, struggle, and expectations of a fast-paced, stressful life, so be good to yourself, let yourself relax, let others love and care for you, and do the things that make you happy.
J Rae: Besides being affiliated with American Cancer Society, you are also involved with some other great organizations such as: National Alliance for Mental Illness, Music and Memory and Fiona’s Project. I’d like to ask first how you initially got involved with these organizations and second would you mind providing some background/information on these valuable groups, so Skope readers can find out more for themselves?
Frances Ancheta: American Cancer Society—I am forever grateful and indebted to this organization, as they reached out to me when I was first diagnosed with cancer and I was hooked up with so much helpful information and resources, such as getting hooked up with a support buddy, getting a free wig during my chemotherapy, and getting a free children’s book to help explain to my son what was going on with me.
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and Music and Memory—the bulk of my experience as a Creative Arts Therapist is in psychiatric/mental health and long-term care/geriatric health services. These areas are my two passions as a Creative Arts Therapist.
NAMI works hard to reduce the stigma of mental illness, provides inspirational peer support/guest speakers (who are mentally ill and have been through the psychiatric system themselves) to the psychiatric patients at the hospital where I work. NAMI also provides community resources such as public education and advocacy, and social and support groups for people with mental illness and their families. I’ve met so many amazing people through NAMI who are successful and capable citizens in the community. My aunt had mental illness and I wish that there was a resource like this for her during her lifetime.
Music and Memory is an innovative organization that has worked with my hospital to provide customized MP3 music players to identified patients with dementia/memory impairment issues. As a result, the patients who sometimes are not responding, talking, or socializing anymore are suddenly and beautifully transformed—they become more alive and responsive via smiling, singing, talking, and engaging in eye contact once their favorite songs are played. It’s often an amazing, miraculous thing to witness, all because of the resurrection of one’s long buried memories of familiar, beloved songs and music from their generation and culture.
The Fiona Project is a non-profit I came across on a female indie musician website, founded by Asha Lightbearer. She, herself, is a singer/songwriter and a childhood sexual abuse survivor. Her mission is to raise awareness and stop the incidents of childhood sexual abuse, through partnering with musicians who plug The Fiona Project at their gigs, provide pamphlets/educational info re: childhood sexual abuse at their gigs, and/or organize performances/gigs that benefit The Fiona Project.
J Rae: Speaking of your role as Creative Arts Therapist, I’d love to know what this constitutes and could you take us through a typical day?
Frances Ancheta: I am both a nurse and a recreation therapist by trade, and I supervise the Creative Arts and Recreation Therapies Department and programs at a San Francisco Bay Area county hospital, San Mateo Medical Center. I supervise a team of art and recreation therapists, and in the past we even had music, dance, and drama therapists as well. We provide therapeutic groups and one on one treatment interventions throughout the hospital, primarily long-term care and psychiatric patients, but also other areas of the hospital such as the medical/surgical unit, intensive care unit, cancer infusion center, and the innovative care clinic. We do individual and group therapeutic interventions such as music, art, movement/dance, support groups, gardening, games, coping skills and wellness groups, meditation/yoga—all kinds of rewarding and positive stuff to help patients identify and become aware of their own wellness tools, and to adapt those tools successfully based on their functional and health needs, so that they can become proactive in using them to stay healthy and well.
J Rae: As a Filipina Singer/Songwriter and Musician, how do you bring a little of the Philippines to your overall sound and how is this perceived by the audience?
Frances Ancheta: I’ve been told by many people that I have a “tropical” or “island” sound to many of my songs. I suppose I can’t help it because of my cultural heritage, lol! In addition, during my gigs I try to incorporate at least a couple of Filipino songs that I grew up listening to, as well as a Spanish song or two. In terms of my overall sound and how it’s perceived by the audience, I’ve been told that my music is relaxing and soothing because of the tropical island element to many of the songs. As long as my music helps people feel good in a positive way, I don’t mind!
J Rae: I always end on a positive note and so here we go! What helpful advice and guidance can you offer the world especially during times of uncertainty and fear? What are ways to help put the mind, body and soul at ease; your own personal habits maybe?
Frances Ancheta: In this time of uncertainty and fear, the best thing that we can do is to be kind to ourselves and to each other. When we are kind to ourselves, we accept ourselves and can live life in the most genuine way. When others see our kindness and genuineness, it gives permission for others to do the same. If we always operate from a fear-based mindset, then there is no trust, and when there is no trust there is a feeling of aloneness, isolation, and being overwhelmed in the world, and right now we need each other’s help and support to survive. For me, one thing that I like to do is to practice gratitude—that really helps me. Every day I thank God for giving me another day of life, because it’s another day to be my best self and to carry out God’s divine plan. And I always try to slow down, even if it’s just a short moment each day, to look around and find at least one thing to be grateful for—whether it’s the fresh air, the warmth of the sunshine on my back, admiring the leaves on the trees along my walk, having a roof over my head, family and friends, eating a delicious meal, having the freedom to choose what I want to do for the day, having the inspiration to write a song…and having the opportunity to be interviewed! Thank you very much, blessings!!
https://www.francesanchetasongwriter.com/
By Jimmy Rae (https://twitter.com/2JRae)
