Heston: “A soulful Journey”
Seventies-style soul singer/songwriter Heston Francis is taking music lovers back with the release of his forthcoming album “Transparency.”
During his listening party at Washington, D.C.’s Tap & Parlour, Heston soothed and serenaded guests with a host of songs under dim lighting while rocking it out to a live band. The lineup included slow love songs like “You,” upbeat foot-stompers and a unique tribute to renowned music artists.
This “Love Junkie,” a nickname he’s taken on, and the same name for one of his former albums, sings with an appeal that surely stirs the soul. His work is known both near and far – as his artistry has been performed from stages in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia all the way to London, England. Before his D.C. listening party, Quiet on the Set Magazine had the pleasure of sitting down with him for an exclusive interview.
Being born in the Caribbean influenced his soulful sound. At a young age, Heston Francis honed his skills by listening to soulful ballads of R&B and Reggae artists like Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, and Debaris Hammond. Heston says “As a child, singing came naturally”. Even though he began writing lyrics at a young age, it was a skill he had to work on. As he became more familiar with subjects from the influences of living life, his writing matured and flourished. Heston says “He was the best person to interpret and deliver songs from his personal experiences.
Heston embodies a soulful R&B/Reggae sound like no other. His rich melodic tone is a rare quality, especially when he belts out those notes that start small and climb up the scale, flooding the room with a genuinely uncontrived sound. This artist has pipes that make the hair on the back of your neck standup and goose bumps appear.
Making music is definitely his calling and his soulful journey is a road that he’ll be traveling for a long time.
Erik Humphrey and Ebony Shamberger
