frankydrama on Madrid’s underground, channelling chaos into creativity, and shaping the raw emotion of ‘And One’
From Madrid to the dancefloor frankydrama’s ‘And One’ hits with tons of emotion & precision. We spoke to Fran about his influences & experiences behind his Faux Poly EP.
Fran Zaragoza carries a deep-rooted house sensibility into every project he touches. His new alias signals a more personal, introspective chapter, one shaped by years of genre exploration and emotional growth. On ‘And One’, he revisits club memories, late-night sessions, and turbulent life moments into groovedriven, precision crafted tracks that bridge classic house with the punch of contemporary UK bass.
In this interview, frankydrama dives into the creative process behind ‘And One’, unpacking how he processes vocals, approaches track building without a fixed formula, and why this release feels like a major leap forward, reflecting on his transition between projects, the value of collaboration during the final production stages, and how the need to feel something remains central to everything he creates.
Q: Hey Fran can you give us a little insight into where you’re from, your musical journey and your local scene?
A: My name is Fran, from Madrid, and I've been an active part of the city's electronic music scene for roughly 15 years now. Over that time, I've gone through various periods, projects, and phases. To list it all now would be rather cumbersome, but suffice it to say that since the age of 18 (I'm 36 now), I've explored many genres, though if I had to define myself with one in particular, it would be House. My music, both past and present, draws from the essence of House, even if that isn't immediately apparent.
Q: What inspired the shift from Fran Zaragoza to your alias, frankydrama?
A: Fran Zaragoza was the first "serious" (or semi-serious) name I used in electronic music. When I was taking form to the frankydrama project, Fran Zaraoza had a significant period of inactivity, and the music I had released under that name represented a young individual still learning and without much clear direction; and releases are well over a decade ago. In reality, it wasn't so much a shift as the fact that Fran Zaragoza as an artist had been dormant for a long time. frankydrama owes more, perhaps, to my other project (Depaart), which is focused in other genres not close at all to what I'm doing solo.
Q: The EP blends house and bass textures. Can you break down the influences behind this release?
A: If I'm honest, it would be difficult for me to pinpoint specific influences. This EP is a confluence of many nights in clubs, in the studio, across different years and in different environments. In recent times, I've had a particular predilection for and fascination with the more contemporary British bass music scene. This EP is an attempt to bring together my origins, the music I've made and absorbed, and everything around me that I find so compelling. And that's essentially what "And One" is: groove, or mainly club oriented music, with numerous reminiscences.
Q: You’ve mentioned that this EP was a significant step forward for the frankydrama project. What makes this release special for you?
A: It's likely (and almost certainly the case) that these tracks have had the most labour invested in them, even if it might not sound that way. Sonically, the final touches in production and mixing involved many hours, and not just from me, but also from the Faux Poly team. It's gratifying to see someone listen to your music attentively and work to make it even better. It's been a rewarding experience both on a personal level, being alone with myself in the studio, and in sharing those final changes with Joe and Warren.
Q: Your music has a distinct groove and precision. What’s your general approach when starting a new track?
A: The truth is, I don't have a fixed formula. I can start a track for many different reasons and in numerous ways, and to this day I remain quite eclectic and somewhat chaotic in that regard. Once the initial idea is more developed, I am indeed very methodical in how I finalise and mix the track, but in the more creative phase, I don't adhere to any particular pattern. What I have come to realise is that I can't make music if I don't feel a compelling need to do so. I don't believe in production as a mere act of creating music; it has to convey something. The last couple of years have been somewhat turbulent on a personal level, and this EP, like many others from the last two years, has been a response to challenging times.
Q: Vocals in ‘And One’ play a big role - how do you choose and process vocal samples to fit into your tracks?
A: Vocals are one of the elements that generate the most obsession for me. Frankly, I don't have a specific method here either. I've used vocals from the most common libraries, as well as my own recordings, depending on the moment. What I do tend to do is process them extensively; it's a bit of a habit. I find it difficult to take a vocal and use it exactly as I received the sample. I simply can't.
Q: You mentioned spending "a ton of hours" perfecting this EP. Were there any particular challenges or breakthroughs in the process?
A: The greatest challenge is often dealing with myself. I've experienced many personal and professional changes recently, and as I mentioned earlier, this EP, like all the music released under the frankydrama name to date, is a response to a specific moment and state of mind. I recall times producing almost all of the 40 tracks I've released in the last year; they've all been my way of responding to something.
