Frances Ancheta

Artist Information

Biography

I'm an Asian American (Filipina) singer songwriter who grew up in San Francisco, California. Growing up in a multi-cultural environment, the styles that have influenced me are 80s British new wave/alternative rock, 60s and 70s folk styles and singer songwriters, world music from tropical countries (Latin, reggae, Hawaiian styles), old standards, and classical/fingerstyle guitar. I've performed at many cafes, festivals, galleries, and events in the SF Bay Area. My music is mellow yet surprising at the same time.

Instrumentation

Frances Ancheta--vocals, guitar
(plus guest musicians on bass and percussion)

Discography

Full length CD of original songs entitled "Now We're Here." Currently featured on myspace.com and cdbaby.com. My music has radio airplay on 7 independent stations across the United States, as well as 6 internet radio stations in the U.S., Canada, England, and Spain.

You can listen to all my CD tracks on cdbaby.com and on Apple iTunes.

Audio

• Coming Home
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• Nothing Really Matters
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• On And On And On
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Coming Home
• Nothing Really Matters
• On and On and On

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Quietly Pretty Songs fill Frances Ancheta's Debut Album [+ Show ]
  

  Filipino singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta may employ an acoustic guitar, but her quietlyl pretty so...Filipino singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta may employ an acoustic guitar, but her quietlyl pretty songs are more coffeehouse pop than folk, which is fine with me. Given the glut of unplugged young lyricists out there, it's not easy to encounter someone with a voice that is distinguishable from the crowd. At times Ancheta recalls Corrine Drewery of Swing Out Sister; an obscure reference, sure, but there's no denying the similarity there, especially on "Coming Home." "Coming Home" is also one of the tracks on the CD which may reel in indie geeks with an insatiable appetite for twee, especially those who love the sadly beautiful sentiments of the Sundays.
  
  "School of Fish" is the most upbeat track on the album as Ancheta's guitars have a spiky push. Much of the record, though, is rainy-day introspection, and Ancheta reveals her true influences by the perhaps unconsciously given English accents on "Hidden Song" and "Nothing Really Matters", drawing close to the likes of Frente! and Morrissey. Ancheta offers pleasant summer afternoon listening that is an inviting respite from the noise of the underground.

• Frances Ancheta injects alternative flavor into folk, acoustic pop [+ Show ]
  

  San Francisco-based singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta belongs to the post-Generation X side of the a...San Francisco-based singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta belongs to the post-Generation X side of the acoustic-pop coin, abosrbing the influence of not only traditional folk music but the edgy British college rock of the mid-to-late '80s. These influences inform her approach on her debut album, "Now We're Here", which marries the coffeehouse calmness of folk with the brittle emotions of classic alternative music.

• Folky Filipina singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta driven by modest ambitions [+ Show ]
  

  Singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta isn't aiming for global stardom. The young Filipina acoustic-pop a...Singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta isn't aiming for global stardom. The young Filipina acoustic-pop artist is instead simply wanting her gently rolling unplugged narratives to be appreciated, to find homes in the ears of listeners. Given that so many musicians today enter the field with MTV fantasies in their imagination, Ancheta's modest ambitions are touching and reflected in their down-to-Earth pleasures of her debut album "Now We're Here".

• Interesting and Surprising [+ Show ]
  

  This CD makes you feel like you are at your favorite coffee shop where you wish the music was this g...This CD makes you feel like you are at your favorite coffee shop where you wish the music was this good. It almost has a "live album" quality to it because of the way her music seems to bring her into your home. Frances has enough pop influence to make her easily accessible but brings some more global beats and influences that make her much more interesting and surprising. Her unique way of bringing different influences together separates her out from the masses.

• Sings with a lot of heart [+ Show ]
  

  Ancheta's music has a mellow vibe to it that is a cross between Sarah McLachlan and Lisa Loeb...Anch...Ancheta's music has a mellow vibe to it that is a cross between Sarah McLachlan and Lisa Loeb...Ancheta is a sweet-voiced folky singer/songwriter who sings with a lot of heart.

• Soothing easy listening [+ Show ]
  

  A textured and simplified album fitted with her breathy vocals...Frances' sound is a combination of ...A textured and simplified album fitted with her breathy vocals...Frances' sound is a combination of Calypso and Hawaiian tropical goodness--it's nice.

• New Music Spotlight: Frances Ancheta [+ Show ]
  

  Acoustic singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta makes beautiful music that fans will relate to with her a...Acoustic singer/songwriter Frances Ancheta makes beautiful music that fans will relate to with her amazing soft vocals and lovely lyrics. She is going to continue the tradition of other female singer/songwriters who have made a big splash in the music industry.

• Songs stand on their merits [+ Show ]
  

  Playing guitar and singing, she often invites guest musicians on bass and percussion, but mostly her...Playing guitar and singing, she often invites guest musicians on bass and percussion, but mostly her style is uncluttered, letting her songs stand on their merits. Her full-length debut CD, Now We’re Here, has had air play on independent radio stations around the world.
  

Setlist

Sets usually run from 1 to 3 hours. Average time is 2 hours (two 45 minute sets).

Original songs in my setlist:

You've Got Me
Coming Home
You Don't
Lahaina
School of Fish
Empty Chair
I am Sure
Hidden Song
Good Night
Nothing Really Matters
Moving
On and On and On
One Chance
This Is
Lucky

Cover songs repertoire:

It's Magic (Doris Day)
Summertime
Baby Can I Hold You (Tracy Chapman)
Lovesong (The Cure)
Everyday is Like Sunday (Morrissey)
How Many Times (Erasure)
I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Dahil Sayo/Sabor A Mi (Tagalog/Spanish medley)
Call Me (Blondie)
Only the Lonely (The Motels)
It's Now or Never (Elvis Presley)
Saan Ka Man Naroroon Sinta (Pilita Corrales/Filipino song)

Some instrumental guitar, including traditional/classical songs (ex. Romance, flamenco) and old popular standards.

Basic Requirements

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