Rising indie star Frances Forever releases their debut album Lockjaw.
Frances Forever is the maximalist, colorful project of indie-pop artist Frances Garrett. They saw viral Tiktok success with 2020’s “Space Girl,” which they followed up with EP Paranoia Party in 2021. Now, their new project Lockjaw covers a range of fun, silly moments as well as deeper, introspective themes, sometimes in the same song. Frances grapples with their queer identity – what it means to them and how they fit into society.
The album starts with “Stuck,” a song with a simple, repeating beat and winding vocal line. Frances creates syncopation with their voice by timing the beat to hit an atypical part of the sentence, which results in the song feeling like the title: stuck.
Later in the album, “Troll” provides fun escapism contrasted with insecurity: Frances wishes they could live a carefree life as a troll under a bridge because then, they’ll “never even be perceived by all the stupid birds and bees.” Their silly little life under the bridge means they don’t have to risk the rejection of other people: “you can’t be my friend, I’ll scare you off again.”
“Monica Gives Me Lockjaw,” the first song written for the album and the inspiration behind the name, again deals with the mortifying ordeal of being known. Frances can’t open their mouth around their crush Monica, instead longing for her in silence.
“Nobody’s Daughter,” one of the final songs on the album, shows Frances wrestling with their nonbinary identity – the desire to be perceived as they want to be perceived. This heartfelt ballad has Frances wishing they could just get over their own feelings, but ultimately deciding that while it would be “easier to be somebody else,” they need to be themselves.
The album is a great time and sure to be a hit with fans of bedroom pop. Frances will tour the northeast for their headline “Lockjaw” tour in July, then open for K. Flay’s “Way Up West” tour in August.
I am an Austin, TX-based photographer and filmmaker. I moved from Houston to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where I graduated in 2022. I'm a lifelong music lover and spend tons of time attending shows and making music. Some current favorites are Sophie May, Farmer’s Wife, and K. Flay.
