I know what you’re thinking right now, ‘Franceschi, where have I heard that name before?’ Even more so…delve further into your mind and you’ve probably wondered before who the outstanding female vocals were on Always Attract?

Of course it’s none other then Elissa Franceschi sister to You Me At Six‘s frontman Josh. Earlier on in the week we caught up with Elissa to discuss her solo career, super groups, toilet seats and whisky in one of our most interesting interviews yet!…

Q1: Your Myspace says: ”Meanwhile a choice was to be made, was it to be Music college, time out or University? Elissa chose Uni“.  What was the ‘ultimate thing’ that made you choose Uni over your other options?

Elissa: Well, I was really aware of the fact that although a lot of incredibly talented people go to music college, there would also be a mass of wanabees that would be going for the wrong reasons. I strongly feel that there are some things you cannot teach and quite boldly, I didn’t want someone coming in and trying to change my sound or style. Also, in the back of my mind I was trying to think of how i could have a good back up plan and a traditional degree was appealing. I choose English Literature thinking it would make me a better songwriter lyrically but actually just University life itself and the intensity of it- made me a better songwriter as i had so many stories and different emotions to write about!

Q2: If you had to pick a line out of one of your songs that means the most to you, what would it be and why?

Elissa: That is a tough one! I think it would have to be  ’But I’ve been waiting for years, to finally feel real tears and now they’ve started I’m terrified they’ll never stop’- it’s from my song ‘Rocks and Tears’ from the second album, it was written in a dark freezing cold piano room at Uni and I was in a really low place, I remember writing it vividly, it took 5 minutes and I was just sitting in the dark sobbing and singing. I left feeling so relieved to have gotten those feelings out of my system though!

Q3: If you were allowed to form your own ‘super group’, who would you choose to be in your band?

Elissa: Hmmmm Dave Grohl on Drums because he is just a DUDE, John Mayer on Guitar, Justin Timberlake on bass yes he does play bass, the guy is a genius] Stevie wonder on Keys and Jeff Buckley and Stevie Nicks on Back up vocals, What a Brilliant crazy band that would be!!!

Q4: Is there any form of ‘ritual’ you have before going on stage? You know like the band usual of ‘lucky socks’

Elissa: Yeah my pre-performance stuff is always really solitary because before I’m usually rushing around saying hi to people and organising last minute stuff so my 5 minutes alone time before you’ll find me sitting in a loo somewhere [seat down!] doing my make up and humming to myself! Oh and knocking back a whisky!

Q5: What’s planned this year in the world of Miss. Elissa Franceschi?

Elissa: World Domination! Ha! Putting a kickass band together and continuing to gig wherever the demand is for me to play. Recording my third album and just putting it out there so people can hear what’s really been going on the last year in my head and my heart.

Q6: Last but not least. Persuade us to buy your ’Touch E.p’!

Elissa: And the ‘I hold my Breath’ album!!! Ha- well because both are just a collection of really honest songs. I’m singing about what happened to me from the ages of 15-21 and I hope that there are a lot of people out there that can relate to what I’m saying because that’s the best part- connecting and breathing a sigh of relief that you are not the only one out there… X

Elissa Franceschi Myspace: Link

Interview by: Jamie