Work From Home: Michael Franti

Musician Michael Franti is not actually at home. He, his wife Sara and his toddler son Taj are quarantined at their Soulshine Yoga Retreat in Bali. The last time we spoke to Franti was in 2018, in the midst of the Stay Human tour. Now, in the midst of a global pandemic and a historical movement, we couldn’t think of anyone else we’d rather have a conversation with. It’s good timing, since Franti just released his 11th studio album, Work Hard & Be Nice. Ever the optimist and humanitarian, Franti spoke on the album theme and the meaning of the songs, connecting with friends and family despite distance and what good may come out of these unprecedented times. Special cameo by his son, Taj and his wife, Sara. Take a look:
Work From Home: Michael Franti
"What we can do, like right this second, a lot of times we're just planting seeds and watering them and nurturing them and taking the crap of life and using it as fertilizers so that we can grow something that's much bigger later."

Quarantined in the jungle: 

"Right now I'm in Bali, Indonesia. And the reason that we're here is that we own a hotel here called Soulshine Bali, it's a Yoga Retreat Center in the jungle. Technically we're stranded on tropical island out here, but it's a really great place 'cause my son, who's just a little toddler is able to roam around and be in the jungle, it's worked out really good. We're sad because we can’t be closer to the people that we love back in the States."

Genuine connection:

"One of the really positive things that have happened is that people aren't just saying anymore, "Hey, what's up, bro?” And I usually would write like, "What's up bro?” And they'd be like, "Cool”. That was like the connection.Now people have been like, "Hey man, how you doing?” And I'll write back, "Oh, I'm cool.” And they'll go, "No, I really mean like, how are you doing, like, how's your health? How's your family's health? Are you guys able to get by financially right now? Are you stressed out? Are you worried, did you read this article about this thing that's happening?"
"There's this genuine concern and genuine communication and interaction that, that in the busy-ness of everything that was happening before, just wasn't there."

About his newest album, Work Hard & Be Nice

My music has always been about promoting optimism. The song "Start Small Think Big" is really about that. It's about really just taking the time to appreciate that. And then the title track of the record, "Work Hard and Be Nice”. What we can do like right this second, a lot of times we're just planting seeds and watering them and nurturing them, our values, so that when we approach everything, we have our moral compass set in the right way.

Creating a new online concert experience: 

"So this year I was like, man, what can we do to try to make this experience feel somewhat like it does when we’re out at a live concert? I was just like stuck in my head. I was like, it's not gonna be the same, it's not gonna be the same, it's not gonna be the same. And then it started being, it's not gonna be the same. It's not gonna be the same. Oh great, it's not the same! We created our online concerts. So part of the audience is in a Zoom room and we are able to put their cameras on as I’m performing so we can see people in all parts of the world, dancing in their living room together, you know, on one song, we had a big pillow fight."

Times like these: 

"People say to me, this is a challenging time, a stressful time, painful time, a time of great worry. And I agree, all those things are adjectives that can describe it. But I think more than anything else, it's an important time."

President Franti? 

“You know, I've thought about it and you know, kind of like abstract way, but I don't want anything that requires that I sit behind a desk all day and I think I'm better served being musician."
---
Michael Franti’s next online concert, the Soulrocker House party, will stream August 15th. Grab your tickets here.

Listen to Work Hard and Be Nice:

Embedded content is no longer available.


Follow Michael Franti on Twitter .

Karma Police - Please Share:

Most played songs