First Single from Upcoming Album Work Hard And Be Nice, Set for Release June 19
Musician and globally-recognized artist Michael Franti releases the first single “I Got You,” along with an accompanying music video directed by Franti and filmed while quarantined in Bali, from upcoming 11th studio album Work Hard And Be Nice, set for release on Thirty Tigers June 19, 2020. Stream or purchase “I Got You” and pre-save/pre-order Work Hard And Be Nice HERE.
“This song is about how we support those around us, dream beyond our four walls, and grow deeper in connection to those we love (despite physical distancing), no matter what we face or how hard it seems in the moment,” shares Franti.
Directed and produced by Franti, the music video for “I Got You” was filmed while quarantined in Ubud, Bali and stars Franti, wife Sara and baby Taj.
“We were challenged to create a video for a song about having a partner who helps you get through the darkest moments of life and helps you ‘love deeper, fly higher, see clearer, burn brighter, than we ever did before,’ while being stuck on lockdown,” Franti reveals. “Because we didn't have the benefit of changing locations to shoot scenes that match lines, we worked over one hundred hours, after we shot the video on an iPhone, to edit the effects painstakingly in frame by frame.
“Even though the song isn't directly about COVID quarantining, its unique style was born out of the fact that all of us around the word are having to do the best we can, with the limited resources we have during home isolation.”
Franti recently celebrated the announcement of Work Hard And Be Nice on Earth Day, hosting a screening of his award-winning film “Stay Human” on YouTube and releasing two additional songs, “How We Living,” a uplifting track about taking the time to celebrate the fun side of life, and “I’m On Your Side,” an anthem of solidarity. Watch the video for “I’m On Your Side” HERE.
The 17-song album, available to pre-save and pre-order now, started off as an idea: That it’s important in this time of division in the world to Work Hard And Be Nice To People.
“Before there was a song and an album by the title, I had a discussion with our band and crew that our mantra on tour was going to be 'work hard and be nice to people.' We then made a t-shirt, and it very quickly became our top-seller! It was so popular that I decided to write a song about the concept,” Franti reveals. “Every song on the album is about the power of optimism to get us through our darkest moments and find the light in our loves, lives and for the planet.”
“I collaborated with many different incredible songwriters and it was amazing to hear how all of them understood completely the idea of how important it is for people to have ease of heart in these troubled times,” he continues. “The need for emotions to be able to pass effortlessly as they arise. Music helps with that, and sometimes it brings out feelings we never even knew existed. As I set out making the record, I hoped that it would move people’s hearts and bodies and inspire people to take on the great challenges the world faces today, with courage, love and bold optimism!”
For more information, visit MichaelFranti.com or follow on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelFranti and Facebook.com/MichaelFranti.
Work Hard And Be Nice Track Listing is as follows:
- I Got You (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
- Sun and Moon (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
- Good Shit Happens (Michael Franti & Cappy Franti)
- I Can Still Feel You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
- Start Small Think Big (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens, Brett Warren & Brad Warren)
- How We Living (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
- Breaking Down The Door (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
- The Friends Song (Michael Franti & Daniel Lubwama Kigozi)
- Lay It All Down (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens & James Yeary)
- P.S. I Love You (Michael Franti)
- Work Hard And Be Nice (Michael Franti & Jonathan Singleton)
- Is It Worth A Penny To You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
- Walking Into The Sun (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
- All My Friends (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
- I’m On Your Side (Michael Franti & Sean McConnell)
- Daycation (Michael Franti & Nathan Chapman)
- Watching The World Go By With You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
PRODUCED BY: Michael Franti, Chris Stevens, Tim Myers, Nathan Chapman, & Sean McConnell
MIXED BY: Mario Borgatta, Dave Clauss, David Cook of Splash of Soda, Jeff Juliano at The Compound, Tim Myers, & Chris Stevens
MASTERED BY: Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound; Assisted by Will Quinnell
RECORDED IN: Nashville, TN; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA
About Michael Franti
Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, humanitarian, activist, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine” and “Say Hey (I Love You),” five Top 30 Hot AC singles, eight Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. In January 2019, Franti released his self-directed documentary “Stay Human,” which won an array of awards at film festivals worldwide and influenced his writing for his most recent album Stay Human Vol. II (Thirty Tigers), which debuted at No. 1 on both the Americana and Independent Album charts and received critical acclaim from USA Today, Billboard, Associated Press and Paste.
Michael Franti & Spearhead continue to foster their community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, founded by Franti and his wife, Sara. Do It For The Love brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date. Franti also owns SOULSHINE Bali, a 32-room top-rated yoga retreat hotel located in Ubud, Bali. Amidst touring, Michael Franti & Spearhead have been in recording studios in Nashville, Los Angeles, and San Francisco working with A-list writers and producers on their most diverse record yet, Work Hard And Be Nice, set for release June 19, 2020.
For more information, visit MichaelFranti.com or follow on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelFranti and Facebook.com/MichaelFranti.
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Advance music and liner notes available now. Please email ebie@ebmediapr.com.
Media Contacts for Michael Franti:
Essential Broadcast Media
Ebie McFarland
615-495-5491
ebie@ebmediapr.com
Activist Artist Management
Caitlin Stone
615-610-6070
caitlin@activist.co