Foreign Television
... is the project of Francis Allen, a musician from Wales, UK. The first Foreign Television album, 'Youthless', came out in 2013 and was followed by a self-titled album in 2019. The third album is set to be released in September, 2022.
Foreign Television is ..?
I'm Francis Allen, a musician from Wales. Around 2011, I decided I wanted to start singing on the songs I'd been making. Once I'd finished making my first album, I had to give the project a name. After months of considering some truly ridiculous possibilities, I eventually went with Foreign Television.
When did you recognize your talent to write your own songs?
As soon as I'd been playing guitar long enough to be able to play the basics, it seemed the natural thing to do to make my own tunes. Don't get me wrong, they were not good, and no-one would've called it a talent, but it still seemed more interesting to play my own stuff.
The more you practice, the more your confidence grows, and after a while you start making things that you are happy to share with other people.
"Vending Machine" is a great Indie Rock piece, what was your inspiration for the song?
Thanks! It was inspired by a feeling of being surrounded by all kinds of bleakness. Bad job, bad government, bad environment.
What can we expect from your forthcoming album?
Ten songs that I'm really proud of. A nice mix of catchiness and noisiness. I'm really excited to put it out!
Your "All time Top 3 Songs" are ... right now, in this second?
Let's go for Let Down by Radiohead,
I Heard You Looking by Yo La Tengo, and
Heaven is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle.
The big three!
What's next for you?
I'm going to be putting out a couple more singles before putting out the album. Then I have some covers and alternative versions of a few songs to put out while I work on new music.