Newbie Francesco Yates Gets Kudos

MEET FRANCESCO YATES

“He’s absolutely gonna be just a huge, huge, huge pop star, but not in the way people have been thinking of pop music in the past 10 years” –
Pharrell Williams

“Francesco is a perfectionist, as you can hear on records and that takes time. There’s no correction, it’s all live and off the floor. It’s done the traditional, real singing way, where you have to get the perfect take.” – Robin Hannibal (Producer)

“He is going to shock the world” – Timbaland

“He’s the Nile Rodgers of people who can’t drink yet.” Noisey

Francesco is an eighteen year-old singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, signed to Chris Smith Management-21 Music/Atlantic Records. His musical influences range from classic rock legends such as Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin & Freddie Mercury of Queen to timeless soul powerhouses, Donny Hathaway & Stevie Wonder. On his debut album he has enlisted the help of heavy-hitting producers Pharrell Williams and Robin Hannibal of Rye/Quadron (Kendrick Lamar, B.O.B.).

Leading up to the launch of his first single, Francesco Yates has already garnered attention from VICE Magazine, NME, MTV, and The Huffington Post to name a few, and has performed with JoJo for The Fader Magazine’s Vitamin Water #Uncapped series. Francesco’s musical talent is also featured on Pharrell’s critically acclaimed 2014 album, G I R L, as he plays lead guitar on “Gust of Wind” featuring Daft Punk.

The lead single, “Call”, is produced by Robin Hannibal and written by Francesco Yates and Matt Morris. The video is directed by DJay Brawner.