Exclusive Interview: We’re No Longer In The Waiting Room! Elvis Francois Is Back To Make A ‘Difference’

Paging—no, just kidding! Musical extraordinaire Elvis Francois, who once looked sharp in medical scrubs, has fully swapped his hanging stethoscope for a mic, leaving his days of grooving down hospital hallways behind him. He’s not entirely done with a career swap, though. The word ‘Difference’ is still hanging around like a doctor’s clipboard pinned with their patient’s charts, infusing his swarms of empathy from Music is Medicine, a cover EP that skyrocketed to #2 on iTunes and even scored a spot in Billboard’s Top 20, with original tunes. ‘Difference’ is the staple track of his EP Alignment, and since his kindness also extends to us, we don’t have much time to wait— it comes out tomorrow!

To help celebrate the announcement, Elvis chatted to us about his time on The Masked Singer, his inspirations around this new era of music, and much more. 

Musical Background Form 

What inspired you to pursue both music and medicine?
My entire family is from Haiti, and when I was 8 years old, I went back to visit. At the time, one of my uncles worked at the main public hospital in the capital, and I shadowed him at work. I literally saw hundreds of people waiting in line to have access to healthcare, and seeing how thankful they were inspired me to dedicate my life to learning how to fix broken people.
Music, on the other hand, was always something I gravitated towards. I grew up in Miami, and my father, who is tone deaf and a terrible singer (he would agree with this, btw, lol), would always sing church songs around the house. From as early as I can remember music was always the easiest stress escape. I never really intended to pursue music at a young age, but during medical school, I realized that medicine can only go so far in healing a person. It was then that I realized that medicine and surgery are meant to heal the body. But music is meant to heal the soul. From that moment on, I decided to dedicate my life to both music and medicine.

What was your experience like performing on The Masked Singer? Do you have a favorite moment?
The Masked Singer was hands down one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. To put it in perspective, I went from doing spine surgery on a Monday, and four days later, I was in a giant serpent costume singing on stage in front of millions of people across America. It was a really surreal experience all the way around. The coolest thing was being inside the costume and realizing I could sing my heart out and make all the crazy facial expressions because no one could actually see me. My favorite moment was having Ken Jeong correctly guess who I was. He’s also a doctor and probably one of the funniest people I’ve met in real life. Definitely a 10 out of 10 life experience.

Getting Into Alignment

What inspired you when writing ‘Difference?’ Did you face any challenges while creating this single?
To be honestly open, the song is about a relationship I was in during my last year in medical school. It’s the feeling of being deeply in love with someone but realizing that the love you once shared is fading. The inspiration for the song is rooted in navigating love when the end feels inevitable, and you arrive at the question of what’s the difference if you stay or leave when the end is just the same.

What kind of visual style or aesthetic did you aim for in the video?
The song really is a personal reflection of being in love while realizing that the love you once shared is lost. I really wanted the visual to be rooted in realism. So, a lot of the visual style captured the everyday moments when the love between two people started to fade. I worked with Lawrence Murray, who produced the video, and we really wanted the visuals to capture intimacy but also the small points of friction that can make or break a relationship.

How does this project set the stage for your upcoming EP Alignment? Are there any new directions you’re excited to explore?
I’m really excited about the upcoming EP Alignment. As a body of work, it really explores the multi-genre approach and love that I have for music. I feel as if the best music is meant to make people feel deeply and this first record is a canvas that really draws a listener in. The next few songs paint a deeper picture and explore a range of sounds. There are some new directions that I don’t think the average listener is expecting me to go in, and I can’t wait to share them. No spoilers, though! Lol

Our Alignment is clicking into place with the new music only one sleep away. It’s as if our fractured bones are mending and heartbeats are finding their soulful rhythm in the only way Elvis can soothe. While you rest up and prepare, we’ll hold off on the questions… for now. But tomorrow, we want you to unleash your inner fangirl and dive into your favorite tracks from the EP. Let us know which lyrics make a ‘Difference’ and are swiftly doing their loops in your head. Tweet us @thehoneypop, and don’t forget to turn on notifications for more exclusives on our Instagram and Facebook pages!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELVIS FRANCOIS:
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