Old young soul

 

One reviewer of an Allison Francis show worried that her violent guitar strumming would surely snap the strings. Apparently that’s nothing compared to the aggression she uses for tuning guitars. She broke two strings tuning her guitar for the interview, and wound up playing with five strings.

She’s not even 20.

 

 

Of the many impressive things to note about burgeoning singer-songwriter Allison Francis, the fact that she is technically still in her teens may be among the most incredible. Her songs pack a raw sincerity and expressiveness beyond her years.

 

Not that she has abandoned her youth.

 

Her off-campus apartment features a fort in the living room, built by Allison and her roommates. It’s a retreat within a home, offering a place to escape and crash, as well as provide a fun stage for photos.

 

Like any other college student, the soon-to-be sophomore at Boston University is savoring the summer break — however short. The day of our interview is the same day she has a final exam, the final obstacle to a month-long recess from academics.

 

I’m running late, but it’s no problem: she needs the time to buy more guitar strings. Amid all the activity, Allison gets locked out of her apartment, but that’s no sweat. Her roommate is on the way with the key. I’m not sure if it’s her youth or old-soul nature that exudes the laid back demeanor.

 

So Allison meets me on the front steps to her place, and since it’s a beautiful summer day in Boston (a bit of a rarity this year) we start the interview while waiting for her key-bearing roommate.

 

Though she started playing guitar at 13, Allison said her songwriting really shifted into high gear about a year ago — about the time that she left her home in Portland, Oregon to come to BU. A couple of her songs, Next Train Home and Massapequa seem to have a separated-from-home theme.

 

Yes, but they touch on more than just the connection to home, Allison said. “It’s about keeping that and having that, but also having the priority to grow.”

 

Of course, in the early days, her musical themes were a little more simplistic.

 

“Terry, You’re a Bitch” was one of her first tunes, written at age 13 for a particularly unfriendly camp counselor. At the time, Allison was listening to a lot of Avril Lavigne. “I just wanted to be really badass,” Allison said.

 

Over time, her taste shifted toward acoustic songs coupled with emotionally charged lyrics. “I started wanting to write ‘real’ songs,” Allison said. Beginning with Lost On This Side, written while she was in high school, Allison has plotted a what-you-see-is-what-you-get musical direction featuring her guitar, occasional harmonica and her voice. A little raspy and a lot soulful, her unique voice paints the close-to-her-heart lyrics with genuine feeling.

 

Writing and performing songs is “self-indulgent but giving at the same time,” Allison said. “It’s the perfect articulation for something I want to say. It’s the best way to say it.”

 

Luckily for fans, she likely has plenty more to say. After all, she’s not even 20.

 

 

FIRST TIME

At 4 years old, Allison started singing her own song — a song about singing animals. “The bear sings at the edge of the woods,” she would sing. She’s not sure about the inspiration behind the tune, but her family did live close enough to a zoo that she could hear the lions roaring at night.

 

 

WORST TIME

Cha Cha, an interesting service that answers any and all questions sent via mobile phones’ text messages, provided some harsh feedback. Allison asked “Is Allison Francis worth listening to?” And Cha Cha replied, “Listening to Allison Francis has the equivalent fun level of watching paint dry.”