Meet Frankie Nicole | Record Label Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Frankie Nicole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Frankie, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned is building a loyal following of people who care about what you do is more important than building a following of people who only know you from a viral post. I have only been working in this industry for a short amount of time but quickly discovered how powerful it is to take the time to nourish the connections you have already made instead of continuously chasing after new ones that run the risk of becoming artificial. I have heard of and seen cases where musicians who had one viral song on TikTok can’t sell enough tickets for their show but a band from the Inland Empire sells out one of the most popular venues in Southern California. It’s all about making art or content that is authentic to you or your brand. I believe that once you do this, the right people will come to you, dig what you’re doing, and show up for you time and time again.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets Frowny Face Records apart from other brands is our quirky, distinguishable branding as well as content that focuses on uplifting local artists in a creative and interactive way.

In terms of what I’m most proud of, I’m most proud of the amount of support the label has received in such a short amount of time. The label didn’t exist over 10 months ago but has already made a name in the local music scene in Southern California. I feel proud anytime I get a chance to speak with someone who’s enjoyed our work.

The label getting to where it is today was no easy feat and the constant workflow I deal with continues to be a struggle. Every day, there is something new to work on or ruminate over. I usually stay up until 3 a.m. editing posts or thinking of new ideas I could bring to life that people would enjoy or find helpful. In short, there have been a lot of sleepless nights involved in the success of Frowny Face Records. But, I don’t regret a single one of them. There are many challenges I face that I overcome simply because I love helping others (and thanks to an obscene amount of naps and little treats).

I want people to know that I’m so serious about how I run the label. I want people to understand the amount of dedication it takes to start your own business and have it amount to something. But most importantly, I want people to know how much I love music and sharing it with those who are willing to hear me out.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oo! I love this question. I don’t know where I would start in terms of planning a full week of activities, especially where I live where there aren’t many notable attractions to choose from. But, if they were to visit on the second week of the month on a Saturday, I would take them to the Pomona Art Walk! We’d walk all around the downtown area to check out all of the vendors selling clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, antiques, and most importantly, food! I know there’s this one stand where a lady makes homemade churros among other tasty things and they are absolutely incredible. They come out nice and warm and have a hefty amount of cinnamon sugar coated over them that gets all over your lips after you take a big bite. So after our mandatory visit to the churro stand, hopefully, there’d be live music happening at either The Haven, The DBA Bar & Gallery, or other parts of the city where I could take my friend to hang out and have some fun!

Outside of this one night, I have no idea. Maybe that’s why I don’t have a best friend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out a few people, organizations, and collectives that inspire me today! Since I started Frowny Face Records, I have been given immense support by local artists such as Porkboii, Cold Cut, Delfino, Sept, Funds for Jimmy, and many more! My entire brand is all about highlighting these artists and the hundreds of others out there who deserve a lot more recognition than they are receiving from the public. Without them and their unwavering kindness, I would not have been motivated to pursue this career at all or even continue it.

Organizations and collectives I admire for their creativity and dedication to what they do include Intentional Sound, Basrev, Rosie’s Pad, Unquiet, B&B Music Studios, Junior High LA, Local Deadbeat Agency, and, again, many more! Each of these brands puts in the work to promote the local music community in a way that is honest and fun.

Website: https://www.frownyfacerecords.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frownyfacerecords/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FrownyFaceRecords

Image Credits
JTB Media