Christian French
Interview & Article by Brittany Ormiston
“Indianaaa!!” shouted Christian French with the biggest smile on his face while running onto the stage. The instrumental of ‘Bright Side of The Moon’ echoed throughout the venue making the fans go wild. Everyone was singing the lyrics in unison and swaying their hands to the tempo. Christian French is finally back on tour and better than ever. The country-wide Avalanche Tour has been nothing short of memorable thus far. “Every night is so fulfilling. Seeing people attend my shows for the first time is wild, and those coming back for their fourth show is crazy,” stated French. One of the most surreal stops on tour was the all-ages show at Old National Centre in his hometown of Indianapolis, IN. French “got a bit emo” while looking at the marquee board outside the venue with his name written on it. He reflected back on the nights he attended concerts at Old National Centre. It was a full circle moment for French knowing he performed on the same stage as some of his favorite artists, such as G-Eazy and Hoodie Allen.
The design and architecture of Old National Centre created an intimate atmosphere for French’s hometown show. An illuminated bass drum inscribed with ‘Christian French’ was a nice touch to the already aesthetically pleasing venue. The scene in addition to French’s performance made for a night that was electric and unforgettable. His upbeat energy was accompanied by his smooth, chill-worthy vocal range. Not only did the crowd match his energy throughout the entire show, they also had a nice refreshing shower when French sprayed a full bottle of water after the first song ended. The instrumentals for each song were unmatched, and so intense they radiated through the bodies of concert goers. Multiple guitar solos shredded by Warren Russell left the crowd in awe. Overall, the hometown show was a collection of moments that left French speechless and teary-eyed.
Performing almost every night and touring for weeks at a time is no easy feat. French spent countless hours conditioning his body for tour, and has a specific hour-long routine he follows in preparation for every show. Once his body is warmed up from doing pushups and jumping jacks, he solely focuses on his voice. French mentioned, “I will do a bunch of vocal warm-ups and jump on Facetime with my vocal coach a lot if I am not feeling super strong with my voice that day. After that I steam my vocal cords a bit and drink tea.” French also spends a few minutes meditating and diving into every aspect of the show. Based on his pre-show rituals and preparation for tour, anyone can attest that French is dedicated to performing at his highest potential for the fans. The layout of every show, specifically the set list, creates an emotional rollercoaster for attendees. Those who have witnessed a show can confirm that they had the time of their lives.
French’s main focus has always been building a connection with fans, and impacting as many people as possible with his music. Songwriting is French’s personal journal; all of his music is authentic and emotionally-driven, which becomes even more evident when he performs live. French finds it comforting when fans express how much his music means to them and has changed their lives, even in the smallest aspects. “Some people just listen at the surface level and if it makes them happy like hell yeah. If it’s just a good mood tune or whatever I love that. Then there’s people that really dive into the lyrics and take stuff out and really pull from my experiences and bring it into their own life.” said French. Through his lyrics, French makes it known how important mental health is to him. ‘Crowded Room’ and ‘Heavy Snow’ are two songs he wrote about his personal battle with anxiety. Listeners can relate to the emotional pain effortlessly intertwined throughout the lyrics of these tracks. Those who battle anxiety on a daily basis can find comfort in knowing they are not alone, and it is okay to not be okay.
Showing vulnerability regarding his mental health has allowed French to build a special bond with a number of fans. His easy-going, genuine persona makes it easy for them to initiate a conversation and even paint his nails on a whim. Trends were started this tour such as fans giving friendship bracelets to French while on stage. Fans continue to surprise French, especially when it comes to his unreleased song ‘Oh Well’. They have promoted the single by pre-saving, making TikToks, and hanging posters around their hometowns. Each night on tour, the crowds continue to blow French’s mind by screaming every word to the chorus of ‘Oh Well’ at the top of their lungs. French constantly expresses his gratitude for every aspect of his career from the fans’ support to the dedication of his crew. His kind heart and selflessness shines through when he talks about giving back in the future. French elaborated, “Getting to the point where it doesn’t feel so much about my career and [knowing] it’s way bigger than that. I already know it’s way bigger than that, but finding ways to really really have an impact and give back would be really cool.” No matter where French’s music career takes him, he will continue to capture the minds and hearts of everyone he meets.
Deluxe of Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN on September 24, 2021
Photos by Everly Ormiston
