We caught up with singer-songwriter Caroline Francess to talk about the release of her track ‘Ready Aim Fire’ – a song about the effects of bullying
DtL: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Caroline: I’m a singer-songwriter from Sheffield with a piano on a mission! I started pursuing music as a career just over 2 years ago, during that time I’ve achieved and experienced things I never thought I would: Playing to 20, 000 people at After Dark Fireworks Spectacular, performing at Henley Festival among Shirley Bassey and Elton John, being part of the Sheffield Christmas Lights Switch On, and playing at Tramlines Festival in my hometown. I also set my eyes on the rest of the UK last summer when I went on tour which was such an amazing, (exhausting!), enriching experience, and unbelievably worth it! My music is all written by me; I write about things I’ve faced throughout my life – the good times and the bad. Some songs are thought-provoking, some are humorous. I write about dreams and aspirations, and tend to play around with genres – I probably get that from my love of musical theatre and literature!
“What made Ditch The Label stand out to me was the approach that you not only help those who are/have been bullied, but also those that are doing the bullying”
DtL: How did you come across Ditch the Label?
Caroline: As I’ve become more determined to be a part of the battle against bullying, I did a lot of research into different charities, and what made Ditch The Label stand out to me was the approach that you not only help those who are/have been bullied, but also those doing the bullying. This a hugely important outlook on the issue. When I was younger I was made to feel like it was my fault that I was being bullied by people who I reached out to (councillors, teachers etc) and it was always this “What can you do to stop yourself from being bullied or feeling this way” approach, which inevitably just piled on the insecurities I already had, and taught me to actually change who I was as a person, which I believe should never be an option.
DtL: If you could go back in time, what one thing would you tell your younger self?
Caroline: Don’t let anyone change you. Don’t lose yourself. Stick to your guns. Things are hard right now but one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, is look in the mirror one day and realise you’re not the person you were or the person you wanted to be. The hardest thing will be getting that person back.
DtL: What are your most prominent challenges, and how do you overcome them?
Caroline: So when I was younger I was a bit of a show off, hyperactive, liked to put my hand up in class, and loved performing! I had that stomped out of me completely, I was written off as annoying and weird. Bit by bit I lost my drive, and started feeling like I couldn’t, and shouldn’t, be proud of myself. So fast forward years later, I have a career which literally means I have to stand on a stage, show off, and perform.. so that was extremely hard! I basically had to learn how to be myself again, and build up all of that confidence that I’d lost. I’m so glad that now I can stand on stage and say look at this awesome thing I can do! I realised, if you can’t get behind yourself, how can you expect anyone else to get behind you?
“The song is about how much words can actually affect someone”
DtL: What inspired Ready Aim Fire?
Caroline: Ready Aim Fire played a huge part in the process of gaining back my confidence. I sat down at my piano, and it just came out and I was like, oh, so that’s what I’m thinking! It was the first time I put all of my feelings into words and music, which is one of the easiest ways to communicate for me. The song is about how much words can actually affect someone. The last line “Words may not make me bleed, but they can roll down my cheeks” sums it all up. Words can change you as a person, they stick with you for years – even through adulthood. They can shape you just as much as physical abuse can. Sadly, words can drive people to suicide. The song also likens bullying to war, because that’s how it felt – I literally felt like preparing for school was like preparing for battle.
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DtL: What advice would you give to any of our readers who experience bullying?
Caroline: I was given so much advice, that just made me feel worse: “Just ignore them”/ “Rise above it”/ “Will it matter in 5 years time?”/ “What can you do to stop the bullying?”/ “Have you tried being less confident?”/ “Draw less attention to yourself”. I’m hesitant to give people advice, because I remember how pointless it felt. There is a line from Ready Aim Fire that seems relevant: “I wish I had the might, to stand up and fight to speak my mind, to stop trying to hide, to scream ‘Why me?’, to rise up from my knees, to make you all see, see who I can really be”.
DtL: What has been your proudest moment so far?
Caroline: My proudest moment was receiving messages from people saying that through my single and a video I put on Facebook about my personal experiences with bullying, I had helped them. Having people reach out to me like that was phenomenal, and reminded me why I do this.
DtL: Is there anything you would like to add?
Caroline: Whatever it is that makes you stand out – stand by it. If it shines so bright that people feel the need to point it out, then it’s worth holding onto and believing in.
