Francine Honey’s new single is a tribute to her barber dad
Ottawa-based Americana artist Francine Honey pays tribute to the charm of old-fashioned barbers while showing love to fathers everywhere in her heartwarming new single, “Come Sit In My Chair.”
A nod to the profound connection found in getting your hair done, “Come Sit In My Chair” is a gentle reminder to appreciate the little moments in life.
Drawing inspiration from her family’s local salon in the small town of Tweed, ON, Francine shares the intimate story of her father, a beloved barber in the community. Claude’s Hair Salon was a gathering place where locals would sit in his chair, share their stories, and receive a rejuvenating haircut that breathed new life into their spirits.
Produced and recorded live-off-the-floor in Nashville, “Come Sit In My Chair” brings together an extraordinary ensemble of musicians. Grammy-nominated Neilson Hubbard expertly produced and mixed the track while lending his exceptional drumming skills. The stellar lineup includes renowned musicians Pat Buchanan and Juan Solorzano on guitars, Dean Marold on bass, and Barry Walsh on piano. Dylan Alldredge engineered the recording at Skinny Elephant Recording Studios, and Jim Demain meticulously handled the mastering at YES Master Studios.
This song is inspired by the dedication exhibited by those in the hairdressing profession, like Claude, who, through his work, become confidants to many and help shape their small towns.
Vibrant energy and family pride shine through.
Along with the new single, a music video for “Come Sit In My Chair” was released on June 30 featuring Claude, the barber himself, in Tweed, ON, where it all started. Scenes from Francine’s childhood are recreated, including a shot from when she was a little girl standing on a stool to cut Claude’s hair!
In 2018, Francine embarked on a collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Neilson Hubbard in Nashville, TN. She recorded her fourth full-length album, “to be continued…,” live off the floor in just six days and found the sound that she had been hearing in her head for her music. That combined with a five-minute life-changing vocal lesson with Beth Neilson Chapman in 2015 meant Francine finally had a project she was proud of, so she released this internationally. The album garnered critical acclaim worldwide, with her song “Stay” reaching the top 10 finalist position in the 2018 International Songwriting Competition in the Americana and Blues categories.
As a bilingual artist, Francine has released several French singles, including “Chez mon oncle Lucien” and “Floçons de neiges sur mes cils,” which received regular airplay on various radio stations. Her French version of the song “I Soldier On,” titled “Je vis sans limites,” continues to be sought out for Remembrance Day ceremonies in schools.
Francine was most recently awarded the 2023 Songwriter of the Year Award by the Austin Songwriter Group International with 10 song placements, winning in the Blues, Folk/Americana, Love Songs and Inspirational categories.
Francine is finding success on her own terms and is inspiring others to do the same, helping others reach for their dreams and healing themselves along the way.
“I just want to keep going, writing and producing remarkable songs,” she said. “I am a songwriter and storyteller. I know I’ll do this for the rest of my life. This is my legacy, one song at a time.”
