With her latest single, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again,” Francesca Fuentes proves that nostalgia, passion, and pop perfection coexist effortlessly. This dreamy, sultry track channels heartache and longing into an irresistibly smooth groove—delivering a timeless, immersive melody long after the first listen.
Francesca’s velvety vocals stand out, balancing softness with confidence as she lays her emotions bare. The song’s message is direct yet emotionally layered—pining for a love that still haunts her, she whispers both a plea and a temptation, making it impossible for listeners not to feel the weight of her words. The production is sleek yet understated, allowing the soul-stirring vulnerability of her storytelling to take center stage.
Visually, the accompanying Kris Khunachak-directed music video is a dazzling love letter to pop culture, blending iconic fashion moments from Priscilla Presley, Madonna, and Mariah Carey into a cinematic celebration of past and present. Every frame is meticulously crafted, with Francesca even committing to a mid-shoot hair transformation to perfect the aesthetic—a rare dedication to detail that makes the visual experience just as captivating as the song itself.
More than a standalone hit, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again” boldly declares Francesca’s artistry, proving that she is fearlessly stepping into her own as a pop powerhouse. With an album on the horizon and Easter eggs hidden within the video, one thing is clear—this is just the beginning of Francesca Fuentes’ unstoppable rise.
"I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again" has such a timeless, sultry energy. What inspired the song, and how did you craft its hypnotic sound and emotional depth?
The idea for the song came to me upon going through a breakup and feeling like I was just missing my partner. I began writing it a few years before it reached collaboration with the producer, Russell Hayden. It’s really cool to see it finally out in the world, along with the visual we worked so hard to create.
The music video is a stunning tribute to pop culture, with nods to icons like Madonna, Priscilla Presley, and Mariah Carey. How did you come up with the concept, and what was the most exciting part of bringing it to life?
I was spending a lot of time with my best friend and occasional songwriting partner, David Smolokoff, also known as “King David.” We were hanging out one night, watching tons of 2000’s music videos; Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Madonna, etc. While David didn’t wind up on this project with me, he played a role in inspiring me. Listening to him tell this grand tale of the music videos of the past and how often a great video usually encompasses hints of pop culture and has tons of eye-catching, aesthetic appeal. That was when I thought about all of my favorite music videos and thought to myself: “What if I recreate some of them?” Then, after making some Pinterest boards, the idea evolved into this thought: “What if I recreated a look from every era and then referenced the videos I love?” My favorite part about this was just watching all of that come to life after being brainstormed for so long.
You've been through a lot in your musical journey, from early success to a major creative reset. How has that personal and professional growth shaped your sound and approach to music today?
It’s hard to think about my “early success” as an early success because I discredit many of my accomplishments at times and often feel like nothing is ever enough. I’m always trying to get to the next thing, which is both good and bad, I suppose, but I am working on that. My journey has been a long road and I always tell myself I would not be where I am now had I not struggled along the way.
Your music blends elements of pop, rock, and nostalgia with a fresh, modern twist. Who are some of your biggest influences, and how do you balance honoring classic sounds while keeping your music uniquely you?
I would definitely say pop/rock or soft rock describes my sound genre-wise. There have been tons of influences that have impacted me over the years, but the ones that have played really intense, pivotal roles have been Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse & Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society. Sometimes, when listening to my music, I’ll hear a hint of Taylor there or an Amy-sounding chord here or a Zakk-inspired lyric somewhere else, and I love that so much because while my influences are so special to me, they’ve actually shaped me into something that is uniquely me. I think the way to balance influences & originality is to start by intentionally honoring your influences and adding your own spin onto things until eventually, you don’t even sound like them anymore. You just become you.
You’ve hinted at easter eggs in the video that connect to your upcoming album. Can you give us a sneak peek into what fans can expect from this next chapter of your music?
Yes, “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again” was the last project I had in my pocket before my full-length album, so I wanted to tell some of those stories in this music video. My favorite easter egg is the blonde angel in the bowling alley. We put her there because there is a song on my full-length called “Angel in Disguise.” It’s about when an unlikely person teaches you an important, special lesson in both life and love. While “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again” has a big, commercial pop sound, songs like those are stripped down, sonically deep, and totally WEIRD! The next chapter isn’t just the next chapter. It’s going to be the whole story.