Carla Franco Shares New EP: "Layer One"

The first release from Carla Franco’s sophomore album Layers, referred to as “Layer One” in-house, sees Carla’s roots elevated. Three songs, all written and composed by Carla herself, from her fourteen-song full project is out today Friday, the 8th of September 2023.

The first three singles are very intentional in that every element of the songs were completed with a team that too, hails from the beginning of Carla’s music career and in her hometown, Bloemfontein. The first drop from the Layers project will have listeners, both new and old, on a journey that feels most authentic to Carla’s roots as a songwriter: Acoustic Indie/Folk Indie music.

The first drop from Layers, AKA “Layer One”, is Carla in her most raw and honest form. With ‘Any Better’ speaking to an undeniably personal element of Carla’s life; ‘Net Die Here Weet’ (ft. Marli Monster) honouring many proudly South African elements whilst suggesting yet another important relationship in Carla’s life – being her faith and ‘Wait’ (ft. Marli Monster) offering a truly magical piece from the entire project – Layers (“Layer One”) intends to create a feeling for listener’s that transcends them in a painfully beautiful way.

Carla Franco’s one word for the first drop from her sophomore album is “transcendent”. She gives us more insight about a few things…

“Layer One is really the core of what songwriting means to me – a true place of healing – however messy, however honest, however painful but always healing. This drop is one of the most important in that it really represents who I am – beyond being an artist and especially as a songwriter, there is no place to hide here… this drop happens without needing approval because of how deeply personal and meaningful these three songs are to me.”

“Layer One from Layers was inspired by how music by artists like Novo Amor, Ben Howard and Ry X make us feel – like our bodies and souls physically lift and cease to exist anywhere except wherever the music has taken us. That’s the power of the first drop. It is the most vulnerable I have ever felt to release music, it is also the proudest.”

You can buy / stream “Layer 1” HERE.

More info about Carla Franco

2022 saw a new chapter in Carla Franco’s music identity. With the release of her debut album in April 2022, she introduced the world to the first chapter of her greater story with a timeless, immortal and personal offering. Chapter I features a joining of styles combined with a lyrical and emotional authenticity ever present in Carla’s songwriting and artistry.

2023 sees a new and improved Carla Franco with the release of her Sophomore album Layers throughout September. Promising a variation of genres, in three separate drops, a total of 14 new songs and a project featuring six local artists.

Carla Franco is a 27-year-old singer/songwriter originally hailing from Bloemfontein, and currently residing in CapeTown. Her love for music started at a young age with her first piano lesson at the age of 7. Carla was born with a hearing impairment, suffers from 20-30% hearing loss and has been wearing hearing aids for many years. Never one to falter in the face of adversity, Carla has never allowed this to be a defining factor in her life. Against recommendations, she attended a normal school and never requested any special treatment.

Carla Franco’s first single to ever be released, a collab with Evida titled: ‘1,2,3’ – was signed by Universal Music and secured the number 1 spot on 5FM’s Top 10 at 10 for 11 weeks in a row. To date, CARLA’s ‘When You’re Ready’, ‘Scared To Love’ and ‘Need To Get Better’ all charted on Jacaranda.

Her first two singles were playlisted on multiple national and regional radio stations across South Africa, with both singles reaching the #1 spot on the Jacaranda SA Top 20. ‘When You’re Ready’ also reached the SA Top 20 Chart on OFM.

Carla Franco’s collaboration project for ‘Bygones’ with Leo Burg reached the Top 20 on Radio Laeveld within the first two weeks of the single being released and continued to hold the #2 spot. LAYERS will drop in September 2023 as follows: 8 September, 15 September, 29 September.

Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.