Frankie Animal

Frankie Animal
Background information
OriginTallinn, Estonia
Genresindie rock
Years active2012–present
LabelMade In Baltics
MembersMarie Vaigla
Jonas Kaarnamets
Jan-Christopher Soovik
Websitehttp://www.frankieanimal.com

Frankie Animal is an Estonian indie rock band formed in 2012.

In the year of their foundation, Frankie Animal participated in the Estonian Youth Band (Noortebänd) competition, where they managed to win eight awards.[1] In 2014 they released a debut EP Obsession, which peaked in digital streaming platforms.

The band has performed at the Positivus Festival in Latvia, as well as in The Netherlands at Eurosonic Noorderslag. They were also the supporting act for Ewert and the Two Dragons during their 2015 tour in Germany.[2]

In April 2016 Frankie Animal released their first full-length album The Backbeat.[3]

Frankie Animal participated in Eesti Laul 2018 with their entry "(Can't Keep Calling) Misty".[4]

Musical career

2012-2014: Early years

The band gave its first public concert in the autumn of 2012.[5] On October 25, they entered the Youth Band competition, where they reached the finals but were the runner-up in the end. Frankie Animal still managed to win eight special awards, including Raadio 2's, leading alternative radio in Estonia, favourite and audience’s favourite.[6] In December 2013 they started recording their first EP Obsession, which was completed in collaboration with Ewert and The Two Dragons guitarist Erki Pärnoja. "There's both a rockier side and a softer, more melancholy side. Everything is balanced, the first half has more power and the other half is more peaceful with gloomy melodies," explained Marie, the vocalist.[7] In 2014 the band had their first big concert at the Positivus Festival in Latvia.[8] They also performed at Intsikurmu, an Estonian music festival.[9] Frankie Animal's first singles were "My Friend" and "Loveless man".

2015: Eurosonic Noorderslag

2015 was a significant year for the band as they had the opportunity to perform at the Dutch festival Eurosonic Noorderslag,[10] which is known as a place to discover new artists. In addition, they took part in Ewert and The Two Dragons tour in Germany, where they were the supporting act at five concerts.[11] It was a big stepping stone for them, as the band had always said how Ewert and the Two Dragons really inspired them to start a band themselves.

2016: The Backbeat

In April, Frankie Animal's first full-length album The Backbeat was released. Kaspar Viilup (Estonian Public Broadcasting) said: "Marie Vaigla's vocals are remarkably versatile, at one point as fragile as Karen O's solo projects and the next moment screaming-roaring as The Kills' lead vocalist Alison Mosshart. The guitar parts are also praiseworthy - Jonas Kaarnamets is one of the most talented Estonian guitarists of the new era. Their music really sounds unexpectedly big - even the ballads at the end of the album are bright and heart-wrenching rather than pretentious and cold. So there is definitely no lack of emotionality on this record - something that is a big exception in younger generation rock music, because the macho-posture and the "I'm-so-cool" image just obscure it. Frankie Animal has completely gotten rid of it."[12]

2017-2018: Eesti Laul

In 2017 the band released three singles: "Nightlights", "Pretty Late" and "(Can't Keep Calling) Misty". With the latter, they took part in the Eesti Laul 2018 contest, where the winner represents Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest. Frankie Animal placed seventh in the competition, but gained public recognition in the process. In May they collaborated with Jüri Pootsmann and released a single "Funny".[13]

2019-Present

In June 2019, Frankie Animal released a new single "Playful" under the label "Made in Baltics" (Sony Music),[14] which became the most played song by Raadio 2 in July 2019.[15] On 1 May 2020 they released a single "Restless". "It seems to me that with "Playful" and "Restless" we have found the direction we want to move musically with the whole album. Slightly pop, nostalgic and a reflection of us three. I feel that the connection between us is also getting stronger and that makes the music more complete," says the band's guitarist Jonas Kaarnamets.

Members

  • Marie Vaigla (vocals, keyboard)
  • Jonas Kaarnamets (guitar)
  • Jan-Christopher Soovik (bass)

Discography

Studio albums

  • The Backbeat (2016)
  • Party Alone (2022)

EPs

  • Obsession (2014)

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album or EP
EST
[16]		 EST
Air.
[17]
"Obsession"[18] 2014 * Obsession
"My Friend"[19] Non-album singles
"Loveless Man"[20]
"The Backbeat"[21] 2016 *— The Backbeat
"Kickdrum Kickdrum!"[22] —
"Nightlights"[23] 2017 — Non-album singles
"Pretty Late"[24] —
"(Can't Keep Calling) Misty"[25] 10—
"Funny"[26]
(featuring Jüri Pootsmann)		 2018 ——
"Playful"[27] 2019 ——
"Restless"[28]
(featuring Eygo)		 2020 ——
"Peaches"[29]
(with Gram-Of-Fun)		 2021 *—
"Pretty Late"[30] —
"You, I Need You"[31] 2025 31
"Maria Marianna"[32] 81
"I Want It (If You Want To)"[33] 2026 61
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
"*" denotes that the chart did not exist at that time.

References

  1. ↑ ERR (2015-03-04). "Frankie Animal annab Mustas Puudlis akustilise kontserdi". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  2. ↑ "(Can't Keep Calling) Misty". etv.err.ee (in Estonian). ERR. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "FRANKIE ANIMAL ANDIS VÄLJA DEBÜÜTALBUMI "THE BACKBEAT"". 🎧 MuusikaPlaneet 💿 (in Estonian). 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  4. ↑ "Pildid ja täispikk saade: Eesti Laul 2018 võitis Elina Nechayeva". menu.err.ee (in Estonian). ERR. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Raudsepp, Stella (2017-11-26). "Frankie Animal: "Cool peitubki siiruses"". Häppening (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  6. ↑ ERR (2014-12-04). "Frankie Animali külaskäiku R2-s saab jälgida otse | Raadio 2". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  7. ↑ ERR, Rutt Ernits | (2014-04-09). "Frankie Animal näitab debüütplaadil uut nägu". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  8. ↑ "VIDEO: Karjääri seni suurim samm? Frankie Animal loodab enne Positivuse suurt esinemist teistelt artistidelt häid nippe napsata". Kroonika. 2014-07-20. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  9. ↑ "Intsikurmu meelitas pealinna hipsterid Põlvasse". Eesti Päevaleht. 2014-08-04. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  10. ↑ "Frankie Animal". Eurosonic Noorderslag. Archived from the original on 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  11. ↑ ERR (2015-04-02). "Frankie Animal liitub Ewert and The Two Dragonsi tuuriga". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  12. ↑ ERR, Kaspar Viilup | (2016-05-23). "Arvustus. Frankie Animal kui pisut hilinenud hipster". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  13. ↑ ERR (2018-05-10). "Frankie Animal avaldas koostöösingli Jüri Pootsmanniga". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  14. ↑ ERR (2019-06-07). "Frankie Animal avaldas mängleva suveloo "Playful"". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  15. ↑ ERR (2019-07-31). "Raadio 2 enim mängitud lugu juulis oli Frankie Animali "Playful"". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  16. ↑ Peak chart positions for singles in Estonia:
  17. ↑ Peak chart positions for singles in Estonian Airplay:
  18. ↑ "Obsession – Song by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  19. ↑ "My Friend – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  20. ↑ "Loveless Man – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  21. ↑ "Frankie Animal – The Backbeat". 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2026-05-30 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ "Frankie Animal – Kickdrum Kickdrum!". 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2026-05-30 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ "Nightlights – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  24. ↑ "Pretty Late – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  25. ↑ "(Can't Keep Calling) Misty – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  26. ↑ "Funny (feat. Jüri Pootsman) – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  27. ↑ "Playful – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  28. ↑ "Restless – Single – Album by Frankie Animal & Eygo – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  29. ↑ "Peaches – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  30. ↑ "Night & Day – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  31. ↑ "You, I Need You – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  32. ↑ "Maria Marianna – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2025-07-11. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  33. ↑ "I Want It (If You Want To) – Single – Album by Frankie Animal – Apple Music". Apple Music. 2026-04-30. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
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