FRANK CRITELLI – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Frank Critelli has been a mainstay in the folk music scene in the Northeast for decades. As a solo performer and singer/songwriter, Critelli has performed live at countless venues and festivals. He also plays with a compelling trio named The Bargain. Today, Frank Critelli is releasing his new single, “The Way of the World”, via Bigger Beast Records. The song is a tome to the demise of our glorious society. Critelli’s lyrics are honest and foreboding but he leaves room for hope and salvation. Critelli always find the light in the darkness.
Frank Critelli‘s sound is marked by an expressive, grounded approach that feels personal without being overly polished. There is a sense of intention in how the music unfolds. Each element in his songs are allowed to breathe rather than demanding attention. Whether through subtle dynamics or carefully chosen tones, the music feels meditative. It’s like Critelli is inviting the audience to slow down and really listen.
What makes Frank Critelli really stand out is his emotional clarity. Instead of relying on flashy techniques, he emphasizes mood and feeling. He lets the character of the sound carry his message. There’s an understated confidence present, where simplicity becomes a strength rather than a weakness. Frank Critelli’s music feels real and thoughtful. He always finds the right balance between candor and caprice. He is a true troubadour of the times.
Frank Critelli was kind enough to sit with AMP for this in-depth interview.
AMP: How would you describe your evolution as a songwriter from your early work to now?
FRANK: I think I have gotten better at delivering the message. But I truly think the message has been the same the whole time. Looking back on my songs, I feel like they’re all about the same exact thing at their core.
AMP: What usually sparks a song for you – lyrics, melody or something else?
FRANK: What sparks a song for me is a feeling. An emotion. A thought-itch that you have to write-scratch. And then it happens every which way. Sometimes lyrics first, sometimes music first, sometimes melody first, but the best is when they happen all at the same time – in a very short amount of time. That’s when I feel like it’s really real. And not just made up by me.
AMP: Your songs feel very personal. Do you write more from lived experiences or observation?
FRANK: I write from observations of lived experiences. Mine, and everybody else’s.
AMP: Which artists or songwriters had the biggest influence on your sound?
FRANK: I have been influenced by everyone and everything that I have ever come in contact with. The music that I return to most when I’m listening at home is the radio, and Bob Dylan.
AMP: You’ve been a fixture in the regional music scene for a long time. How has that community shaped your music?
FRANK: The Connecticut music scene contains some of the most important relationships of my life. They are my true family, and it helps shape everything I do.
AMP: How does your approach differ between performing solo versus with a band?
FRANK: I love playing with a band. Especially a drummer. It lights me on fire, and I feel I could let out my inner Freddie Mercury. Playing solo is easier. Less to carry. Either way, I’m singing songs for the nice people, and that’s all I ever really wanted to do. Quiet or loud.
AMP: What do you want your audiences to feel or take away after hearing you live?
FRANK: After a show, I want everybody to feel better about themselves and their situation and about life in general. That includes me. I want us all to feel better leaving the show, then when we walked in.
AMP: Do your songs change significantly between the writing, recording and performing stages?
FRANK: Everything evolves, but it depends on the song. Some go through more changes than others.
AMP: What role does collaboration play in your work?
FRANK: Most of my catalog is solo material. But in recent years, I have made up songs with Muddy Rivers and Shandy Lawson. And spending time with these men, my brothers from others, has been life changing for me. I feel like we’re a legit badass gang. Writing songs with them is infinitely more fun than writing a song by myself. I still do both solo songs and song with the three of us, and it makes me happy both ways.
AMP: What new musical directions or projects are you excited about right now?
FRANK: I only have one direction: forward. onward. I might never make up another song again in my life. Or, I might make up 100 of the greatest songs ever. Maybe I’ll go full-time gardener. Maybe I’ll start painting or join a monastery. Or, maybe I’ll disappear, level up, and return completely different- taller and muscular. I suppose I’m excited or at least interested to find out.
Frank Critelli will be hosting the Bigger Beast/All Boats Rise production of the Shelter From The Storm concert on 2/6 at the The First Church of Meriden 62 Colony Street in Meriden, CT. This is a charity event for Neighborhood Promise who strive to prevent homelessness in CT.
Frank will also be hosting the Tip of the Hat concert series at the Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center. This is a monthly concert series where NE songwriters perform in the round showcasing a particular artist. The first one is on 2/12 featuring the music of John Denver.
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