In an era of constant digital connection, Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos is championing a radical idea for concert-goers: put the phone away and lose yourself in the music. The Scottish rock icon is bringing his band's infectious dance-rock back to Australia, with a clear mission to create an unforgettable, phone-free atmosphere for fans.
The Antidote to a Miserable World
Alex Kapranos holds a contrarian view to many of his musical peers. While some artists feel compelled to remind audiences of the world's troubles from the stage, the Franz Ferdinand singer takes the opposite approach. He believes in the transformative power of a live show to provide a joyful escape.
"I have to be careful what I say here," Kapranos admits with a laugh. "I have a lot of contemporaries and friends in bands who feel bound to spend their stage time reminding people what a miserable place the world is right now. And I feel the exact opposite."
At a Franz Ferdinand concert, the goal is simple. Kapranos wants you to forget your worries and let loose. He won't force the issue—there are no phone lockers at the door, a practice he finds "a little bit too authoritarian." But after more than two decades of global touring, he's confident he knows the best way to enjoy a gig, and it's not through a screen.
The Phone-Free Experiment
Kapranos has developed a gentle approach to encouraging audiences to be present. He occasionally addresses the crowd directly when he notices too many phones emerging early in the set.
"I'll sort of have a word with the audiences and say, 'Look, I'm not going to patronise you here. I'm not going to tell you what to do. But just think about maybe keeping your phone in your pocket. Let's just try it,'" he explains. "Let's see what the atmosphere is going to be like if we don't sit there looking at the screen.' And my God, it's totally chalk and cheese. The contrast is amazing."
The band certainly has the musical catalogue to justify this request. Ever since anthems like Take Me Out and This Fire ignited dance floors twenty years ago, the Scottish art-rock group has demonstrated that you can create danceable rock'n'roll while maintaining impeccable cool.
The Franz Ferdinand Formula: Dance Floor Philosophy
The band's unique sound emerged from humble beginnings and diverse influences. Kapranos traces their musical philosophy back to conversations with bandmate Bob Hardy when they worked together in a kitchen.
"We loved three particular things," he recalls. "We loved characters like Leonard Cohen who wrote these deeply introspective lyrics. And we loved the rawness of a really good rock and roll band. For me at the time, it was summed up by the idea of the Beatles in Hamburg—a really, really raw version of rock and roll."
Their third inspiration came from the club scene. "We were also going to clubs at that time. We were listening to a lot of electro music. It was the early 2000s, we were enjoying a lot of good dance music and we wanted to combine all those three things together."
This fusion created their signature style: "You can have a good beat and a raw rock'n'roll performance and an introspective lyric all going on at exactly the same time. Why not? I love that fact that I make dance floor music."
New Album, Renewed Optimism
Franz Ferdinand arrives in Australia supporting their latest album, The Human Fear. This marks their first studio album since 2018's Always Ascending and their first new material since 2022's greatest hits compilation Hits To The Head.
Despite its weighty title, The Human Fear carries an optimistic message. The fear referenced isn't about cowering in terror but rather about the liberation found by working through fear to discover something better on the other side.
In 2025, this positive outlook distinguishes them from many contemporary acts. "Oh, God, yeah, it's true, isn't it," Kapranos acknowledges. "But you know what, if you're sitting surrounded by misery, which, from a certain perspective, you could say we are, of course you want to talk about it, to understand it. But my God, you can't spend your entire time wallowing in it. Otherwise, what's the point of existing?"
He sees music as the perfect antidote: "I think you're always searching for something that can give you a release and make life feel like something worth experiencing. Often I feel that's the purpose of what we do as musicians, is to give that buzz, that feeling of excitement, that feeling that life is to be experienced."
New Blood and Live Energy
The Human Fear also introduces the creative contributions of two new official band members, Audrey Tait and Dino Bardot, who have been touring with the group for several years. Kapranos says their established live chemistry made the transition into the studio seamless.
"My favourite way to record as a band is to go in and have four or five people just play live in a room together," he shares. "There's all this incredible stuff that you can do with technology now, which is great, and you shouldn't shy away from that. But nothing can replicate that special magic that you get when it's just a group of people actually playing live together at the same time."
He emphasizes that this synergy comes from experience: "That becomes good when you gig together and you have to have gigged together to know how to do that."
The Hits Still Deliver
Australian audiences can expect to hear both new material and classic anthems. Kapranos confirms the band will play signature hits like Take Me Out, This Fire, and Do You Want To alongside tracks from The Human Fear.
He expresses genuine affection for their back catalogue: "The way I feel about those old songs is they are great and I love them. They are a buzz to play live. There are certain songs that are great to play. If you are 14 and you get together with your pals and you try to play Smells Like Teen Spirit for the first time it gives you a buzz because it's a great song to play."
The band considers themselves fortunate: "We're very lucky as a band that we have a lot of great songs that are just great to play—whether there is an audience there or not. However, I enjoy playing them every night because they are in the company of the new songs."
Ultimately, Franz Ferdinand offers what many seek in difficult times: great songs that help you forget about the outside world—in the best possible way.
Franz Ferdinand performs at ICF: Warehouse in Northbridge, Perth on November 26. Support acts are Teenage Dads and Delivery.
