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Frankie Venter is rapidly becoming one of New Zealand’s most exciting rising stars. At just 17 years old, she’s already making a huge impact in 2024, with major milestones that are propelling her to the forefront of the music scene. 

Her latest single, How You Like Me Now, has shot to #1 on the NZ Hot 20 charts, earning airplay on the country's biggest radio stations. Frankie’s breakout year also includes her first international tour, where she supported Southeast Asian artist Keenan Te. With a slew of accolades and an already impressive musical journey, Frankie is undoubtedly an artist to watch, with 2025 shaping up to be even bigger for this talented young musician.

We spoke with her during her recent showcase for Ones To Watch to get an inside look into who she is!

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Ones To Watch: Hi Frankie! Thanks for coming along for a chat - tell use about yourself!

Frankie Venter: Hi, I’m Frankie Venter. I’m 17 and a singer-songwriter from Mount. I just dropped out of school to pursue music, and I moved here a couple of weeks ago.

When did you first realise you wanted to pursue music?

I remember watching Taylor Swift videos on my computer, and I just got this fuzzy feeling seeing her perform in front of tens of thousands of people. I thought, "I want to do that." So yeah, that’s the dream I’m going after right now.

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far in your career?

Oh, I think I played a show recently opening for Will Swinton here, and these girls were screaming the lyrics to Layla. It really got to me, and I started to well up on stage. They drove 4 hours to see me and even made signs and friendship bracelets. It was so cute.

How would you describe your music style?

I’d say it’s a bit of pop, maybe a lot of pop, and some R&B, but I’m still trying out a bunch of different lanes, which is fun. I’m not trying to put myself in a box. It’s very me, very out there. I started out just writing and releasing my first three songs, which were all guitar-based—just me, a guitar, and drums. But now I’m getting into different sounds and production, like scents and stuff. It’s way more fun, and there’s so much freedom to explore.

Who’s your biggest musical inspiration?

Benee. I will not shut up about her. She’s amazing. If I could, I would love to reincarnate as her in another life. She's just incredible.

If you could meet any artist, who would it be?

Oh, I would love to meet Taylor Swift. If I met her, I’d probably faint. I can’t handle famous people! I wouldn’t even know what to say. I’d just pass out.

Do you like to write about personal experiences?

I love writing break-up songs, that’s totally my vibe. Each writing session feels like a bit of therapy. The producers usually ask, "What’s been going on in your life? What do you want to write about?" It’s so much more fun to write about something true and personal. We usually start with the music first—sometimes using reference songs—and then I’ll just start humming or riffing into the mic. Somehow, we turn that into a song.

How do you stay true to yourself during the creative process?

The biggest thing for me is being honest with my producers. I’m currently working with Rory Noble, and he’s great—I don’t have to tell him, "I don’t like this," because we’re always on the same page. But being young, it’s important to know the balance between doing what others want and staying true to your own vision for the song. That’s how I make sure I stay authentic.

Do you have any creative rituals or habits?

I definitely have periods where I write a lot and other times where I don’t write much at all. I’ll go a couple of weeks without writing anything, and then I’ll write a song every day for two months. It fluctuates.

What do you hope people take away from your music?

I just want to have fun and make people happy. If my music can do that, then I’ve done my job.

How do you feel about social media in relation to your music career?

Social media has leveled the playing field for everyone. It’s the most equal it’s ever been for music. I don’t think of social media as work—I treat it as a hobby, and I have fun with it. But at the same time, it’s so important to stay true to yourself and not listen to outside opinions. If you want to do this, you have to have tunnel vision.

Do you have any go-to sources for inspiration?

I’ve got this saved album on TikTok called “Inspo.” It’s full of videos that get me hyped, like Billie Eilish winning Grammys or performing live, and tons of Taylor Swift videos. If I need a bit of a boost before going on stage or just when I’m feeling down, I’ll watch those videos to get inspired.

What’s coming up for you?

I’m really excited about my team releasing more songs. We’re not being precious about it anymore—we’re just putting out as much as we can. We’re also teasing a tour, which people are really excited about. I can’t wait to announce it soon.