German born Douglas musician, Frank Frikker, likes to tell stories. His songs are about real life experiences, stories of interesting people, known or unknown; stories of others and about himself, about funny, impressive, serious and sad events of life.

He is part of the Cairns Regional music scene and will soon fulfill his long held dream of launching his debut solo CD.

The Newsport caught up with Frank for a chat about his music and, of course, his new CD 'Tomorrow I will be ok'.

The Newsport: How would you describe your music style?

Frank Frikker: Good question. I don't know in which drawer I fit best. I consider myself as a singer/songwriter and storyteller. My guitar play has its origin in folk, blues, country.

After checking on the internet I think the genre that I fit best in is Contemporay Folk. It is important for me to point out that I love working with more classical type of instruments.

Instead of the usual guitar, bass and drum arrangements listeners will hear Clarinet, Violin, Mandolin, Viola, Saxophone tracks on the CD underlining the songs stories.

TN: What are the ‘stand out’ tracks on the album?

FF: Definitely "On Macrossan St" - my song about Carnivale in Port. It started as a guitar song with a bit of reggae feel. Now it is the most complex song on the CD with horns, steel drums, congas, ukulele, bass and vocals. A real happy, good feel tune.

To me this should become Port's theme tune. There are so many people negative and frustrated with business development. This could help to get moods up. But I am biased here as I wrote it.

Other ones are probably "Climate Change" about severe weather events in Australia with great violin play, "Eye to Eye" a song about Minke Whales as I have been on John Rumney's trip and had whales coming as close as one metre and looking me in the eye, and "Media Blues" an ironical song about my frustration with too much negative or nonsense news.

It is difficult to pick songs in particular as of course I like them all.

TN: Do you have any influences which come through on the album?

FF: I have been in and out of music for so many years. My professional career did not allow for more than a hobby until I came to Port almost seven years ago.

I am influenced by many songwriters of my time and various music styles. Being a solo artist what comes through most is my narrative style (I was told so) and my guitar play which is a mix of finger picking and strumming.

Performing alone I always try to make it as interesting for listeners as possible and thus incorporating parts that in a band others would cover.

Now working on my own songs I am always looking other elements and styles I can use for my songs.

TN: Is there a theme to the album?

FF: Most of the songs deal with my life here in Australia in general and Queensland in particular, the things I learned about this country, the stories I heard, the impact this sea change from big corporate job to local small business owner in a challenging economic environment has had on me.

For three of the songs I used lyrics of local poets.

TN: Where does the title of the album ‘Tomorrow I will be ok’ come from?

FF: This is a song about the soft and weaker sides of a man, seeking support when not fulfilling demands of a tough guy. I wrote it also to honour my wife and her energy to get me through such moments.

TN: How long have you been playing and writing your own music?

FF: I have been writing own songs from the very beginning as a teenager. For many years I had little time. I wrote most of the songs for a CD recorded together with fellow band members when living in Seoul, Korea.

Since I live here in paradise my mind opened for song writing again. The enormous talent around me inspired me and since then the songs keep coming. I have already started work on my second album.

TN: Where will the CD be available?

FF: So far I guess people, if interested, need to contact me on Facebook - Songwriting in Paradise.