Francis Arevalo is an East Vancouver-born-and-based emcee who is equal parts hype and heart. From the intersection of his Filipino heritage, knack for language, and lifelong love for hip-hop, each song is both fuel and fire to keep you going and keep you company, day in and day out. His performances are energizing, empowering, emotive and memorable, whether in living rooms or festival stages. Having developed in the local poetry slam scene as a teenager, the common thread throughout the different sounds of his discography is his personal storytelling, thoughtful messages, and clever lyricism, refined over the years.
Through his discography is a body of work centred on potent lyrics backed by soulful hip-hop. The music feels lush, colourful, and alive, while the lyrics are heartfelt, clever, and poignant. His vocal delivery is rooted in his spoken word background: steady, rhythmic, and deliberate.
He is also a passionate mental health advocate living with Bipolar Type 1 Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, whose journey telling his story through music was the subject of an award-winning documentary, “The Lion.”
His upcoming album Home, Grown releases in 2026. The second single, “Gardens,” featuring Kimmortal, is out now.
Name:
Francis Arevalo
Genre:
Hip-Hop/Rap
Founded:
2017
# of Albums:
2 albums, 3 EPs
Latest Album:
The Sound of Healing (2024)
Latest Single:
Gardens. Was released on March 20
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
My favourite musician growing up was Shad. I was first introduced to Shad when a friend in high school shared this YouTube video with me. I’ve been a fan ever since, listening to every project over the years. I first met him when a friend and I went to the 2008 Vans Warped Tour in Vancouver and met him after his set. I’d cross paths with him a few times when he lived in Vancouver.
Favourite musician now:
To this day, Shad is still my favourite musician/rapper/artist. I got to live out a dream this past January by opening for him at the sold-out Vancouver stop of his Start Anew/20th Anniversary tour! The crowd was full of friends and family who have been a part of my journey for many years. I had the time of my life, and that night is a life highlight for sure.
Guilty pleasure song:
The Dinotown theme song: Welcome to Dinotown! When I was a kid, my parents took my brother and me to Dinotown, which was a magical dinosaur-themed park at Cultus Lake. We only went once, maybe twice, but those are fond memories for me. What I remember most was a cassette my parents bought, which had a soundtrack of all-original songs. My favourite was the first track, “Welcome to Dinotown.” I love the sound and feeling of horns in my music, and I can trace the love for them back to this song as my earliest memory.
Live show ritual:
Usually, some combination of any last-minute rehearsal, pacing, meditating, and eating sour candies.
Favourite local musician:
Alvin Brendan is the lead producer on my upcoming album titled Home, Grown, and I’m grateful to call him a friend! We had played together a couple times over the last few years, with him as guitarist. Sometime around the end of 2024, I noticed he was posting about songs he produced, and I loved what I was hearing. At this time in my life and career, I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing with the Home, Grown album, let alone my artist career, but I knew I wanted to fully realize this one demo I’d been holding onto, called “Some Days.” At the start of 2025, I reached out to Alvin to see if he’d be game to work on it with me, and he said yes. I dig his musical tastes, production instincts, and ways of communicating and collaborating. I think most importantly, making music with him feels fun and easeful, which is key with a workload as big as this album. This album wouldn’t be what it is without him.
EP or LP?
LP! Love deep-dives into concepts and exploring the world of a longer project
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird! I love having a morning before the day becomes a day, you know? I usually get up around 5-6 am for my morning rituals and routines: prayer, body scan, water, smoothie, coffee, journaling and a sunrise walk.
Road or studio?
Studio. I think the homebody in me loves staying in one place. Over the years, I gravitate to expression through making new works, but I’m slowly feeling the pull to perform more, especially outside of Vancouver.
Any shows or albums coming up?
My album Home, Grown is releasing this summer 2026. This project is 8 years in the making, and it is finally ready to share with the world. I consider it the third act in the story of growth and self-realization, starting from early high school up until the present day. It follows the events of my previous album, The Sound of Healing, which chronicled the years where I experienced my first episodes of mania, depression and psychosis in 2015, eventually being diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 disorder. Home, Grown tells the story and shares what I learned in surviving that time, integrating those lessons, and building a life after crisis, becoming the person and artist I’ve been striving to be.
Where can we follow you?
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Website
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
Plato Filipino
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
Main Street. This area is where I spend more of my time. There are so many good ways to spend a morning, afternoon, or evening here, whether taking myself on a little solo date, or meeting up with friends and family. I’ve worked at Cascade Water on Main since 2015, which forever has a place in my heart. It was a soft place to land after my mental health crisis in 2015. It’s where I first opened Ableton and would spend the time in between customers writing songs and producing music. I’m so happy to still be working here a couple days a week.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Central Park. It’s technically Burnaby because it crosses Boundary, but I’m going to count this one because I love going on long walks here. It’s an oasis along the otherwise very busy street that is Kingsway. My most favourite memory here is that I wrote most of my song Clarity in the summer of 2025 here while wandering around for 3 hours. I find this place meditative and calming for my nervous system, so I find myself drawn here when I’m working through thoughts or feelings.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
Fortune Sound Club. My favourite concerts and my own favourite performances I’ve done have happened here.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Long & McQuade – it always has what I’m looking for, whether buying gear for the stage or home studio use, or renting mics for recording or a PA system for an event.
