Departures Franko Spero

• 1 Departures 04:30
• 2 Go To Gate 04:09
• 3 Are You There 03:53
• 4 The Shuttle 04:13
• 5 1000 Things 04:34
• 6 My Woman 04:44
• 7 Funkin' Down The Boogie Street 04:15
• 8 The Yellow Line 05:15
• 9 Getting Back 04:12
• 10 Destination Unknown 03:45
• Total Runtime 43:30

Info for Departures

Norwegian recording artist and producer Franko Spero (Frank Hestness) releases his debut full-length album, "Departures". The 10-track project blends smooth jazz, funk, and soul, expanding on the sound of his three previous chart-topping EPs.

All 10 tracks were composed, performed, and recorded or sequenced by Franko Spero at the FH-Music Room in Stavanger, Norway. Drummer Simen Amundrud contributed live drums for the track "1000 Things" at Komet Lydstudio.

The album was mixed by Espen Eidem at Komet Lydstudio and mastered by Steven Grant Bishop in Stavanger.

Franko Spero is based in Stavanger, Norway, Frank Hestness launched the Franko Spero project in 2023 following decades as a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, and keyboards) and early adopter of computer-based music production. Prior to Departures, he released three EPs—Signing In (2023), One Step Ahead (2024), and It's Time (2024)—earning over a million streams on the ballad "2AM" and multiple #1 singles on Spanish smooth jazz radio charts.

Franko Spero, keyboards, production
Simen Amundrud, drums

Franko Spero
is the brainchild of recording artist/composer/producer Frank Hestness, born, raised and still living in Stavanger, Norway.

Franko’s life always was and still is about music one way or the other, both listening and producing.

Franko grew up playing the guitar, bass and later turned to the keys. Franko always had an interest in music technology and was an early adoptor of computer based music production.

Franko is influenced from a variety of musical styles within the genres of soul, funk and fusion during the 80s and 90s reaching from producers like Nick Martinelli and Jam/Lewis to bands like Shakatak and Mezzoforte. The later years learned Franko to make a dive into the world of jazz to discover and understand more of the origin and the roots to so much of the music he was already familiar to.

With special attention to the modern smooth jazz scene including artists like Brian Culbertson and Steve Cole, just to mention a few, the idea to release his own music was seeded, watered and started to grow.

Using both his musical inspiration and passion for music technology, Franko Spero has created a unique blend of elements from smooth jazz, funk and soul including tracks to enjoy either you wanna get up «On The Roof» or enjoy a more quiet moment «In The Corner».

After three EP releases during the latest years, including the million streaming smooth jazz ballad 2AM and several #1 singles on the Spanish smooth jazz radio charts, Franko decided to produce a 10 song album to be released in 2026.

This album contains no booklet.