Growing up around musicians, Francesca “Frankie” Nagle (12) had attended many CD release parties, but this time the spotlight was all hers.

“It was the most incredible night of my life,” she said.

Frankie’s newly released debut album, titled Everything Must Change, is comprised of her original music and both vocal and instrumental covers of classic jazz songs.

“I just wanted to go for it, and have something that would be a product of mine, of who I am, and be able to share myself with people,” Frankie said.

Coming from a family with deep American roots, Frankie was raised around jazz music, watching old Fred Astaire and Gene Kelley movies as a baby.

“My parents really introduced me to music when I was a little kid,” she said. “And I don’t know, I caught something. It was like my calling.”

Between writing lyrics, recording her music, mixing the tracks, and arranging a photoshoot, Frankie was in and out of the studio for about six months. However, she said the most difficult part was not working around her school schedule, but instead choosing the songs she would put on the album.

“There’s so much more than just the music,” she said. “And honestly, I don’t think that I was set on the songs until the album came out, and I had no choice about what was going to be on it anymore.”

The album feature tracks such as a cover of Nat King Cole’s  “On the Street Where You Live,” Frankie’s original songs “Forever” and “In Your Eyes,” and her younger brother Nicolas Nagle’s  (10) instrumental composition “As Per Your Request.”

Though the songs she wrote are close to her, Frankie said her favorite on the album is her version of the Al Jarreau song “I Will Be Here For You” because of its unique arrangement.

“Originally it’s really funky, but I got to tie in my bluegrass, ‘old-timey’ roots with this funk and I loved that fusion of music,” she said.

Also featured on her album are Frankie’s vocal teacher Nate Pruitt and her banjo and guitar teacher Rick Vandivier. Frankie spoke highly of her vocal teacher as “incredible” and “a god,” and referred to her guitar teacher as “amazing” and “genius” for his ability to teach her banjo on the guitar.

“When I was talking about who to get to play on bass and drums, Jason Lewis and John Shifflett’s names kept coming up with Rick and Nate, my teachers,” Frankie said. “It was kind of an obvious choice in the end.”

Frankie started out playing bluegrass and old-time Americana music on her guitar, but she quickly became interested in the banjo after seeing many artists use the instrument in fusions of jazz, bebop, funk, and classical music.

“I started playing banjo because it was common with bluegrass, but I realized it’s not just your instrument; it’s a tool you use to convey,” she said. “You can do whatever you want with your voice or your instrument.”

When asked about future albums, Frankie said, “We’ll see how things go—it’s a journey right now. I have no idea what’s going to happen next.”