Frankie Grande Talks About His Debut Album 'Hotel Rock Bottom'

Singer-songwriter, actor, and icon Frankie Grande released his debut album, Hotel Rock Bottom, on June 27, 2025, via Casablanca Records. The album consists of a 15-song tracklist, which includes his recently released singles “Rhythm of Love” and “Boys.”

You’ve worn many hats - Broadway star, TV personality, producer, and activist. How do you balance such a diverse career while staying grounded?

Frankie: I allow myself to be energetically directed to wherever I need to be. I definitely have ADHD, so I need to 100% focus on one thing at a time. That's so difficult for me. But it's interesting when it comes to art or activism, especially in the month of June. I don't think I can separate the two. For me, they are very much hand in hand for Pride Month. Especially with this album and the “Boys” music video. Just existing these days as an out proud queer extremely flamboyant homosexual and music is in and of itself a protest. I feel like right now I'm half and half art and activist, and it's pretty awesome.

What do you think makes a great pop song timeless?

Frankie: Oh wow, definitely something about the hook. But I am also a visual girl. I remember music videos so vividly from when I was young and a kid. I can tell you pretty much everything Madonna has worn in any one of her music videos. I remember Michael Jackson's iconic "Remember the Time" music video. I like visuals a lot. I think when you marry music and visuals effectively, that's what makes it stand the test of time. Which is why I'm really dedicated to making sure y’all get visuals for all my singles. It has been a top priority for me. I know a lot of artists these days are like yeah you got a 15-second TikTok, I did it. I’m like, no I’m giving you full visuals cause that's how I was raised.

In “Boys,” you transform the gym locker room, a traditionally hyper-masculine space, into a celebration of queer joy. How do you envision this reclamation influencing perceptions of masculinity and queerness in mainstream media?

Frankie: That’s exactly what I was trying to do. I was actually doing my makeup in the bathroom/locker room of the equinox. I was like giving a full beat, mascara and lashes. I was looking at all these masculine-presenting guys that are all being like bros, and I'm like beating my face for the gods. I’m like this is so silly, because I'm definitely the only one that is doing their makeup or would do their makeup there. It's so weird, but meanwhile, you go into the steam room and they're not straight. So it's very interesting having that dichotomy playing out in the locker room. I was just like I want to do this. I had my makeup running down my face, it was something that I was super self conscious about. Is going to the steam room at the gym with makeup on and coming out looking like that. Guys were like that's not masculine, so then that's not hot. I’m like well no fuck you yes it is. I feel like it’s a good time right now to have this dialogue. Because in society we love to try to almost fem shame or queer shame or bottom shame in the community. That is not what I'm about. If there's gonna be a power bottom anthem called “Boys”. So like let's be very proud of who we are and being queer, fem and all the fabulousness that makes us who we are. It is all beautiful and all attractive.

If Hotel Rock Bottom were a hotel in real life; what kind of drama would be unfolding in the elevators? Talk to me about the hotel's vibe.

Frankie: The Hotel Rock Bottom is a real hotel in London. It’s where I locked myself after the One Love Manchester concert. It was definitely one of the darkest and worst moments in my whole life. So the song truly, the lyrics are like if i'm checking out tomorrow and there is a double entendre there. Am I going to check out of the hotel, or am I gonna check out of life. That was the moment where I decided whether I was going to check out of life and be done, and this is where I end, or check out and go straight to rehab. I actually don't remember where the hotel is or what it's called. But I can see it in my head, it was grey and very modern. It was cold and dark and a place where I didnt want to die. So I got out of there. Hotel Rock Bottom truly is about my rock bottom moment where I made the decision to leave, check out and get sober. So it's a real place.

Can you share more about the creative process behind Hotel Rock Bottom? Were there any unexpected challenges or breakthroughs during its production?

Frankie: I ran this entire gambit of the past 20 years of my life on this album. So we start in the club, and it's fun and ferocious. I'm stomping in heels and being a disaster. It's great and wonderful, and there are no consequences. There was a whole time in my life when I could drink and use with no consequences. That's in the beginning, then you see the struggle in “Hotel Rock Bottom,” and then you see the sobriety angle as well. Which also has light and dark on it, 'cause once you get sober, it's life on life's terms. Then you have songs that are about my husband and puppy, and my life as a married man in the world. We really do go to many, many places. I would say the biggest challenge for me was discovering my sound as a recording artist. Which is very different from a live stage artist, which is what I've trained for my entire life. I'm a very loud singer, so learning to sing softer with the mic close to me was totally different for me. As a professional Broadway trained actor who has to hit the back of the house with my high notes. It was really cool and a fun challenge. Creative process wise, just start with a beat from my amazing EP, Prince Fox. It would warp me somewhere, and wherever we ended up going is where I would write from. The music sonically dictated the story.

You’ve always had such a vibrant stage presence. How do you recharge and stay grounded outside the spotlight?

Frankie: It's constantly a struggle, I'm not going to lie. I've been much better about booking time off to literally be in bed with my husband and my puppy and just be like im not doing anything this weekend. Even if it's just on the calendar a month ahead of time, like I know I have a pride show booked every weekend till July 3rd, and the next weekend I'm off and not doing anything. You have to try and carve out these spaces otherwise this industry will suck you completely dry. I've seen it happen. It's hard to balance, it's something I'm constantly dealing with. It's not easy because people are always asking for more. I'm a people pleaser and want to say yes to everything that is asked of me. Every once in a while, I will through a do not disturb on my weekend.

What’s your favorite memory from the making of the album overall?

Frankie: I wrote most of the album with Prince Fox, Kate Morgan and a few other collaborators. Eventually, my music came into the hands of Feras and Bonnie McKee, and these are some people I've looked up to my whole life. They've written some of my favorite songs ever in the Pop world. They pursued me to work with me. That was a huge pinch-me moment. I was like I don't understand how these grammy nominated, number-one billboard holding people. Bonnie said to me I’ve been dying to have an artist that is doing what you're doing. We got to work on some amazing songs together, one of which is “Sex Shop,” “Oasis,” and “Cognitive Dissonance.” Another is sitting in Republic Records playing Wendy Goldstein my EP.

Can you set fans up with the perfect environment to listen to the album for the first time?

Frankie: To me, sound is the most important thing in the world. Listening on your iPhone, like okay no, we mix it for everything, including your iPhone, so it will sound fine. But I want you to be in a Dolby room with speakers everywhere. I got to do a playback at the title, and I'm telling you that the room has the sickest sound and playback. I started crying while listening to “Sex Shop” because the sound was so good. Be with friends and somewhere loud. I heard “Rhythm of Love” at Tropicana in West Hollywood. How surrounded you are, I want the music to hug you. So go someplace where it’s loud and you are with friends and blast it. Or wear headphones and blast it.