Frances Luke Accord
By Larry Clifford
Frances Luke Accord is a collaboration of two local South Bend musicians who have turned themselves into a contemporary Indie folk duo, known for their intricate tenor harmonies, inspired songwriting, and emotive stage performances. The band was formed in South Bend, and is often known as FLA.
Brian Powers is a Saint Joseph High School alum, and his bandmate Nick Gunty a Marian High School graduate. They started playing together one time “by accident” in their senior years of high school. They got serious about their duo while attending Notre Dame together, and have been writing songs and playing together since.
FLA is the best of what NPR’s Mountain Stage calls “the definition of lean-in music.”
We’ve all seen and heard musical artists of every genre whose voice can barely be heard above all the clamor and noise of their instruments. This is not the way that FLA performs for their expanding audience. Their voices are their instruments, and the traditional instruments become magic that brings the room to attention.
“We write songs to lift you up and calm you down,” according to the artists.
They are concentrating on the musical and classical details of their work, such as instrumentation, lyrics, and arrangements. They “lean in” to each other on stage; they also “lean in” to the musical details of their artistry. Most importantly they are storytellers.
On occasion, they add the amazing violin stylings of Katie Van Dusen, from the University of Michigan, to add an even warmer tone to their music. The duo plays throughout the Midwest and the East Coast, both in concert venues and in more private “house concerts”. They are now in their twelfth year together and have honed their skills, lyrics, their amazing harmonies, and their attention to detail.
Jim Ward, a South Bend music producer and the creator of Souunds, South Bend has followed them throughout their journey, and notes their amazing prowess, “to say they sound better than ever is not hyperbole. They’ve truly matured into extremely skilled musicians and performers, and their new forthcoming album is mesmerizing.”
Their soft contemplative music is a combination of Indie folk with a timeliness that honors the Simon and Garfunkel comparisons but pushes into the world of progressive folk music. Pure MM notes their “echo of Simon and Garfunkel and the melodic progression of Josh Ritter and the quirky weirdness of Surphan Stevens.” FLA has taken all of this and has turned it into something entirely unique.
“The voices of Gunty and Powers together effortlessly pull listeners in, with an urge to hear the story being told,” says Music Mecca.
Their first album, Kandote, was an amazing intercultural collaboration with the Barefoot Truth Children’s Choir in Uganda, while Brian and Nick were still going to school. They continued, honing their songwriting skills, and released the full-length album, Fluke, in 2016. This was followed by Silver and Gold, (2019) and various singles and joint arrangements with artists like Darlingside and Liz Chidester.
Their newest project in 2026 elevates the original Kandote project set in Uganda with an expanded Children’s Choir. Due for release in 2026, is their third LP, Kandote - Together as One, together with the Hopeful Kommuga Primary School of Kkindu, Uganda.
The duo has indicated that this is the “best work we've done”. While the original Kandote was recorded on a computer, the new revision was done with the expanded choir, and a much more sophisticated Uganda production. They describe the newest work as “polished and professional", with an expanded choir and crew. Brian refers to it as "empowering and collaborative; joyful and hopeful”.
Simultaneously with the new album, set for release in a series of singles after the first of the year - and then the full album mid-2026, the duo is also working on their PATREON project.
FLA’s other major innovations for themselves for 2026 is their participation with PATREON (patreon.com or in the app store). This new format is designed to put musicians and other creators in control of their work, by strengthening the bond between the artists and their community of followers.
FLA’s incredibly popular song, Maria, is a powerful story about a nightmare scenario and a personal reflection from their album "Safe in Sound."
“If the sun goes dark someday
And all the stars fall out from space
Oh, solace me, my enlightened one
With no stars and with no sun”
Lyrics from Maria.
Nick Gunty explains the song was inspired by the devastating 2017 hurricane Maria that struck the Caribbean. The title Maria is a play on nightmare. In Buddhism, Mare is often depicted as a demon or deceiver; in the Hebrew Book of Ruth, Mare suffers great loss and feels punished by God; and the mare of German and Slavic folklore, demons who terrorize the sleeping help form the etymological origin of the English nightmare.
“Why? I'd leave my body and my blood behind
On just the faith you're the one to find”
In the style of FLA they weave a rich tapestry of vocal harmony, generous lyrics, and gentle ringing guitars. While the song may be about a nightmare, it is a dream to listen to