Possibly Michael Franti’s most personal and powerful work to date, Welcome to the Family channels raw emotion into uplifting, genre-blending anthems of unity, resilience, and love.
Michael Franti has never been one to shy away from soul-baring honesty, and on Welcome to the Family, the globally beloved singer-songwriter, activist, and longtime frontman of Spearhead offers his most personal and unifying work yet.
Known for his barefoot stage presence, genre-blending grooves, and unwavering optimism, Franti has built a career on bridging gaps - between cultures, genres, and people. Adopted at birth and raised in Oakland, California, Franti’s own life has been defined by navigating different identities and finding strength in community. That lifelong journey threads through Welcome to the Family, a 13-track album that invites listeners to lean into love and remember that we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves.
“This album is about channeling emotions - anxiety, fear, uncertainty - and transforming them into something that uplifts,” Franti says. “It’s about leaning on the people we love, our chosen families, and remembering that we belong to a world family.”
The first single, “Break Up With Everything,” sets the tone with its call to shed fear and make room for renewal. Songs like “Rise Up” and “Be Who You Are” echo that message, encouraging authenticity, resilience, and radical compassion. Musically, the album blends Franti’s signature mix of reggae, folk, hip-hop, and pop into a warm, inviting sound that feels tailor-made for both personal reflection and communal joy.