Courtesy photo Franki Love calls her piano-driven pop tunes laid back and inspirational. "A lot of people think it sounds like Vanessa Carlton or Norah Jones," she says.

Courtesy photo Franki Love has been writing and performing her songs for seven years. "People think it's glamorous, but you have to do it because you love it," she says.

It'll be girls' night Saturday at the Experi-mental Cafe in Oxnard, where five ladies of song will try out a few tunes on the 21-and-older crowd. Once upon a time a Woolworth's building, the Experi-mental Cafe is at the corner of Fourth and A streets, where musicians play in the window with their backs to the street. There's something going on there almost every night of the week.

One-fifth of the evening's soundtrack is L.A. singer-songwriter Franki Love, traveling light as a girl and her keyboard, plus a percussionist. She has a CD full of bad-love songs about that big jerk of an ex who just doesn't get it, but is good enough for a song or two. Ain't love grand? There's even a documentary in the works about Love trying to make it in show biz. In 2004, she won a female singer-songwriter award at the Los Angeles Music Awards, which honor independent artists.

Fans are expected to flock to Saturday's totally affordable free show. Love will take the stage around 8-ish, hopefully after Kevin Love has made an impression on Memphis State at the NCAA Final Four showdown.

The musical Love discussed the latest during a recent phoner.

What's the latest in Franki World?

I'm starting to practice the piano a little because I have a show coming up. What else am I doing? I'm having a fundraiser for the mother soldiers serving in the war in Iraq. A lot of people are unaware that there are soldiers who are moms. There's thousands of them. I'd like to send every mother soldier a Mother's Day gift; it's this song on a CD that I created for my mom. I'm donating a thousand (CDs). Every person who gives a dollar, that's one CD.

Has Dick Cheney contributed yet?

No, but it has been crazy. People are e-mailing me that I've never even met.

What's the song?

The song is called "Mama."

What about your debut CD? Are you a rich rock star yet?

No, I'm an in-debt rock star, but the album is inspiring some people. I've got to promote it a little more. I finished it about six months ago, and it's on iTunes. I sell it at shows, and it's starting to do better. I'm looking for a record label or distribution company to help me launch and market it.

When did you decide that the night life was for you, and do you remember your first gig?

Basically, I was looking for a way to make money, so I started teaching piano, and I was dating a guy who was doing gigs around town.

That's the guy you want dead in all those songs?

Yeah. And then I thought I would try to write a song because it can't be that hard. My first gig? I played at a coffee shop and it was great. I had written about 10 songs and was so nervous, but I played them and it was great. I was surprised because I thought no one would like my music.

How long has this been going on? And what does Franki music sound like?

My first gig was seven years ago. A lot of people think it sounds like Vanessa Carlton or Norah Jones. It's adult contemporary, very laid-back piano, inspirational music with a touch of pop in it.

No mosh pits at your shows then?

(Laughs.) No.

How does a single young lady make it on the L.A. music scene?

The system here in Los Angeles is kind of backward in my opinion. You have to pay to play in a lot of the clubs. Are you aware of that?

That's why a lot of people come up here.

That's why I'm coming up to Oxnard. Down here (in Los Angeles), it's a lot of pay to play, and the clubs don't treat you that great. It's an in-and-out, disrespectful place to play. They (the clubs) are not concerned about how talented you are but rather about how many paying guests they have. I'm doing a lot of Borders gigs. At Borders, you don't have to worry about the club owner and having 50 people show up. It's a pleasant experience.

How did winning an L.A. Music Award change things for you, or did it?

The L.A. Music Award was great because after I won it I started working with producers and writers. It sort of gets you in the door, and people recognize my music. It made me realize that I'm on the right path. The guy behind the awards is very supportive of independent artists, so that's good.

Does bad love make for good songs?

Yeah. The only way I could live with my heart being broken all the time is not to see it as misfortune. I say these things were meant to be so I could finish an album.

Tell me about the "Why Can't I" song. Is it about that evil jerk ex?

Many evil exes. It's a combination of about five of them.

What have you learned during your seven-year adventure?

I thought it would be easier. People think it's glamorous, but you have to do it because you love it. It's very gratifying to inspire or connect with people when you play live music. It's an art. But it's not like you can get a million-dollar record deal. You have to do it independently. It's very, very hard work.

So, the plan is ?

My love is songwriting. I love to perform, but if I could have it my way, I would have very famous singers sing my songs, so I'm focusing on that. For example, today I decided I need to contact Kelly Clarkson's manager because I have a great song for her.

How many Franki songs are there so far?

About 50.

That's a lot. So what's up with the documentary?

A couple of years ago I was playing in a smoky bar and this director was filming all the bands. He filmed me and said, "I want to follow you until you make it and you're a success."

In less-enlightened times, isn't that a stalker?

(Laughs.) We have 60 hours of footage of me having great shows and bad shows, meeting with producers and just hustling out there and paying my dues. At the end of the documentary, I realize I have to do an album on my own. We don't have it edited yet, but we're shopping it right now.

Who goes to a Franki show?

People who are seeking inspiration and are inward, deep people — spiritual, I guess, and soulful.

How do you handle the groupies who want to marry you and elope to the nearest Starbucks?

I love them because they're the ones that keep me going. I write them e-mails back, but the only times I see them is at my shows. I have really great groupies.

If not this, then what?

I would probably be a marine biologist.

Strangest gig?

I played at a lesbian bar but I didn't know it was a lesbian bar. So I had no idea until every woman tried to kiss me after.

Franki, you don't look like a Frank. Were your parents hoping for a son?

No, I already have a brother.

— E-mail music writer Bill Locey at blocey@pacbell.net.