Fanbase Music Magazine Chats To Billy O About His New Project And Single and Much More

Interviewed by Duzzy Clayton

Intro

I first came to know of Billy O in another project called THE ORMIDALES, and I was instantly a big fan of that band, so when I heard he is starting a new project called Billy O, I already knew it was going to be awesome

I chat to Billy O about his new project, new single, and much much more

Enjoy The Read

Interview

Hi Bill and welcome back to Fanbase Music Magazine, the last time we featured you, you were with the Ormadales which was an awesome band, but now you are back with a new project called Billy O. Can you explain what and who is Billy O, also do you have other band members?

Billy O is me. I was called Billy O growing up, playing sports we had three Billys on the soccer team. There was Billy Briggs (Billy B’), Billy Lewis( Billy Lew) and myself. It stuck through school days and later with my workmates and even now among friends. I thought it would be a good name for my new project This project was all done with P.D. Wohl and myself.

How would you describe the new project’s sound and genre?

A real hybrid of pop sounds, glossy keyboards, twangin’ electrics, jangly acoustics, and lovely textures.I would say for the sake of a compartment you can file it in the Pop envelope.

Can you remind our readers where you are from and what got you into music?

I was born in Vancouver, BC, and continue to live there. I was surrounded by music growing up, from listening to the radio that was always on in the kitchen. It introduced me to so many artists and songs. Playing my brother’s records he introduced me to so many great artists, Orbison, Elvis, Del Shannon, and even a bit of jazz with Stan Getz and Dave Brubeck. When Beatlemania arrived on our shores that was it, My dad was a sanitation worker and one day he brought an old acoustic that someone was tossing out. It only had five strings but I figured out my first guitar noodle, the solo to “Don’t Bother Me” by The Beatles featuring George. After that, I was a lad insane to quote Bowie’s “Aladdin Sane”. Later in my early twenties, we got into recording our originals on a 4-track cassette Porta Studio before moving up to a Fostex 8 track and getting some demos done. A British producer named John Schroeder moved to Vancouver after many years as a writer/arranger/producer to many British artists including Status Quo. Helen Shapiro and his own Sounds Orchestral.

He was on the radio seeking demos from Vancouver musicians so we sent him a cassette with two tunes. He thought they had potential and the next thing I knew we were in Mushroom Studios doing it “for real”. Decades later here we are with my latest “From The Hit Parade”.

Who are some of your influences?

Far too many to list but all the stuff I heard growing up on the radio. I think every song you ever hear is filed in the memory and still there to access. Hooks and riffs, melodies and noodles, or what makes a song special. The Beatles, Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Phil Spector, and Motown. were a few of my favorite influences and still are.

Billy O’s debut single is called From The Hit Parade, can you tell us what the song is about?

Sure can, It’s all about my first band as a 15-year-old. We covered the songs from the charts, UK and American, and would play them with all our hearts and we thought we had it made.

Where did you record and did anyone else work on the track?

At Wohl of Sound in Vancouver. Paul and I did this as a project so just the two of us. Paul is a super-talented musician and engineer/producer and we click very well.

What was the recording process like?

Painless. fun and magical. I had a solid demo I did at home with a pretty decent sketch of the song that had the essence of the song intact. From this Paul was able to get the finished version happening and it happened quickly. We knew where it was heading so no time was spent figuring out what we wanted except a few references perhaps to note.

When you wrote music for Billy O, was there a difference in how you approached it compared to THE ORMIDALES?

Not at all. With The Ormidales if you listen to our songs it is quite evident there was a poppy sound and a rootsy sound and each of our songs showed that. We created a really cool blend together and this year Mark and I are both doing solo projects separate from The Ormidales. We always threw our ideas out to each other and did a lot of back and forth getting the ideas solidified. With this project, I took the song to Paul and it was pretty much all there. He adds the magic and sugar.

Will you be releasing more singles or an album soon?

Going to roll out singles over the next while instead of an album that gets put on the shelf after what the radio host perceives to be the strong song or “hit”.

You work with an awesome PR lady and mutual friend Catherine from CJC Promotions, can you tell us how it has been working with her and what she does for your musical career?

Yes, Catherine is wonderful, firstly as a person, she is kind, caring, personable and a good friend as well which makes it all special. So many in the music business just treat you as a number and have zero people skills or choose to not use them at all. The Ormidales got a tremendous response through Catherine at CJC and I am so excited to see what she does with “From The Hit Parade.

Can you tell us what the music scene is like where you are from?

To be honest I am very out of touch with what is happening locally except that there are many bands and artists all out there doing their thing. I prefer the art of making recordings and videos and unleashing them for the world to see.

thank you for doing this interview, do you have any last messages for our readers?

Yes, support new artists in their quest, and I hope you like my new track, with many more coming over the next while.