Imperfectly Billy!
Pop's shining light Billy Mick is ready for the next wave of wonderful
by Dusk Arts
Billy Mick is on a mission to spread acceptance, empowerment, and joy as far and wide as possible--all with a smile on his face and dance in his step. His life-affirming debut album Just B. is like watching a fireworks display during the height of Pride. Since its June 5, 2020 release, Q Review wanted to reconnect with an artist who's as bold as he is fun. Get to know Billy Mick in the words below!
What’s your life like outside of music and the LGBTQ+ community? Any other passions? Pastimes?
My family and friends are my passion for sure! I have such an amazing husband, two beautiful pups (a Beagle and a Boston) and I am surrounded by the most wonderful friends and family anyone could ask for. My husband and I LOVE to cook! It's been fun during quarantine to cook these ridiculous meals that take hours to cook, but we have the time LOL.
You wear so many great outfits in your music videos! I especially noticed your amazing jackets! Some of them look custom-made or modified. Do you just know where to find amazing clothes or do you or someone you know customize or design them?
I actually make all of my jackets. Well, I guess I just embellish them, really. I get an idea in my head and just go for it!
Since you seem to cultivate a personal style throughout your videos and photos, do you have any particular fashion influences--whether they're people, ideas, or something else?
I feel like my jumping off point for my style comes from 70's variety shows really. They had a glamour that we've kind of stepped away from. I like the idea of having the bling; the shinier the better for me. I want it to feel like a show when I am performing. Regarding my videos, I tend to feel the music and then go with my gut. I sometimes take a step back and think "is this too much?" but realize "No. This is me."
And of course, we must talk about your musical influences and inspirations! In other interviews (including one with us!), you’ve mentioned artists such as Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, and Cher, but are there any that particularly influenced Just B.?
I think that my music style overall is influenced by all of these people, but the album itself is 100% all me. I really wanted this album to be a completely honest representation of Billy Mick.
Are there any newer artists you’re enjoying or feeling inspired by?
It's awesome being part of this emerging music scene. I am truly energized and inspired by the artists such as, Wild Horse, Aman Dhesi, Corey Stewart, Brandyn Killz, Will and the Starlight, PureGrand, Kisos, Alan Jay, foxgluvv, Jgrgry, C-Beem, Jxckson - just to name a handful! There are amazing artists creating such fabulous content and I just love it!
Billy Mick is on a mission to spread acceptance, empowerment, and joy as far and wide as possible--all with a smile on his face and dance in his step. His life-affirming debut album Just B. is like watching a fireworks display during the height of Pride. Since its June 5, 2020 release, Q Review wanted to reconnect with an artist who's as bold as he is fun. Get to know Billy Mick in the words below!
What’s your life like outside of music and the LGBTQ+ community? Any other passions? Pastimes?
My family and friends are my passion for sure! I have such an amazing husband, two beautiful pups (a Beagle and a Boston) and I am surrounded by the most wonderful friends and family anyone could ask for. My husband and I LOVE to cook! It's been fun during quarantine to cook these ridiculous meals that take hours to cook, but we have the time LOL.
You wear so many great outfits in your music videos! I especially noticed your amazing jackets! Some of them look custom-made or modified. Do you just know where to find amazing clothes or do you or someone you know customize or design them?
I actually make all of my jackets. Well, I guess I just embellish them, really. I get an idea in my head and just go for it!
Since you seem to cultivate a personal style throughout your videos and photos, do you have any particular fashion influences--whether they're people, ideas, or something else?
I feel like my jumping off point for my style comes from 70's variety shows really. They had a glamour that we've kind of stepped away from. I like the idea of having the bling; the shinier the better for me. I want it to feel like a show when I am performing. Regarding my videos, I tend to feel the music and then go with my gut. I sometimes take a step back and think "is this too much?" but realize "No. This is me."
And of course, we must talk about your musical influences and inspirations! In other interviews (including one with us!), you’ve mentioned artists such as Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, and Cher, but are there any that particularly influenced Just B.?
I think that my music style overall is influenced by all of these people, but the album itself is 100% all me. I really wanted this album to be a completely honest representation of Billy Mick.
Are there any newer artists you’re enjoying or feeling inspired by?
It's awesome being part of this emerging music scene. I am truly energized and inspired by the artists such as, Wild Horse, Aman Dhesi, Corey Stewart, Brandyn Killz, Will and the Starlight, PureGrand, Kisos, Alan Jay, foxgluvv, Jgrgry, C-Beem, Jxckson - just to name a handful! There are amazing artists creating such fabulous content and I just love it!
Just B. definitely has some common themes running throughout it. Do you try to stick to certain topics when writing songs or explore whatever comes to you?
It is always whatever comes to me for sure. With this album, I really wanted to introduce myself. Strip myself naked, so to speak, and let everyone know exactly who I am.
What is your songwriting process like? Do you usually start with lyrics, a melody, a title? Or can you start anywhere?
Honestly, I will just start singing lyrics. When something pops in my head I will pick up my phone, start recording and just sing away! My voice messages on my phone are pretty full LOL!
And how about your recording process? I think I read that you do everything on your own, but would you ever get help from other musicians and sound engineers or do you like to keep things solo?
I do all the music and lyrics myself. I have an AMAZING engineer and music director, Dan Reynolds, and I don't think I would ever want to have anyone else besides him. He hears things that I don't necessarily hear. So I show up, sing through the song and he says "okay, now sing this harmony. Now sing some ad libs" etc; and, the end product is always better than I could have ever imagined. That all being said, I would absolutely love to do some collaboration with other artists!
If you could collaborate on a song or album with anyone you wanted, who would it be?
My ultimate dream duet is to remake "Dead Ringer for Love" with Adam Lambert! I don't know why, but I think that would be amazing!
The title track “Just B.” sets the tone for the album with both its lyrics and its sound. Am I right in thinking that it’s a pun on your name? As if to say that you’re “just Billy” in just being yourself?
It absolutely is! I wanted to start the album with where I am at now, I felt it was the perfect introduction of Billy Mick.
It is always whatever comes to me for sure. With this album, I really wanted to introduce myself. Strip myself naked, so to speak, and let everyone know exactly who I am.
What is your songwriting process like? Do you usually start with lyrics, a melody, a title? Or can you start anywhere?
Honestly, I will just start singing lyrics. When something pops in my head I will pick up my phone, start recording and just sing away! My voice messages on my phone are pretty full LOL!
And how about your recording process? I think I read that you do everything on your own, but would you ever get help from other musicians and sound engineers or do you like to keep things solo?
I do all the music and lyrics myself. I have an AMAZING engineer and music director, Dan Reynolds, and I don't think I would ever want to have anyone else besides him. He hears things that I don't necessarily hear. So I show up, sing through the song and he says "okay, now sing this harmony. Now sing some ad libs" etc; and, the end product is always better than I could have ever imagined. That all being said, I would absolutely love to do some collaboration with other artists!
If you could collaborate on a song or album with anyone you wanted, who would it be?
My ultimate dream duet is to remake "Dead Ringer for Love" with Adam Lambert! I don't know why, but I think that would be amazing!
The title track “Just B.” sets the tone for the album with both its lyrics and its sound. Am I right in thinking that it’s a pun on your name? As if to say that you’re “just Billy” in just being yourself?
It absolutely is! I wanted to start the album with where I am at now, I felt it was the perfect introduction of Billy Mick.
“Imitation of Life” is just as poignant and has such great imagery. For instance, I love the line: “The truth can cut like a knife/But anything less than truth is an imitation of life.” What was the lyrical inspiration for this song?
About 8 years ago I became very ill. I had to be hospitalized for almost 4 months. During that period, they had to put me into a coma and afterwards, I had to learn to walk again. After I got home, I wrote "Imitation of Life". We all have struggles; life will always come at you with ugly truths and it is up to us to decide what we are going to do with that. I see everything in life as a lesson - you can choose to grow from it and be better, or let it bring you down. I never let things like that bring me down.
“Just Me” explicitly mentions bigotry in the lyrics and also to allow people to identify as they want. Not many pop/rock artists and especially not mainstream artists are so daring in naming the problems in our society. What made you call a spade a spade and what do you think about the way mainstream artists address bigotry in their music?
I feel like it needs to be called out! It is absolutely ridiculous that ANY kind of bigotry still exists in this world. We have come so far as a society and we still have a long way to go. Because of that, we have to call it out. So many people don't experience bigotry against them, so there's no reason for them to see it. We have to make it known that it is still there in order to make a change.
Another standout song for me is "Imperfectly Me." As someone who is not only queer, but who has also dealt with body dysmorphic disorder, I teared up at the profundity of the lyrics. This is clearly a song about self-acceptance from an LGBTQ+ perspective, but the genius in the songwriting here is that everyone can relate to the struggle to be oneself without worrying about unachievable perfection. This makes it easier for straight and cis people to sympathize with the song’s queer empowerment message. I'm wondering what inspirations and experiences led you to write “Imperfectly Me” because a lot of people miss out on that great detail of having pride in ourselves while accepting our imperfections!
When you are given a "second lease on life" it really puts things into perspective for you. You have to really step back and take a look at yourself and what is important to you. I am at a place in my life where I really love who I am. I used to always want straight hair and a better body but I've gained a great perspective on everything about me that's fabulous! I am me and I love being me!
“No Love Will Ever Do” is quite funky! I see that you recognize the funk aesthetic with 70s references in its lyric video such as with the font and the Star Wars crawl (which I love)! Even “It’s About Love” has a hint of funk in the guitar motif. I know that you’ve said you love many different kinds of music, and although you consider yourself a rock ‘n’ roll singer, others have described you as pop and country (which I hear in the vocals!). With such an already interesting mix of genres in your music, do you think you’ll be busy with this sound for a while or are even more eclectic things on the horizon?
There are some definite new sounds coming soon, very different stuff and I am super excited about that! I have another two albums done musically and I always go with my gut on the music. That just ends up giving that eclectic flair that I love.
About 8 years ago I became very ill. I had to be hospitalized for almost 4 months. During that period, they had to put me into a coma and afterwards, I had to learn to walk again. After I got home, I wrote "Imitation of Life". We all have struggles; life will always come at you with ugly truths and it is up to us to decide what we are going to do with that. I see everything in life as a lesson - you can choose to grow from it and be better, or let it bring you down. I never let things like that bring me down.
“Just Me” explicitly mentions bigotry in the lyrics and also to allow people to identify as they want. Not many pop/rock artists and especially not mainstream artists are so daring in naming the problems in our society. What made you call a spade a spade and what do you think about the way mainstream artists address bigotry in their music?
I feel like it needs to be called out! It is absolutely ridiculous that ANY kind of bigotry still exists in this world. We have come so far as a society and we still have a long way to go. Because of that, we have to call it out. So many people don't experience bigotry against them, so there's no reason for them to see it. We have to make it known that it is still there in order to make a change.
Another standout song for me is "Imperfectly Me." As someone who is not only queer, but who has also dealt with body dysmorphic disorder, I teared up at the profundity of the lyrics. This is clearly a song about self-acceptance from an LGBTQ+ perspective, but the genius in the songwriting here is that everyone can relate to the struggle to be oneself without worrying about unachievable perfection. This makes it easier for straight and cis people to sympathize with the song’s queer empowerment message. I'm wondering what inspirations and experiences led you to write “Imperfectly Me” because a lot of people miss out on that great detail of having pride in ourselves while accepting our imperfections!
When you are given a "second lease on life" it really puts things into perspective for you. You have to really step back and take a look at yourself and what is important to you. I am at a place in my life where I really love who I am. I used to always want straight hair and a better body but I've gained a great perspective on everything about me that's fabulous! I am me and I love being me!
“No Love Will Ever Do” is quite funky! I see that you recognize the funk aesthetic with 70s references in its lyric video such as with the font and the Star Wars crawl (which I love)! Even “It’s About Love” has a hint of funk in the guitar motif. I know that you’ve said you love many different kinds of music, and although you consider yourself a rock ‘n’ roll singer, others have described you as pop and country (which I hear in the vocals!). With such an already interesting mix of genres in your music, do you think you’ll be busy with this sound for a while or are even more eclectic things on the horizon?
There are some definite new sounds coming soon, very different stuff and I am super excited about that! I have another two albums done musically and I always go with my gut on the music. That just ends up giving that eclectic flair that I love.
As a love-letter to the city, non-album single “London Calling” has me curious as to what exactly makes you want to return there as an escape from troubled times. And what brought you to London in the first place? Tell me you’re going to be performing the song there at some point if you haven’t already!
So, my husband and I are huge Star Wars nerds LOL. We always attend Star Wars Celebration, which if you don't know is kind of a Comic-con but for Star Wars. In 2016 it was going to be just outside of London. One night my husband and I were sitting on the couch and he turned to me and said,"So I just bought Star Wars Celebration tickets for next year in London". So we went LOL! It was our first time out of the country and we immediately fell in love. The culture, the history, the typography and every person we met were just wonderful. We just felt so at home there! My dream would be to perform in London and, thanks to quarantine, I have gotten to be a part a couple of Virtual Prides in the U.K.!
The album closes very tenderly and sincerely with “Flesh with Bone,” as if to ask the listener to remember its actually heavy message. While we may have fun with the more upbeat music on the album, it was ultimately made for a very necessary cause. How do you juxtapose such heavy themes with lighter music? Was this an intentional artistic choice or more of a natural connection between your values and musical interests?
It is a heavy message, but I wanted it to feel like a ray of hope! I really wanted people to hear that we can turn all this bigotry and hate into something loving and accepting. I actually wrote the song after we traveled back to the U.K. in 2018. We had a friend of ours getting married in London, and when my husband was planning the trip he discovered that Manchester Pride was happening the week before the wedding. So we went to Manchester Pride and it was the most amazing experience of my life. We were so overwhelmed by the amazing sense of community and love and just acceptance we felt the entire time we were there. I was immediately inspired to write "Flesh and Bone". It was important to me to end the album with this song as my "Hope for the future."
I hear that you're already working on your second album! Anything you want to give away about it?
Well, "London Calling" is the first single off the album. I have another song coming mid to late August. This one is a bit different. It's a strong mix of more Rock 'n' Roll with a lot of 80's influences and I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT! I have four songs already recorded! This album, as you can hear in "London Calling", is a bit more referential to where we are as a society right now.
What do you want out of the future? Musically, artistically, out of life? The world?
I really want to get to a place where I can pay my bills and just do music! I don't need ridiculous amounts of money or fame, just pay my bills and do what I love. We definitely want to travel more and our hearts tell us that living in the U.K. is in our future at some point. I really feel that COVID is life's way of telling all of us to slow down, take stock of what's really important, and reflect on the mistakes we've made as a society. I feel like we should all come out of this kinder, more loving, less hateful, and more united. I truly hope that happens.
Do you have any advice for LGBTQ+ artists and aspirers that might be unsure of themselves in some way?
Always go with your gut and believe in yourself, always be true to your art, and ALWAYS BE YOURSELF! :)
So, my husband and I are huge Star Wars nerds LOL. We always attend Star Wars Celebration, which if you don't know is kind of a Comic-con but for Star Wars. In 2016 it was going to be just outside of London. One night my husband and I were sitting on the couch and he turned to me and said,"So I just bought Star Wars Celebration tickets for next year in London". So we went LOL! It was our first time out of the country and we immediately fell in love. The culture, the history, the typography and every person we met were just wonderful. We just felt so at home there! My dream would be to perform in London and, thanks to quarantine, I have gotten to be a part a couple of Virtual Prides in the U.K.!
The album closes very tenderly and sincerely with “Flesh with Bone,” as if to ask the listener to remember its actually heavy message. While we may have fun with the more upbeat music on the album, it was ultimately made for a very necessary cause. How do you juxtapose such heavy themes with lighter music? Was this an intentional artistic choice or more of a natural connection between your values and musical interests?
It is a heavy message, but I wanted it to feel like a ray of hope! I really wanted people to hear that we can turn all this bigotry and hate into something loving and accepting. I actually wrote the song after we traveled back to the U.K. in 2018. We had a friend of ours getting married in London, and when my husband was planning the trip he discovered that Manchester Pride was happening the week before the wedding. So we went to Manchester Pride and it was the most amazing experience of my life. We were so overwhelmed by the amazing sense of community and love and just acceptance we felt the entire time we were there. I was immediately inspired to write "Flesh and Bone". It was important to me to end the album with this song as my "Hope for the future."
I hear that you're already working on your second album! Anything you want to give away about it?
Well, "London Calling" is the first single off the album. I have another song coming mid to late August. This one is a bit different. It's a strong mix of more Rock 'n' Roll with a lot of 80's influences and I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT! I have four songs already recorded! This album, as you can hear in "London Calling", is a bit more referential to where we are as a society right now.
What do you want out of the future? Musically, artistically, out of life? The world?
I really want to get to a place where I can pay my bills and just do music! I don't need ridiculous amounts of money or fame, just pay my bills and do what I love. We definitely want to travel more and our hearts tell us that living in the U.K. is in our future at some point. I really feel that COVID is life's way of telling all of us to slow down, take stock of what's really important, and reflect on the mistakes we've made as a society. I feel like we should all come out of this kinder, more loving, less hateful, and more united. I truly hope that happens.
Do you have any advice for LGBTQ+ artists and aspirers that might be unsure of themselves in some way?
Always go with your gut and believe in yourself, always be true to your art, and ALWAYS BE YOURSELF! :)
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Make sure to stream Billy Mick's debut album Just B. on the platform of your choice! Check his website https://www.billymick.com/ for everything Billy Mick and links to all his social media!
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