A Chat with Billy Lowry (20.09.23)

Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Billy Lowry has that incomprehensible way of sending listeners into a dreamy sonic haze while simultaneously spinning them about in a giddy whirlwind. Fusing tinges of rock and roll, blues and country in an inimitable tune, Lowry is not to be pigeon-holed. We speak with him about his new single ‘Nightmares’, music videos, advice and future plans.

OSR: What made you decide to pursue a career in music? What drew you to music?

Lowry: Growing up I always wanted a drum set, like badly. I begged my parents every year for one, and really because I knew this kid Nick who had one. And you know, in 2^nd grade he had one, so all the kids thought he was the deal, ya know? I think that would carry along into older ages too though. Funny enough, I just always wanted a drum set to be ‘cool’, and ironically, did not get my own drum kit until about a year ago. My wife surprised me for my 40^th with a mutual friend’s vintage Pearl drum kit that I had played on for years. Hey, I told the previous owner though, that they can come by and play it any time though! Come over Sammy; if you’re reading this.

When I was 7 and 8 though, my Mom refused the drum set, and the ‘rents bought me a drum machine. It was a bit of a letdown getting this tiny little boom-box drum machine, so I continued to makeshift and make my own durable kit, out of boxes and the top of the washer and dryer. I’d also use other household appliances and bottles am would set ’em all around the laundry room. If I had recorded that when I was younger, it would’ve totally gone viral, but this was pre-YouTube! The very next year though, my parents bought me my first guitar: an all-black Fender Squire. I still own it, but it’s broken currently. One day I’ll fix it up.

OSR: You recently released your single ‘Nightmares’. What can you tell us about it? Is there a backstory or theme?

Lowry: There is most definitely a backstory, and it would make itself a great movie script. I mean, it’s really a sad story, but the revenge aspect would be hilarious on screen. It would definitely have comedic elements to it. Either way though, I can’t really say too much about the song, unfortunately. Only two people know the real story and it is a doozy. And a tear-jerker. Let’s just say, don’t F with someone’s family. The true story behind ‘Nightmares’ is a perfect example of evil in this world. If you know enough people in the city or government officials, you can get away with anything. But don’t think it won’t come back to bite you.

OSR: What is your creative process?

Lowry: I used to always write the guitar parts first, for most bands I was in back in the day. At some point though, I learned that the voice recorder on my iPhone was my best friend. I find the best way to write a song is to hear the vocal melody in your head and put it in your phone. At least for me, everything else falls into place much easier that way. Instead of sitting in front of the piano and going, “let’s see if I can come up with a new tune”. I tend to hum the melody for a couple of days and if it stays around long enough, I’ll hum it to the guitar, find the key, and GO. But for recording, I learned to always, always record the drums first. ALWAYS hit record. “Kage, go back to your tower!” Sorry, that was a Tenacious-D reference.

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OSR: Did you face challenges when creating ‘Nightmares’?

Lowry: Oh, most definitely. What happened with this track was I started at a much slower tempo; I think it was like 140 bpm. And the song had a real country feel to it at first. Then one day, I drank too much coffee [as I tend to do], and I got on that sucker/kit, and just started whaling at twice the speed. And then ‘Nightmares’ was born. 230 or 240 bpm is what it ended up being, but I had to re-record the entire song. And I was already halfway done. It’s a ‘wake you up before you go-go’ song though. Or a song for a crack addict. I mean, it’s spazzy and all over the place. And moving real fast. So any crack addicts out there, I always need new fans!

OSR: As a multi-instrumentalist, what is your favourite instrument to play and why that instrument?

Lowry: When I lived in Los Angeles, I believe this is when I decided playing bass was my favourite. We would throw enormous house parties with hundreds and hundreds of people, and just get totally trashed with random people in our house all the time, and just play our tunes. It became like a bi-weekly thing. I really truly relate to a track by artist JHM – ‘If Only’, because in my case [not quite like JHM’s], if only I wasn’t getting wasted all of the time, I could have accomplished more. Speaking of another new addition to the #tweetcore movement and group, a guy named Unknown River just joined with Quizboy and us. He was the main guitar player other than me, at most of these parties. But he was the only one with the right mentality – he would not drink. He was focused. Although in that band The Future?, I played some big spots – like Whiskey-A-Go-Go and Rainbow Room. 

Los Angeles was depressing for me though. I did get on some TV shows! I was a security guard [briefly] on How I Met Your Mother, a taxi-cab driver on NCIS [my only line: “Where to?”], and some guy eating a cheeseburger in an episode of Bones. I ended up getting into stand-up comedy a lot too, but not really until I moved back to the home ground 602/Phoenix. I performed probably 100 times at multiple places but the big spot for years here was the Hidden House, which sadly is no more. I envy any stand-up comics though because I believe there is nothing more frightening. Nothing gives nightmares more than doing stand-up. I mean, from performing live theatre, to music, to doing stand-up; that was the scariest for me.  I haven’t done it in a few years, I honestly got sick of my own material. But my wife – she’s the real comedian. She literally comes up with the funniest things ever and we usually forget to write them down. We will wake up and go, ‘Oh my god, what was that joke?!’ And it’s gone. I think that happens with music too though.

OSR: What about your least favourite instrument?

Lowry: I would have to go with vocals since you can consider that an instrument. It is just always the biggest headache editing vocals, compared to editing some drum takes together. My favourite instrument to edit are drums, completely, but ‘ugh’ to vocals.

OSR: Can we expect a music video at any time?

Lowry: Heck yes! And I am so unbelievably proud of how it turned out. And it literally just came out, just in time for Halloween. My pal Brian Lambert is a man who wears many, many hats. I do want to see him wear a cowboy hat more often though, cause that guy can write a country song. He can write his own top 40 hits, country, new wave pop funk, heavy rock, he’s a freak of nature in the best way possible. Look up Brian Lambert on Spotify or his band The Star Crumbles – he’s the genius behind the animation on my new music video. Just search “Lowry Nightmares” and it’ll be the first thing you see. Although I do hope it doesn’t give actual nightmares.

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OSR: Do you think ‘Nightmares’ is a good representation of where you are with your sound at the moment?

Lowry: I do because I feel I’ve finally found my own vocal voice if that makes sense. In a lot of prior things I’ve done, I feel that I tried to emulate some of my favourite singers, and I need to just be me. And I really feel on this song and other songs I’m working on, it’s way more modern, and I also go, ‘hey, that sounds different’.

OSR: As a solo artist with some experience in bands, what would you say are the pros and cons of being a solo musician as compared to bands?

Lowry: The time that is lost after playing in a band and truly believing you are going to go places, or at the very least; just keep playing together as a band. I can’t count how many times I’ve been in a group that broke up right as things were starting to happen. Or you know, at least the band is playing gigs constantly or starting to record. And then it just falls apart, I guess it’s like any relationship in life though. Or most.

OSR: What advice do you have for new artists?

Lowry: I wish I could go back in time and explain to teenager Billy what publishing and licensing was. Or even just how to release your music. The biggest advice I would have for anyone is just, release it. Don’t think about it. If it’s not quite ready, make it your ‘early stuff’ and just put it out there. Life is too short to sit on mixes for years. You know what is wild is I know these two older guys who are just fantastic instrumental guitarists. But they don’t let anyone really hear their music! My Uncle Tony and my bud Ian’s father, both just smoke me on guitar, but they need to release their music [already recorded] through a distributor!

OSR: What future plans do you have as a musician?

Lowry: What is exciting for me right now is my kid. He’s really getting into piano. We got a stand-up piano that has become his main toy, and I couldn’t be any prouder. I love that when I try and teach him something, he’s just honest and says he’d rather play on his own. It’s also the best instrument to start off with, as most would agree. I hope he continues playing his whole life too cause he’s already writing verse, chorus, verse, chorus, at age 7. Of course, it’s generally about something incredibly silly; but he’s got the ear.

For me and my next releases though, I am releasing a slow number called ‘The Day After’, which is a B-side to my first solo album, All the Same Monster. That whole album was about my two favourite people on earth, my aunt and my grandma. Most of my album is about saying goodbye to them both.  ‘It Rains’ and ‘One Last Time’ are about my aunt who died of cancer unexpectedly. My track ‘Let You Go’ is about saying goodbye to my grandmother and holding her hands as she passed. Which is crazy because the latest track by Kaminski – ‘Hands’, I believe he wrote during the same situation, and that horrific feeling of grief and letting go. Kaminski is an artist I truly admire. But I’ve gone off-topic. “Oh look! A squirrel!”, I’m definitely OCD.

My apologies, back to the question. The track I’m releasing after this B-side, I think is my best song yet, called ‘Rabbit Hole’. It is by far my most original, and there are super crazy rests and pauses in the track. And just some piano and guitar lunacy. There’s a part that repeats a few times: “Don’t call me for a year or more!”, that is permanently ingrained in my brain. I think when that happens though, when you can’t get your own song out of your head, you’ve done it.

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Many thanks to Billy Lowry for speaking with us! Find out more about Billy Lowry on his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.