Meet Joe Billy | Musician / Performer / Drummer / Solo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Billy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Music, to me, has been one of the few things in my life that has always made sense. No matter how confusing, chaotic, or troublesome everything may get, music has always been a way for me to escape, to cope, and express myself. I have had an emotional connection to music ever since I could remember, and have always wanted to be a performer. My interests and career ideas have bounced around for much of my younger life, but no matter what, my heart always came back to music.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I typically describe my solo music as “Acoustic-Punk”, since I essentially play Acoustic based Punk music. I decided to pursue solo music after years of drumming for various bands, and while I still do that, I wanted a chance to express all of the ideas, feelings, and lyrics I had within me. So I formed a punk band (Point of Anxiety) back in 2012, which only lasted a year, and after some time of not being able to find members to fill out the band, I decided to say “F*ck it” and just try it myself. So I picked up my family’s old acoustic guitar, learned a few chords and just shouted my thoughts and emotions over simple chord progressions. I honestly never thought it would go anywhere. I was just hoping to get my energy out while waiting for better things to happen, but one thing led to another and I ended up writing my first album “Censor This.” Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to find a fan base, play countless shows, go on a few tours, release more albums and singles, and meet so many awesome people in the process. I personally like to reflect on how noticeably my music has matured and evolved overtime as I do myself. Every piece of music I’ve released has been a testament to where I was in my life and who I was as a person in that period of time, whether I was going through some existential personal problems, getting angry about some state of the world, or just wanting to make some laughs. Currently, I am working on a new album and I have to say, it’s going to be the best piece of art I have ever released yet. I decided to be more patient than I ever was with the creative process of this release and really reflect on what these songs should sound like. While I have always put a lot of effort and passion into my releases, I always relied on mostly myself to handle things (with the occasional help of others). But this time, I wanted everything done right. I was able to hire my good friend, James Stivaly, to produce and engineer the album with me. He also played lead guitar on a couple tracks. I also brought on some very talented friends to contribute Bass (both electric and upright), Fiddle/Violin, Trumpet, and more! I, myself, tracked the Acoustic Guitar, Drums, Lead Vocals, and Electric Guitar. It has been a very different exercise for me to put my trust in so many other people to bring a piece of art that’s so important to me to life, and I am overly relieved and pleased with how this process has gone so far. Every lyric has some sort of deep meaning behind it, every note played is integral to the emotion and the drive of the song, and every song is a significant piece of the whole that is this album. Just like I have always said, my “music mission” so to speak, has always been to bring people together in whatever way I can. Whether that be through putting together live shows, performing songs that everyone can relate to or sing along to, or writing music that invites the listener to engage in some sort of introspection. I always think about how each song I write will reach someone who hears it. My hope is that I can say something in my lyrics that causes the listener to think outside themselves and ponder on something they may not have in the past. Whether it be about themselves, a certain way of thinking, or a pressing societal or political issue. I want to allow people to feel comfortable being themselves, and to help them feel as though they belong somewhere, because they do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly, the highlight of Northern NJ is the music scene. I would take them to any show where some of my incredibly talented and energetic friends are playing and have a blast. I also enjoy a good hike on a nice sunny day. I frequent Garret Mountain pretty often, but there are many beautiful hiking trails to check out around NJ. There are also a few pretty cool book stores where I’ve found some fantastic philosophical books. Granted, I’m not much of a tour guide, but I’d try my best haha.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely wouldn’t be the musician I am today without the instruction and guidance from the teachers I had at the School of Rock in Montclair. I found the perfect outlet for my passion of music and got to perform shows, learn more about what it meant to be a musician, and make so many lifelong connections. Of course, my parents and family have always been supportive as well, which not many people get to say when pursuing a more creative and not so financially secure lifestyle. There are also countless people and fellow musicians that I know have touched my life in a significant way as well, but at the risk of missing anyone out and taking up all this space, shout outs to EVERYONE I have ever talked to at shows, for anyone who has ever bought merch or listened to my music, and to anyone who has helped me along the way, big and small. I would not be here without you.

Website: https://www.joebillymusic.com/

Instagram: @joebillymusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-billy-iii-0962aa74/

Twitter: @joebillymusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joebillymusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_da8RbvQXPi5CgIBj6LEw

Other: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/joebillymusic Drumming SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/joe-billy-drumming/sets Drumming Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMB0E5IHJfk1NRpJatDcutA