BILLY TIBBALS
We are very thrilled to feature a new beautiful artist on Good Morning Keith Diary. Through this interview, discover Billy Tibbals and his own eponym musical project. Delve into his musical journey and sartorial philosophy Bang A Gong & Get It On!
Hi Billy, could you tell us how you came to music?
Hello! I was in love with Louis Armstrong when I was a little tot so I picked up the trumpet for a while. I regret not having kept up my trumpet chops! After I packed it in with the horned instruments I moved on to piano and not long after started strumming a guitar. As soon as I learned a few chords, I got going writing songs.
Could you give us your 5 most important records? And maybe 5 that recently caugh your attention?
It’s hard to narrow it down to five! As a kid some of my favorites were
Bang Goes The Knighthood by The Divine Comedy,
The Scissor Sisters Ta-Dah Album,
Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys,
I Should Coco by Supergrass
Paul Williams Bugsy Malone soundtrack
I guess those were all rather impactful early influences. I’ve been listening to a lot of Lynsey De Paul recently! Her album Surprise is brilliant. I can’t stop listening to The Keys album Fit Me In from 1978, that one definitely deserves some more recognition. Some other recent favorites are the White Noise An Electric Storm album, Paul Steels Moon Rock and the Uni Boys Buy This Now!
What's your relationship with clothes?
I don’t buy all that many clothes. When I do I get them as cheap as I possibly can. I’m lucky to have some friends who make really cool stuff - my mate Boomer has a new line called Superstar and made a really neat purple velvet suit for me that I wear a lot!
How would you describe the outfit that fits you the best?
I think my favorite outfit I have right now is a suit made by my good friend Skye Clarke (Hollywood Lowbrow). I don’t know exactly how to describe it… I’ve never seen anything quite like it before, I think that’s why I love it so much! I’m wearing it on the cover of my new record Nightlife Stories.
How do you approach your styling for the stage?
I like to wear flashy, colorful, glamorous outfits. Clothing that makes me feel fabulous! When I was a kid I really wanted to be in the circus. I like those razzle dazzle showbiz kinda outfits. Sometimes I’ll just wear a suit and tie. Depends what sorta mood I’m in I think.
Do you have icons or references when it comes to getting dress?
I like some of Julian Clarey’s outfits from the 90s. I like ridiculous and garish stuff. I
like the sort of elegant suits that a young Noel Coward would have worn too. Really I just want to look like Marlene Dietrich.
If you could have dinner with 3 guests (dead or alive), who would you invite? What would you cook?
I would get the barbecue going and make some hotdogs for Peter Ivers, Ken Russell and Liza Minnelli!
How do you approach styling in your musical project?
I don’t over think it! I just wear what I think looks good.
What’s coming next for Billy Tibbals?
World domination! I’m currently writing an album and playing as many shows as possible. I have a few shows with Black Crowes in April that I’m really looking forward to! My new EP Nightlife Stories comes out April 26th!
As a parting question, what would you like listeners to take away from your work?
I hope they feel that rock and roll music is still alive. It’s alive to me! Perhaps they can relate to some of the things I sing about, maybe dance around a little bit. Go wild.
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felix3199/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xv8LIJ3qAL2EioqhUjqtY?si=d4YMOflKR96eTi7PYqnbng
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vPFpcAZf7jI&feature=youtu.be
