ICYMI: Billy Tibbals Interview
Highlights From My Big Takeover Interview With The LA Guitar Pop Musician
There’s a whirlwind of rock and roll activity in Los Angeles these days, and Billy Tibbals is among a handful of talented young musicians at the heart of the action.
His debut single, “Onwards and Upwards/Lucy” (Curation Records)—co-produced by Reza Matin of rising LA rockers Uni Boys, who also played drums—created a stir with its catchy power pop A-side and psych-tinged B-side. Tibbals and his band followed that up with the epic glam of “Hollywood Baby,” the first Chris Robinson -produced single from the forthcoming Stay Teenage EP (Silver Arrow Records).
Here are a few favorite quotes from the Big Takeover Interview:
About The LA Music Scene: “It was kind of a teenage dream of mine to start and be a part of a thriving music scene. I think it’s getting there, definitely come a long way. There’s more people coming to the shows, so many cool people. That’s the main thing. But we need more bands! Come out, come out wherever you are!”
His Love Of Vinyl: “I got really into collecting records in sophomore year of high school. I befriended a group of kids who were older than me and they turned me onto to a lot of stuff that really blew my mind! Most days we’d go hang out in Hollywood after school and shop at Amoeba Records.”
Writing “Hollywood Baby”: “I remember writing that song lying on my bed on a lovely sunny afternoon in the San Fernando Valley! It was around the start of COVID-19 lockdown and I was just finishing my senior year of high school. It’s funny, I think I was quite a different person back then. When I listen to the song I can really tell that I was younger or more innocent when I wrote it. That’s kind of what the whole EP is all about.”
His Thoughts On Genre: “I’d like to think that my influences are pretty eclectic and I hope that comes through in the recordings. I don’t like the idea of sounding like one thing or getting stuck in one place stylistically. Then again I don’t want to be too all over the place. It’s trying to find that balance, I think…I do like albums that feel like hot messes though!”