We spoke to the brilliant Billy Lockett about touring the UK with Nina Nesbitt, putting music to poetry and the weird ways of Thom Yorke.
You’ve just supported Nina Nesbitt on her UK tour – how was it?
It was great. I’ve played with Nina a lot in the past, so it was nice to come back and play so many big and interesting venues. There were a lot more seated venues, so the gigs tended to have a more chilled-out and acoustic vibe, I really enjoyed it. It meant that people could focus more on the words and the sound of the music, so I guess it was the perfect tour for me.
You’ve also announced your own headline tour for next year – are you excited?
Yeah, I can’t wait. It’s only a small tour, but it’s the biggest venues I’ve ever done, so I’m really excited.
What’s the best thing about playing live?
I guess I love being able to transform the recorded songs to things that would work in a live environment. Writing the setlist is always good fun, and I just love being able to see what works and what doesn’t. The studio is fine, but I’ve always been a completely live kind of act.
What’s your favourite song to play live?
It changes so often, but at the moment I think that Toxic is probably my favourite. It’s quite challenging, because the vocals are pretty heavy, but I really enjoy playing it. It’s strange, really – when I recorded it I didn’t like it as much as the others, but it’s definitely my favourite song to play live.
You’ve also just released your new single Old Man – can you describe it for us?
Old Man is about my dad, who passed away five or six months ago. It’s all about him bringing me up and teaching me about life, and it’s probably one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’d say that it’s a pop-piano song.
What are your plans for next year?
My plans are to completely focus on selling out the tour in March, and to focus on writing the album. I don’t want to do any more EPs, so I think that the next thing it to get the debut album written and recorded.
What made you want to start playing music in the first place?
My dad got me in to playing the piano. I wanted to do something creative and arty when I was younger, but I was terrible at art… I suppose I’ve always been in bands when I was growing up, and one day one of those bands needed a singer. I filled in for a week or so, and I guess that I never really stopped after that.
Which song do you wish you’d written?
Oh, God! That’s hard… Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. That’s definitely my kind of song.
What’s your favourite lyric from your songs?
It’d probably be in Never Let You Go, and it’d be the line ‘you were never just a girlfriend, a chapter in my life / you made me who I am today, a soulmate, future wife’. That’s one of my favourite lyrics. It’s a deeply personal and true song to me, and it started out as a poem that I put music to afterwards. That’s rare in itself – I usually always do the music first and then put words to it afterwards – so I suppose that also makes the song a little bit more special for me.
Who’s your ultimate musical icon?
I think I’m going to have to say either Thom Yorke or Chris Martin. I love how different and weird Thom Yorke is, both as a solo artist and as part of Radiohead. I’d also have to say Chris Martin, because even though Chris Martin is neither different nor weird his songwriting is just flawless. It’s so obvious sometimes, and he’s the king of keeping it simple, but he’s just brilliant.
Describe yourself in three words?
Original, interesting, piano.
