Meet Billy Lawler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Billy Lawler.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’d like to think I’m still in the beginning stages of my story and that it will constantly be in a state of development. I started playing piano as a really young kid, and I’ve played ever since—music is now sort of just an extension to me. I can’t really remember a time without it, and I don’t really think much about it as an ability, it’s just something I do and that feels good. Perhaps that’s partly why I’ve never really seriously referred to myself as an “artist”—it was never a discussion with myself, or a decision to create things, or even to share them. It just sort of happened over time.

And while this is pretty cliche for us creatives types, I grew up not entirely comfortable in my own skin, so music was always something ‘extra’ I had on most people around me—something to feel good about. It was certainly an outlet and something that brought me comfort. I’d always wanted to try singing, but was incredibly shy during my formative years. I found an excuse to pick it up in college and started writing after gaining a bit of comfortability with my voice. I made many great musical friends at school who were also so encouraging, I wouldn’t be doing music now if it weren’t for them.

I experienced several tragedies back-to-back with the separate deaths of two friends and going through that subconscious sort of forced me to venture out of my shell. I moved to Los Angeles at 23 wanting to pursue music, though I fell in love for the first time, got my heart broken, wrote a bunch of songs about it, finished school, got a real job, and kind of put music on hold. I picked it up again a few years ago and decided to release those songs on an EP called “Nostalgic.” I’ve been writing and gigging on my own since, and am currently working on new material to release as soon as I can.

Please tell us about your art.
On paper, I write soulful, typically sad songs at the piano, and I sing them for people. On a deeper, more honest level, I’m really just providing myself an outlet for some of the most intense emotions I’ve experienced so far in life. Often (but not always), inspired by the themes of relationships. I’m quite aware of how cliche that is, but I once had a chance encounter with a stranger who told me, “it’s the thing which makes us feel most alive,” and that totally stuck with me.

It may seem overdone in music, but in reality, I think there will always be new ways of saying things, and there will always be something new for people to grasp or relate to within that context. All I can hope for when anyone listens to my music is that they feel moved in some way. I named my EP “Nostalgic” because that’s the feeling what I want to evoke. And while my songs may have been conceived from my own personal experiences, the emotions attached to those experience are completely and entirely universal.

Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Do the best you can. I’ve spent a lot of time stressing and beating myself up over the years about money, and at the end of the day, you just have to live your life. Money certainly plays a role in the process, it can take money to make money, but it certainly isn’t everything and I don’t believe should be the main, driving force. I work a full-time 9-5 job, and so far have kept music as my personal side project.

Having the security helps me focus on music as something that to enjoy, not employs. So, I guess that would make lack of time my biggest struggle, more so than money. Having enough time in the day to make the money, and then to also pursue music. I just try to do the best I can, strive for that perfect balance, and live my life.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m on all of the streaming platforms—Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, etc. I have a website, and people can stay in touch via social media and my email list. My goal is to create personal connections through my music—friends rather than “fans”—so please find me, come to a show, connect, and let’s be friends!

The best support right now is really just from meeting new people, gaining supporting online, and having people attend live shows.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.billylawler.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billylawler/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billylawlermusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_billylawler
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7srCnrNFkYi0JRv1oK0wxq?si=Sqleu9dvTFaQlix5uvcZtg

Image Credit:
Sonia Nuno, Taso Papadakis, Rafael Paiva

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