Singer/songwriter to perform in Birmingham for second time this month
By Brent Thompson
Billy Raffoul is 22-years-old but his sound and experience defy his age. The son of Canadian musician Jody Raffoul, Billy – currently based in Nashville by way of Ontario – has a vocal style that has drawn comparisons to Joe Cocker and Jeff Buckley. Currently, Raffoul is riding a wave of success for “Driver,” a single inspired by an encounter with a hitchhiker. On Thursday, October, 26, Raffoul will perform at Syndicate Lounge in support of Mondo Cozmo. Recently, Raffoul spoke to us by phone from Toronto.
Birmingham Stages: Billy, thanks for your time. You grew up in a musical household and your music reflects the sound of a person that’s musically beyond his years. If you will, talk about that influence and how it translates to your career.
Billy Raffoul: I appreciate you saying that. My father’s been a working-class musician since before I was born and he still is. That’s all I’ve known him to do even before I knew what being a musician was, so it was the norm in our household. It’s definitely played a big part on the music I make and the way I go about doing things for a living.
Birmingham Stages: The music industry model for your career is far different than the one your father first learned. Do the two of you ever discuss that?
BR: Oh yeah, absolutely. I remember being young and watching him navigate the ever-changing terrain of the music business. I remember him putting out full-length albums when physical copies really mattered versus now where everything is streamed and downloaded. Just like I was naive to it when I was growing up, now the script has flipped and he’s learning the new model.
Birmingham Stages: Sticking with that same topic, how do you view the give-and-take of instant accessibility versus the challenges of separating yourself from the crowd these days?
BR: I think, at the heart of it, that if you’re making music that’s true to yourself and you believe in it – whether it’s on your laptop or you go into a studio to record it – how it’s consumed shouldn’t really matter. Without a doubt the pros of people having the ability to get it immediately all over the world heavily outweigh the cons. As for competition and getting paid for the music, that’s a different conversation. Anyone can do it and put it online but what you do after that will determine whether or not it sticks. I think it is a great time to live in now because there is no limit to where the music can go and how many people it can reach so I’m excited about it. For me, the biggest thing is the live show.
Birmingham Stages: You’ve stated that your songs often tie into your own life experiences or the experiences of those close to you. If you will, talk about your songwriting approach.
BR: It’s different every time I write a song for sure, but most inspiration comes from something I experience on my own or [the experiences of] someone close to me – something you know about and care about. I write about my family often and my friends. Most of the songs start on the acoustic guitar.
Birmingham Stages: When do you write? Is there a system or a schedule you prefer?
BR: I’ve been forced to write quite a bit on the move which I enjoy. I’ve written songs in different countries and traveling is inspiring.
Billy Raffoul will perform at Syndicate Lounge on Thursday, October 26. Tickets to the 18+ show are $20 and can be purchased at www.ticketfly.com. Syndicate Lounge is located at 433 20th Street South.