|
Share this Page
I just received this Q & A interview that Kristina Tunzi did with Billy Currington for The Comet. She has asked me to post it on here for his fans to enjoy even though it was given back in September 2010. Thank-you, Kristi, from the Billy Currington Fan Club (unofficial) and all of his fans for this privilege.
Country artist Billy Currington recently took time to talk music with The Comet. Currington, whose fourth album “Enjoy Yourself” was released Sept 21, 2010 reflects on playing the Opry for the first time, says he grew up listening to rockers like AC/DC and Def Leppard, and reveals an interest in rap. He even asks if we can hook him up with Snoop Dogg!
We’ve been really digging the record, “Enjoy Yourself,” especially “All Day Long” and of course, “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer.” Tell us about the record making process on this one.
It was a lot of fun, of course. It was a very quick process—a lot quicker than I’m used to but we had fun. We recorded all the tracks here in Nashville, Tennessee and then I got lucky and went down to Key West to record all the vocals in Jimmy Buffet’s studio down there. Very laid back. Quick like I said, but a lot of fun.
What inspired this album versus your past records?
This was the first album I decided not to record my own songs. I didn’t have a ton lying around that I’ve written because I’ve been so busy on the road. I decided to go through the catalogs of the songwriters that I got to sing demos, who kind of helped me out by writing with me when I was first getting started. I just found songs from them. It wasn’t all of them, you know. There’s so many more that helped me out, but I could only fit ten songs, so I just picked the best ones that I felt fit me and that’s how this album came about.
Are there any artists or songwriters that you didn’t collaborate with on this record that you’d like to work with in the future?
Yeah, there’s one guy who helped get me started. His name is Casey Beathard. We wrote pretty much the whole first album together, and I wasn’t able to get around to recording his songs this time, but he’s a guy I’d like to get back together with and start back over in a sense.
You’ve been touring constantly. How’s it been going?
The tour’s been good! We started in March of this year. We just got off the road about a week ago, and we’re getting ready to start in a couple days on our fall tour with Carrie Underwood, which will take us until December 19. Then, we’re done for the year.
Any favorite cities?
I love Dallas, Texas. I love Los Angeles, and I love New York and Chicago.
Any cool stories from on the road you can share with us?
Just added a saxophone player to the band. That’s been fun! That’s been a cool moment. I’ve always dreamed of having one and a steel guitar player, and the good thing is, he plays both! That’s a new experience for all of us in the band. He started last week and we can’t wait to play a lot more shows with him. He’s great.
Are there any artists out there who you haven’t seen live that you’d like to?
Yeah, I’d like to see someone like Kid Rock in concert. I want to see what the hype is about. I mean, he’s a great singer and all, right, so I’d definitely want to see what he’s like live. I’d like to see Def Leppard, somebody I never got to see. I love those guys. I love concerts, I could go see anybody and probably be happy—even if they were horrible I’d still have fun!
We read on your website your list of “favorite drinking songs” and saw that Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice” made the cut. What else is on your playlist? Do you mostly listen to country?
Mostly, what I listened to when I was growing up, was soul, R&B, and country. A lot of country, a lot of AC/DC, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, a lot of rock music. I listened to a lot of rap too— LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, just different people. Just like it is today, mixed up.
Did you always want to be a country singer?
Well, when you say country singer…I’ve always wanted to sing and Nashville was the first place I went when I graduated. And that was encouragement from a preacher who lived around here. But I’ve always wanted to record all kinds of music especially jazz and R&B. But I’m happy with recording this type of music right now.
Do you see yourself in the future collaborating with someone like Snoop? Maybe mix it up with some hip-hop or add a little jazz?
Yeah, Snoop Dogg would be great, no doubt! I would definitely do a song with him. Can you hook that up? (laughs)...Yeah, he’s a good one. I’d definitely choose him. Any of those guys.
What was it like when you first performed at the Opry?
When I first played the Opry, it was a great experience. It was everything I’d hoped. I was surrounded by every team member that I was working with at that moment in time, and just to look on the side of the stage and see all those guys, made it way more special than without them. It was a great experience we all shared. I was fortunate enough to bring my grandmother up there and she saw it. You feel just like a little kid in your first candy store. It’s an experience.
Do you have any advice for folks out there who are looking to make the move to Nashville in hopes of a music career?
Don’t wait, do it now. Definitely get up here and meet all the people you can. Decide if it’s for you, and when you fully decide that the music business or being a singer is your calling, then you gotta give it everything you got. You gotta work hard and if it’s meant for you, then it’s gonna happen anyway. Just work hard and have fun with it most of all. That’s what people forget. You get all stressed out about it—try to have fun with it when you can.
Most artists are on Twitter and multiple social networking sites now. Do you find it’s helping you stay more connected with fans?
Yeah, I definitely think those avenues like Twitter and MySpace are helpful to artists. Without them, you don’t reach as many people. It’s just an easy way to tell people, ‘hey you got an album coming out,’ or whatever you want to say and they can instantly read it. So, I’m all for all that new stuff. I’m not as active as you might think on it (laughs), but when I have to, I am.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself playing all the stadiums that I can. Music-wise, I definitely want to be at the top of my game cause if I’m not, I’m in trouble. That’s my dream—just to be at the top of my game, doing all the things you see all the big stars doing these days. I want to be a part of that life. And personally, I just want to be a little more settled. Currently, I don’t have a home or anything like that. I’m just kind of a floater and I like it that way right now, so I’m not complaining—but definitely in five years, I want to start settling down a little bit. Just a little.
Thanks again, Kristi, and The Comet from all of us here at the Billy Currington Fan Club (unofficial) for allowing me to post this interview. If you would like to read this interview and many other great articles please visit The Comet and show your appreciation.
|
