Melbourne artist and pioneer of the local R&B and neo-soul scene Billy Davis released his much anticipated sophomore album THIS IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT via Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
Billy’s stunning piano playing takes centre stage. His chords traverse a delicate balance of soul and tempo. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching Billy in his zone, you’ll see a musical genius in play. Ever humble, Billy is quick to deny the compliment. Since Grade 5 he has been playing the piano, “My Mum tried me out on the drums, decided it was far too loud and so she got me on the piano.”
His late Mum’s influence is a strong overarching theme of the record, as it explores themes of family, fear, death, life, love, hope and as the name suggests, the notion of what’s important. Ask Billy what’s important now and he’s clear: family, friends and God. But just a few years ago, swept up in making music with global stars, Billy is the first to admit he lost sight of it all and became someone he wasn’t, or in his words “a real douchebag”.
A musical juggernaut, Billy’s band The Good Lords is constantly evolving, morphing, and expanding, and features up to 11 members on stage at any given moment. Collaboration, with his band and other artists like Jordan Dennis, is at the heart of everything he does.
Along with building up a global network of creative collaborators, Billy has shared the stage with Anderson Paak, NoName, Thundamentals, Ruel, Jessica Mauboy and Blackalicious, played at Australia’s most recognised festivals including Let Them Eat Cake, Golden Plains, Laneway Festival, and Lost Paradise.
Billy Davis’s unique sound, positive approach, and sheer drive quickly piqued the interest of international artists, who have become not just contemporaries but friends. He’s collaborated with the likes of Goldlink, Brockhampton, Tones And I, Amy Shark, music directing and performing with them on triple j’s Like A Version, as well as music directing and performing in Goldlink’s NPR Tiny Desk. Billy previously reworked Ruel’s standout single ‘Not Thinkin’ Bout You’.