OOC: This is a look into the music of Billie Weathers. It is just a series of quick interviews and live performances. This is something new that I'm trying out, so feel free to tell me if I should continue this.



Interviewer
Billie









Hello Billie, how are you?

Hello, I'm fine thank you



Now, I'm here today to get under the skin of Billie Weathers and your music. When people see or hear about you most people think that you are a pop act like Izzy Merjos, Victoria Black, Mandy Williams just because you are a young teenage girl. What do you think about that?

Well, I'm not hurt or anything, although it is a bit weird how people just brand me as a pop act just by first looks. I'm not saying I hate pop, because I love it. Although, my music is a little more deeper than catchy hooks. I write as honestly as I can and I let my emotions take control when it comes to songs. I would say that for my first album it will be a sort of soul/jazz/blues type sound kind of like the amazing Amy Winehouse or Abie Lena.



Do you think it is a bit early to be comparing yourself to such big stars?

No, not at all. I'm not saying that I'm as GOOD as them but my music is similar to what they do.




You are at a very young and at a fragile age. Do you think it will be hard to cope with the fame?

Well, I've always said that I don't think that I will become famous. I'm just a blues singer and in today's music world the most famous people are your Buzz & Hype's, Cinzia Ricci's and your Hannah Beth's. However, if I do reach a certain level of 'celebrity' that I can't handle then I'll just have to toughen up or simply just call it quits. I never want it to be so bad that I turn to drugs or enter a state of depression. I know what's right for me and if I don't feel comfortable doing what I'm doing, just like any job, I'd stop doing it.



Well, you're now going to sing your first song tonight and can you please introduce it?

Certainly, this is "Spliff". It is the first song that I wrote after leaving Studio60 and it is based on true events.






My boy,
been messing round again,
Police and you at my door.
You look like a mess
and you've got me so stressed
You'll get yourself hurt one day.
Hanging with the wrong crew
The whole town's afraid of you
But you think it's fun.
They 'pigs' know your name,
you're the one to blame,
notorious on the estate.
Cannabis in your pocket,
always lightin' up like a rocket
and you're not even phased.
Ms Shah from No. 4,
Comes knocking the door
With you out, stoned, in her arms.

Your mama "did nothing for ya"
It's her fault you love hitting up on street corners.
Your daddy "was so dirty"
No father figure, is that why you're a player?
Go on blame them, it's never your fault
It's always someone else's, even when you're caught.

Sitting in the cafe,
Sipping a cup of coffee,
Soothing the hangover off.
You hurt me last night,
We had a big fight,
But you're to messed up to remember.
Vodka and Ketamine,
is your recipe,
for a good night out.
You're sprawled over my bed
With deep cuts on your head
God knows how they got there,
You were probably eyeing a girl,
And asked if she's on the pill,
and she turned round and whacked you.
I'm just your re-bound
And when your down a few pounds,
you come crying to me.

Your mama "did nothing for ya"
It's her fault you love hitting up on street corners.
Your daddy "was so dirty"
No father figure, is that why you're a player?
Go on blame them, it's never your fault
It's always someone else's, even when you're caught.

Your mama "did nothing for ya"
It's her fault you love hitting up on street corners.
Your daddy "was so dirty"
No father figure, is that why you're a player?
Go on blame them, it's never your fault
It's always someone else's, even when you're caught.

You call yourself a man?
Whilst gulping down a cheap can
Oh, oh dear.
I can't take any more
Of you spewing on my floor
This is the end.
Ain't no lovers tiff,
Bye bye this is it
So go home and light a spliff



That song is pretty strong stuff for a 16 year old, Billie.

Well I don't think a song is too strong for any age. I mean, I wrote about that song because it is based on a real life experience and if it is a strong or bad experience, it is going to make quite a hard hitting song no matter the age of the person singing or writing it.



Is most of your album "Hard Hitting"?

Not all of it. I do love the odd fun, tongue in cheek song and I actually count "Spliff" as one of those fun songs even though it is about drugs, ha! But no, I wouldn't say my album is all hard hitting. It may be a little different to other albums out there so maybe people will have a different take on it.



What is your favourite song on the album?

It's hard to pick one cos' those songs are all my babies. They all mean something to me but if I had to pick......it would be a toss up between "Safer In The Gutter" and "Spliff".



When you said "they are all your babies", does that mean that you created every single one of them?

Oh yeah. I solely wrote every song I've done. I think that if you can't write your own songs, you don't connect with it as much. If someone writes a song and gives it to you, it is written and sang a certain way because it is pre-made for you. But if you just put pen to paper and write, you know, you can create wonderful unique things and do what you like with them.



You're only 16, writing songs about relationships, signed to a big label and solely wrote every song you have recorded, do you think you are really mature for your age?

I think in this business I have to be mature and stand out and have a level head. If I became a party girl always in magazines, then people would know me more for that rather than my work and I would hate that.





Of course! This is a cover of my Mother's favourite song, "Unchained Melody"



Oh, my love
my darling
I've hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
and time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much
are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
Godspeed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow to the sea,
to the sea
to the open arms of the sea
lonely rivers sigh 'wait for me, wait for me'
I'll be coming home wait for me

Oh, my love
my darling
I've hungered for your touch
a long lonely time
and time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much
are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
Godspeed your love to me




That was stunning

Thank you very much



Do you have any covers on your upcoming album?

No, because I want to write everything and covering a song wouldn't fit in. If I did do a cover, I would write some new lyrics for it and them in just to put the Billie stamp on it, ha!



Are you working with any big names on the album?

There is a few people who I would love to work with on the album like Katie Coyle and Abie Lena but as for now, it is just me and my band or "my little boys" as I call them, that are appearing on the album.



Your band are amazing and during those performances they were really getting into it.

I know! They did themselves proud and it is the best they've played ever! I wouldn't be anywhere if it wasn't for my boys, Reece, Taylor, Richard and Jay. My musical maestros, ha!



So do we have another song to here

Yes, this is one of the more upbeat songs I've recorded and it is called "Space"


Stop wasting my time
If you wanna leave, then go
I'm not gonna force you to stay.

Pack all of your bags
Go and catch your bus
I hope that she's worth the fare.

Do you think I'm hurt?
Wrong!
That I'm sitting in tears?
No!
It's better that your gone
Now, I got some space to breathe

Goodbye,
Don't come calling round any time
Since you'd rather be with your bit on the side.
I'm moving on with my life,
There's plenty space here for a new guy.
SPA-A-CE
SPA-A-CE
There's plenty space here for a new guy.

You're way in the past
There's not a trace that you were here
It's great to feel so free.

I guess your still with her
But knowing you, you've prob... moved on
To some other unsuspecting girl

Do you think I'm hurt?
Wrong!
That I'm sitting in tears?
No!
It's better that your gone
Now, I got some space to breathe

Goodbye,
Don't come calling round any time
Since you'd rather be with your bit on the side.
I'm moving on with my life,
There's plenty space here for a new guy.
SPA-A-CE
SPA-A-CE
There's plenty space here for a new guy.

You can say that you did your best for me
You can say that you planned to marry me
You could even call our love a tragedy.
YEAH QUIT YOUR DREAMING, SON
JUST GO AWAY HAVE YOUR "FUN".

Goodbye,
Don't come calling round any time
Since you'd rather be with your bit on the side.
I'm moving on with my life,
There's plenty space here for a new guy.
SPA-A-CE
SPA-A-CE
There's plenty space here for a new guy.

Goodbye,
Don't come calling round any time
Since you'd rather be with your bit on the side.
I'm moving on with my life,
There's plenty space here for a new guy.
SPA-A-CE
SPA-A-CE
There's plenty space here for a new guy.

SPA-A-CE
SPA-A-CE
There's plenty space here for a new guy.

SPA-A-CE
SPA-A-CE
There's plenty space here for a new guy.




Before we go we have a few more questions to ask you

Ok, fire ahead, ha!



Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Hopefully still doing this and sharing my music with the world. And hopefully found a nice boyfriend, cos' by then I'd be 21 and even more 'mature'.



What is your favourite song of all time?

Either "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse, "Rockferry" by Duffy or "Naked On Paper" by Katie Coyle. I think those songs are beautiful and filled with emotion.



How would you celebrate if your debut single and/or album went to number 1?

Get all of my friends and family round together and have a little indoor party. I'm not old enough to drink and even if I was, the clubbing scene doesn't look right for me. Home comforts and a fun night in will do me fine.



Playing the last song, a cover of Adele's "Someone Like You", give a round of applause for Billie Weathers!


I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now.
I heard that your dreams came true.
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
"I'll remember", you said,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Yeah.

You know how the time flies
Only yesterday it was the time of our lives
We were born and raised
In a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over, yeah.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
"I'll remember", you said,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.

Nothing compares
No worries or cares
Regrets and mistakes
They are memories made.
Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
"I remember", you said,
Sometimes it lasts in love
But sometimes it hurts instead.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
"I'll remember", you said,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.