Next Wave #596: Billie Black

The music of our youth appeals to our psychology as some kind of shared cultural symbolism, ingested by a generation and delivered to the next. It’s no wonder, then, that time and time again musicians go back to their parents’ music collection as a prime source of musical inspiration; transferring their early sonic experiences into their artistic practice.

Nineteen-year-old Billie Black is no different, and draws a strong connection between the music of her upbringing and the music she makes now.

“My mum used to be a professional disco dancer so she always had an obsession with ’70s disco. It was always being played around the house, in the car and at massive family parties. My musical upbringing has meant I do associate music with dance; I want to make subtle groovy tunes that make people sway.”

‘Subtle tunes that make you sway’ is a decent description of Black’s sound – but there’s more to it than that. Her jazz-infused vocals lilt easily over fluid, minimal beats that conjure up the kind of electronic production that we’re used to hearing in the work of James Blake or Sampha. Like those artists, her music’s got a lot of soul.

“I’ve tried to weave jazz vocals with interesting electronic production of all kinds, whether it’s deep dubby stuff, minimal avant-garde stuff or even house. I love the idea of combining the old with new.”
read more: http://www.clashmusic.com/features/next-wave-596-billie-black