Xtra Mile Recordings can announce the signing of Canadian singer/ songwriter BILLY THE KID for a worldwide deal. She joins the likes of Frank Turner, Against Me!, Larry and His Flask, Beans On Toast, Cheap Girls, To Kill A King, Northcote, and many many more as the label and the roster continues to expand in the UK and all across the globe.
Billy has been busy in London recording tracks for her fourth full length album working with Frank Turner as producer. Title, tracklisting and artwork all to be unveiled in due course but for now, here’s a video of the two of them working together:
Billy The Kid is a regular face on the North American underground touring circuit and a prolific writer amassing a wealth of music, firstly with her band Billy & The Lost Boys and more recently as a solo artist. She has collaborated with such artists as Garth Hudson (The Band/Bob Dylan), Randy Cooke (Ringo Starr/Dave Stewart) Stan Behrens (Willie Dixon/Ruth Brown/the Four Tops) and just recently, producer Jamie Candiloro (Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson). But she is best known for her creative crowd-sourcing campaigns.
In true DIY spirit 2010 saw work begin on her debut solo full-length album ‘Ours’. In addition to pre-orders and specialized bundles, Billy travelled across the continent to play fundraisers, anniversaries, birthday parties and private concerts as well as going camping, white water rafting and rock climbing with fans. One year later, she was back at it again, with a second album ‘Stars, Exploding’ ready to be recorded with her dream producer, Candiloro. Surprise bundles, birthday presents, and fan-requested cover songs helped fund this latest effort, recorded in LA and complete with a chance encounter with the Kid’s favourite songwriter, Ryan Adams.
However, Billy knew that she couldn’t keep hitting up fans for money to fund her continuous out-pouring of music and with no real other options, Billy was ready to quit music all together after she had finished on the Warped Acoustic Basement Tour last summer. As with so often the case you have to hit rock bottom to see a way to the top and a chance day-off in Toronto resulted in meeting Frank Turner who was in town headlining Lee’s Palace venue. They got on, Frank invited her on stage for a Neil Young cover and a friendship was born. In the audience was Xtra Mile’s managing director Charlie Caplowe who instantly saw the promise in this home-grown star.
Charlie says of the signing: “As soon as I saw Billy I thought she was really cool, with a great voice and infectious enthusiasm. I was also really impressed with her DIY attitude and thought she would fit right in at Xtra Mile. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”
Billy says: “In a world that's constantly asking us to doubt and question ourselves, it's always been important to me to ‘stick to my guns’ when it comes to music. It was the one thing I wasn't willing to compromise, so much so that I remained independent for more than half of my life. Eight (or something) albums later, I am very happy to announce that I have finally found a home with Xtra Mile Recordings and I am looking forward to the (not so lonely!) future!
