Billie Black is a name who is on a lot of UK industry lips at the moment. The story goes that the West London student of Guildhall School of Music gained experienc at singing jazz in pubs for college money. That followed her teenage years where she sang with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and went to the Brit School, home of so many recent musicians like Adele, Katy B and Amy Winehouse.
She was less experienced in writing songs, a thing she first shared publicly this June after working with producers Modyn.
That turned out to be a good idea as her first three tracks were all over the Hype Machine and her first gig lead to a publishing deal with Warner Chappell, an appearance on a Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood compilation and support slot with R&B Brooklynites Wet.
This week, her debut EP 000 100 was released and it’s an accomplished one that pairs her jazzy soulful voice with R&B electronic production. You can listen to it below by way of intro as well as the killer collaboration with Mura Masa.
Billie Black – 000 100 EP stream
Billie Black x Mura Masa – ‘This Simple Pleasure’
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
