Interview – The Low Down with Billy Lo

Following on from the release of their self-titled LP ‘Billy Lo’ we caught up with American trio for a chat about life.

Following in the footsteps of the longed-for 2021 reissue of their seminal EP, ‘It’s The Life’, Detroit’s very own guild of disco wizards Billy Lo – alias Billy Love, Darryl Tiggs and Darren Abrams – return to Cosmocities with their first album, ‘Billy Lo’. A flavorful bomb of soulful Motown aromas, Paradise Garage-esque suavity and shuffling house rhythms brought to a hedonistic simmer, the trio’s latest packs the kind of debonair charm and infectious funk that shall make as much damage on the dance floor as it will in the alcove.

The A-side starts off with ‘Pain’, a slice of satin-smooth house churn in true Detroit house style that engineers a fine euphony of classic piano twinkle, morning workout programming, stealth bass manoeuvres and shrill strings. The perfect scenery for Billy Love’s vocals to bloom in all their swinging sensuality. True to its name, the all-instrumental ‘Chill’ goes a further bass and drums-blazing route, all in generous synth sines and ovoid bounce, whereas ‘Let Ur Body Werk’ unfolds as a spirited, Afrofunk-tinged chugger bound for tireless boogie, focussing on Love’s hypnotic vocal hoodoo, sturdy bass traction and a feast of incendiary congas sure to whip up the attendance into a frenzy at any time of the day.

Flip it over and here’s the B-side up with some intoxicating jazz business for the late hours. Dishing out a fiery combo of space-discoid slap bass, sun-bleached piano chords and heavily filtered loops, ’Sho Me Ur Love’ is juicy entanglement in a bottle. All in slowed-down voluptuousness, the loungey bop number ‘Flavors’ reels out like a washed-out dream, vaporous and lush as it gets. Topping off the journey on a hi-NRG spin, ‘Do Ur Thang’ pulls out a playful collage of heavy-duty bass propulsion, obsessive synth motifs and ebullient pep talk sure to have you going hard all night long.

We recently caught up with Billy Love to chat about Billy Lo, influences and life in general. Here’s what went down:

What first got you into music? 

My father MC/DJ Billy B. I was his roadie who had responsibilities over his record in 1975 at 8 years old.

Who inspired you to make music? 

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Belita Woods from the group Brainstorm was my parents’ friend so they introduced me to music when I was a kid. They come and practice at our house.

How would you describe the music that you typically create? 

I call it Dynamic, you know, under the Underground.

What is your creative process like? 

It’s a brotherhood, its life, living and love.

Would you most like to collaborate with? 

George Clinton, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Michael Jackson.

If you could go open a show for any artist, who would it be? 

Frankie Knuckles!

What is one message you would give to your fans? 

Live it, walk it, wear it!

What is the most useless talent you have? 

Upside down mathematics because I’m very complex myself.

Do you sing in the shower? 

Every singe day. What songs? Whatever’s on the breakfast menu, cause I’m always cooking bacon.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

Elevating and beautifying the City of Detroit, by way of trimming trees.

Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any

upcoming shows? 

What comes to mind in my younger days is Ministry of Sound, Palladium, in Brixton with Boy George at the Fridge, C.B.G.B.s in NY, DEMF/Movement in the early years in Detroit.

Favorite venue: little bars where you can talk to your friends like Old Miami or Temple Bar in Detroit.

Least favorite venue: the falling down old train station in Detroit before it was rehabbed.

Upcoming shows: I have a release party planned for my historic coffee table book “Glimpse” that documents the 90’s underground in Detroit on May 10th.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business? 

In the worst of ways by itself, however, mixed with analog the world is a better place. For example, in my new book Glimpse, we linked digital sounds and videos so the reader can have an immersive experience. In ways like that, I think the internet allows us to create new and better art. Tell our story more fuller.

Which famous musicians do you admire? 

Prince, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Stanley Clarke.

What’s the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into? 

In fear of drowning on the Detroit River as a lifeguard.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?  

Be, do, and have. So simple, but hard to do. Trying, you suck in all the wrong ways.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? 

The old business mode. The good ol’ boys ways of doing things. Profit sharing is the way!

What’s next for you? 

The resurgence of my record label, UFM – Universal Frequency Modulation aka The Uni-Funk Mode featuring Tronix.