Billy Lockett brims with warmth, self-depreciation, positivity and a joy of life as I talk with him from his studio. He’s a remarkable talent who has overcome what would have floored many. Lockett is “a piano man” who writes songs that immediately engage his audience as they come from his heart which he faultlessly translates to recorded and live performance. Born and growing up in Nottingham, with his “not normal parent … crazy hippy dad” and two cats in the street that features in the title of his stunning new album ‘Abington Grove’ which showcases artwork by Cameron West. His father would “move the earth” to make anything music related happen. Often he says, in detriment to his school studies but “I’m terrible at everything except music”. In a few years his star was rising, being playlisted on Radio 1 and landing tours supporting Birdy, Lana del Rey and KT Tunstall. The death of Billy’s dad, following years of fighting cancer, sent him in to a downward spiral where he “went off the rails a bit – got a cat” and spent two years in the basement of the family house writing songs for his EP ‘Reset’. The song ‘Empty House’ while is seemingly a song of loss and heartbreak also relishes the “calming” quiet and peace which had previously been absent there. He emerged sporting an afro grown “accidentally” and in his own words, probably not his greatest style decision. Moving to London where he spent another two years writing, sold out a headline show, got a record deal and, thankfully, ditched the afro. Sadly he hit the buffers once again but this time got help. He was touring with Lewis Capaldi and ELO followed by promoting his own headline tour which sold out. Before he could release his album he lost his record contract and got dumped by his girlfriend. Along with his broken heart and cat he returned to the Northampton house basement studio. He then acquired new management, wrote and self-released modern classical piano-only album which charted. Meeting James Cordon through a mutual friend led to LA and appearing on The Late Show and his star started to soar again. The boy who started playing piano at seven years old is enjoying his career and life with his constant companion Trev the bulldog “a dream and the light of my life”. He’s made an album he loves and is looking forward to the future, “making music for ever”…
