King Billy by King Billy

King Billy’s self-titled album and debut release captures a mellow and soulful sound that its four members forged through regularly improvising together. Instrumental hip-hop provided a basic framework for turning impromptu ideas into succinct compositions.

Some tracks on the album — “Clean Deez”, “Fanta” — are ad-libbed grooves, recorded on the spur of the moment. Others such as “Hill St.” combine melodies and bass-lines from multiple improvisations. The album’s cool, low-key sound represents the informal, laid-back atmosphere of a jam session.

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King Billy is a group of Tasmanian musicians who make a soulful kind of organic beat music. Rhythmic and relaxed, the source of their sound comes from spontaneous jam sessions, reworked into full-length tracks. Soul, jazz, and hip-hop inspire them as does the DIY music culture in their hometown of Hobart. King Billy (2018) is their first album.

The undisputed most emotional band in Hobart.