LC grad breaks into music biz
Vittoria di Prospero
Issue date: 1/31/06 Section: Arts & Society
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When you think of a Loyola graduate, usually you think of an accountant or any number of normal jobs, but perhaps you should start thinking of musicians. Recent graduate Billy Redfield will soon be releasing his first album.
Although Billy always had an interest in music, he recently began to seriously devote himself to singing and songwriting. While a student at Loyola, Billy was a Management Information Systems major because he saw his musical career as more of a dream than reality. He went to college instead to become a responsible young man, but music didn't leave Billy's life that easily.
Billy's musical endeavors began at the age of 14, when his father bought him a guitar. He immediately learned how to play this new instrument that fascinated him so much. When first trying to write lyrics for his songs, Billy admits, "I was awful," but now at the age of 25 Billy has come a long way and his lyrics reflect his mature and thoughtful personality.
Billy Redfield recently leapt into the music world when he entered into a competition in Oct. 2004 to be the opening band for Hanson and Pat McGee on their tour.
At the time that Billy was in this competition he hadn't even decided that he wanted to seriously pursue a career in music, but when he won second place he began to think about it a little bit more seriously.
Before the competition, Billy had never played in front of anyone except his friends, but his surprising win as a finalist gave him the push he needed to truly see himself as a musician. Now he could confidently pursue his dream.
Bruce Springsteen was Billy's first inspiration for playing music, but when he first heard Dave Matthews Band he had a musical idol to look up to. Billy admits that Dave Matthews has shaped his music in many ways, but had especially given him "a versatile approach to songwriting."
Like Matthews himself, Billy plays the guitar, sings and writes all his lyrics while still incorporating many unusual instruments, such as the saxophone, organ and keyboard. When asked how he would describe his music, Billy called it something like "acoustic rock" or "college rock," perhaps a bit like Jack Johnson he suggests.
During the past few months Billy, has been getting noticed. Entertainment D.C. recently named his EP one of the top five EPs in 2005 and he was a featured artist for radio station Z104.
Billy is currently recording his first album which should be out in April, but his EP (Extended Play) can be downloaded on iTunes and MySpace. His EP is also available on AwareStore.com for $10 and is "guaranteed" you'll love it by the website.
If you are interested in learning more about Billy, his website is www.billyredfield.com. If you really like him, you can sign up for his mailing list which will tell you where Billy will be playing in the area, so you can check it out for yourself.
Compared to Billy's last job as a project management associate, these last few months must seem like a dream.
Although Billy always had an interest in music, he recently began to seriously devote himself to singing and songwriting. While a student at Loyola, Billy was a Management Information Systems major because he saw his musical career as more of a dream than reality. He went to college instead to become a responsible young man, but music didn't leave Billy's life that easily.
Billy's musical endeavors began at the age of 14, when his father bought him a guitar. He immediately learned how to play this new instrument that fascinated him so much. When first trying to write lyrics for his songs, Billy admits, "I was awful," but now at the age of 25 Billy has come a long way and his lyrics reflect his mature and thoughtful personality.
Billy Redfield recently leapt into the music world when he entered into a competition in Oct. 2004 to be the opening band for Hanson and Pat McGee on their tour.
At the time that Billy was in this competition he hadn't even decided that he wanted to seriously pursue a career in music, but when he won second place he began to think about it a little bit more seriously.
Before the competition, Billy had never played in front of anyone except his friends, but his surprising win as a finalist gave him the push he needed to truly see himself as a musician. Now he could confidently pursue his dream.
Bruce Springsteen was Billy's first inspiration for playing music, but when he first heard Dave Matthews Band he had a musical idol to look up to. Billy admits that Dave Matthews has shaped his music in many ways, but had especially given him "a versatile approach to songwriting."
Like Matthews himself, Billy plays the guitar, sings and writes all his lyrics while still incorporating many unusual instruments, such as the saxophone, organ and keyboard. When asked how he would describe his music, Billy called it something like "acoustic rock" or "college rock," perhaps a bit like Jack Johnson he suggests.
During the past few months Billy, has been getting noticed. Entertainment D.C. recently named his EP one of the top five EPs in 2005 and he was a featured artist for radio station Z104.
Billy is currently recording his first album which should be out in April, but his EP (Extended Play) can be downloaded on iTunes and MySpace. His EP is also available on AwareStore.com for $10 and is "guaranteed" you'll love it by the website.
If you are interested in learning more about Billy, his website is www.billyredfield.com. If you really like him, you can sign up for his mailing list which will tell you where Billy will be playing in the area, so you can check it out for yourself.
Compared to Billy's last job as a project management associate, these last few months must seem like a dream.