Based in Florida, USA, Billy Mick has spent his life entertaining audiences at both Universal Studios and Disney World but his latest single sees him feeling like an alien in his own country after time he spent in an entirely different location – Manchester! The Tourist sees Billy recalling his time on holiday in the UK and especially at Pride in Manchester where he felt true acceptance and togetherness, a world away from his return home where he saw signs of increasing racial intolerance and bigotry on the news when he returned. Taken from his forthcoming sophomore album, Levelling Up, Tourist should come with a health warning – you are NEVER going to get this out of your head!
Watch the Video to Tourist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxBBnP8hztA
“In 2018, my husband and I attended Manchester Pride as part of our trip to the U.K. We were so amazed at the overwhelming sense of acceptance, love and community we felt when we were there! The streets were filled with drag queens, lesbians, straight people, bears, twinks…and everyone was actually celebrating together. My prior experiences at some pride events were different - there would be a single big event or parade where people would come together and when it ended everyone would go to their separate parties or bars. It was just so cool and awe-inspiring to not only see the diversity but to also be welcomed by everyone we met. We felt very much at home”.
Billy Mick is a natural-born entertainer, building successful careers in theme parks and musical theatre before becoming a singer-songwriter, releasing his debut album, Just B, in the summer of 2020. Packed with his barely-contained exuberance and love of life, it was inspired by his own experiences, not least a three-month period he spent in the hospital battling against an immunity problem, made all the more terrifying due to his HIV Positive status (now, thankfully, undetectable). The experience left him having to learn to walk and talk again but his indomitable spirit has seen him emerge as an irresistible performer it’s impossible to ignore!
With a wardrobe of sensational, self-made and designed jackets and his beloved Boston Terriers, Tiana and Al Capone, Billy hasn’t wasted his time during the lockdown, streaming performances online every weekend and using his theme park experience (and talented friends) to film a series of new music videos!
“I am a Rock ‘n' Roll singer, singing songs about life, love, individuality and equality. I have a very eclectic style in my music and fabulous jackets with tons of flair. I guess you could say I am a one-person Variety Show! For The Tourist I wanted this to be the 80’s Rock ‘n’ Roll/Punk fantasy that everyone secretly has. For my “Rock N’Roll Fantasy” look (as I call it) I couldn’t find long leather fringe that I wanted, so I got a long black “leather” fringe skirt. I cut it apart and pinned with these ridiculous diaper safety pins, added some spikes and I was feeling it! The song is called “The Tourist” so we, of course, had to have travel represented in the video. We went all over Winter Park, Downtown Orlando, and Ybor City to record me travelling with the two things I need - my blue suitcase and my vintage blow mold Santa. Because why not!?”
Listen to the album Just B here: https://soundcloud.com/billy-mick/sets/just
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyMickMusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillyMickMusic1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billymickmusic/
Website: https://www.billymick.com
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/billy-mick/tracks
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/BillyMick
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