- Bryon Harris
Bill Abernathy - Music Interview
Kansas City's Bill Abernathy began writing songs in his early teens. He played all through his school years, but then he stopped...Life took over. Bill went about getting married, building a business career, and raising his children. After his kids graduated from school and started their careers, Bill picked up the guitar again and began trying to rekindle his love of music. Bill is a pure "lyrics-first" writer, a storyteller.
His last album, 2017’s “Find A Way” reached #5 on the Roots Music Report Traditional Folk Album chart, and the single, “Goodbye Will Never Come Again” reached #1 on the singles chart. Bill’s latest collection of songs, the Roots Music Report Americana chart-topping album, “Crossing Willow Creek” is available now. The first single, “Cry Wolf” reached the iTunes Top 100 Rock Songs chart, while hitting the Top 5 on New Music Weekly’s country chart. The next two singles also received national and international charting. Bill is also a December 2018 Billboard Magazine Emerging Artist. He is currently touring the mid-west on his “Living The Dream” solo tour.
“Sometimes life is good to you and gives you a second chance. In my youth I walked away from music for a myriad of personal reasons. Now, I've now been given a second chance to pursue this thing we love called music, and I am really enjoying the ride!”
What got you into music? My family was musical. It seems there was always some music around all the time. I have always been interested in not just the music but the message the music is sending. I think that is what got me interested in songwriting.
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why. Wow that is a loaded question. There is some real therapy in the songwriting. To be able to take your thoughts and ideas and express them through a song is really special and such a great way to work through your thoughts and challenges. My favorite part of the whole process is most certainly when someone else hears the songs and they find something within the tune that touches them in some way. That is the ultimate to me.
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you? In a word, FUN. Working with the talented folks in the studio is just plain fun. Even when you’re working and things are not going as well as you would like, yes it turns into work, but its fun work. I really enjoy the creative process in the studio. Again it’s just fun.
Please take a minute to check out Bill's video of Whiskey Road.
As a songwriter or musician, are there any obstacles you have had to overcome or obstacles that you are facing right now in your career?
I think in today’s music world the challenge to everyone is finding your audience and engaging with them in a meaningful way. Just today, a fan got really emotional listing to one of my songs. That is really a very special feeling when you see someone really understand what your trying to say. Keeping that connection with fans is really the critical element and so hard to do. It certainly takes a lot of work but is so worth it.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
It’s very simple for me. Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. He writes such powerful songs and delivers them with such passion. I particularly appreciate his acoustic work. Great songs, believable songs, played extremely well
To date, what do you think your best song is? Can you describe the song for us? Every time this question comes up it seems I have a different answer. My tune "Find A Way is really special for me. It explores that day my father passed away, the lessons he taught me, and how those lessons are so prevalent in my life today. Today, that is my favorite.. tomorrow it may be different. haha
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
I am always working on new ideas. I have several that are in process. You know sometimes songs come fairly quickly, and other times they are bit like a pot of chili. You put in the basics, and then cook to taste. That is where I am with the new tunes.. they are “cooking”.
I am at the beginning of my Living the Dream tour right now. I am having so much fun meeting with fans, making new friends and fans, and playing solo. I am really proud of myself for limiting the number of guitars I have with me. I only have 4 along for the ride. Lol. Solo is my favorite way to play, and it seems folks are enjoying hearing the tunes the way they were written initially and a few of the back stories. I like telling the stories behind the songs and I think folks can relate to the reality they come from. It’s fun.
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This music interview was brought to you by BWH Music Group