(06.05.2016)
Bill Kaulitz and his solo project BILLY
While perceived 50 fans pressed their noses flat against the window, I was crowded with photographers and pressmen in a small room, waiting as Billy positioned himself for a few photographs. Everyone wanted to have a picture with him. With who? Of course, with Bill Kaulitz, who now calls himself “BILLY“.
To kick off as a solo artist, he has acquired a new image and a new name. Tokio Hotel‘s frontman, but he wants more: to reach a whole new audience. He did not want a conventional release for his first solo project – he staged a “multi-media hybrid” Art project which he called after his first song “Love Do not Break Me”. This art project includes not only the music, black and white short films, a 128-page photo book and large format framed prints, which were presented last night to invited guests and press people in the Berlin SevenStarGallery.
Though I was never a real fan of the band “Tokio Hotel“, I was still curious to see how the former teen heartthrob has developed. Bill Kaulitz sold with his band “Tokio Hotel” more than 7 million albums worldwide, played for 500,000 people in Paris at the Eiffel Tower, won hundreds of awards and went platinum in 68 countries. He can look back on a unique success story, and now want to create a solo artist success also.
However, what I was paying attention to was that Billy took a lot of time for the interviews that evening. I took the opportunity and spoke to him, asking him to take a selfie with me. He was polite and was – despite the insane hype – very quietly and took a picture with me.
Whether you are the artful “I” good place or not production, acting through his personal story about despair, hope and aspiration of a broken love, one you realize quickly: Bill Kaulitz has grown up – like many of his fans.
I know he’s a great songwriter – this he has often demonstrated – and that his solo career will certainly succeed. His first single sounds to me also not so bad and I think you have the new Billy encounter quite impartially.
The musician will continue to work with his band “Tokio Hotel” in spite of his solo career. They are currently in the studio working on a new album, which will be released later this year.
“Love Do not Break Me” was released as the first song of the EP on 29 April, reflecting a minimalist scale “electric ballad” the new sound of Billy‘s music, which is part of his intense musical development.