Thursday 20 June 2013

In the Industry: Billy Russell Channel [V]

The [V] crew
Billy Russell is a music lover, presenter on Channel [V] and a mad Collingwood supporter.

Even though Billy does support the Magpies he's still a good bloke and has the inside word on the latest from the music industry.

Billy who is your favourite player?

My favourite player of all time is Tarkyn Lockyer. He was my absolute idol growing up. To me, Tarkyn was living proof that little dudes could match it with the big fellas out on the footy field. He was hardworking, consistent and a real unsung hero amongst a lot of the showier players running around in black and white at the time. I still beam a little when I see him on TV alongside the coaching staff.



Did you ever play?


My relationship with football is a lot like my relationship with music: one defined by a spectatorship where I sit on the sidelines and offer my uninvited and often unwanted criticism. This is a nice way of saying I can’t play either for shit, but that I’m very vocal about both. 


Which band is killing it at the moment?


I reckon there’s a heap of good stuff coming out of Melbourne at the moment, but my favourite is probably Dick Diver. Their first album came from nowhere to define my 2011, and their follow-up effort, Calendar Days, is doing similar things for me this year. I don’t know what it is about them, but there is something incredibly special about their odes to suburban Australia and that state of being all sad and mopey in your late twenties. Plus, Steph Hughes’ songbird voice just slays me. Definitely a band on top of their game.




Which band would win the NAB rising star?

I’m pretty enamoured with The Preatures right now. That new single, Is This How You Feel?, is one of those rare pop gems that literally stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it. These guys have such a bright future. 

Runners-up: Parquet Courts, Standish/Carlyon, Courtney Barnett. 




What gig you looking most forward to this year?

Like pretty much everyone else, I’m on board the Frank Ocean train. I can’t wait to swoon and carry on when he brings the live set to Splendour and its sideshows. I’m also pretty pumped to see TV On The Radio again. They’re a band that is incredibly important to me and their gigs never disappoint.  

Wonderwall or bitter sweet symphony ?

Wonderwall for the song, Bitter Sweet Symphony for the video.

Smells like teen spirit or killing in the name of?

Ooh, controversial! I totally get Smells Like Teen Spirit’s cultural significance and influence blah blah blah… but I’m a Killing In The Name man. It’s just so angry, defiant, and totally unifying. We cranked this track at my mum’s 50th birthday party and even my Maltese nanna who can barely speak English was screaming “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!”. I reckon we’ve all got a bit of rebellion somewhere in us; it just takes a badass track like this to unlock it.

Who's your pick for the GF?

I’d love it to be a Pies/Swans grannie, and I don’t think it’s completely out of the question (however unlikely it may seem). After relocating from Melbourne to Sydney a few years ago, I’ve been faced with an onslaught of dumb Swans fans who look for any chance to put me in my place (and who had a great opportunity after last year’s Prelim). Oh, how sweet it would be to hit them where it hurts this year.

Do you like Bucks as a coach?

Yes. Next question.


Billy "Belieber" Russell


Hey thanks so much mate, keep up the good work and keep the dream alive, clubs are always looking for mature recruits. And on that budding music career, you can always become a DJ. 


Stay Rad.


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