‘One of British music’s most quietly essential singer-songwriters steps into his biggest year yet’
Billy Lockett – the Northampton-born self-taught pianist and guitarist, songwriter and storyteller – today released his second album Things Are Looking Up, following his two week UK tour and viral explosion online across Tiktok and Instagram.
This is Billy Lockett operating at a new level. Bigger rooms. A bolder sound. And music that feels like it was always meant to find a wider audience. Following videos candidly revealing his album pre orders as well as tour ticket sales in his mum’s kitchen, Billy has seen rapid activity via his socials including 75 million views across Tiktok and Instagram, and garnering 75K followers in the period of one month.
Out Friday 22nd May, ‘Things Are Looking Up’ is the sophomore album to come for troubadour Billy Lockett on his own label ‘Lockett Records’ via Absolute Label Services.
- “A track we’ve been absolutely loving. He’s hugely talented” Owain Wyn Evans, BBC Radio 2
- “I’m a big fan of him, great voice, he’s a brilliant songwriter and performer” Jamie Cullum
- “I rate how he’s done it, I love to see it” Jodie Bryant, BBC Radio 1
THE ALBUM – ‘THINGS ARE LOOKING UP’
‘Things Are Looking Up’ is a musical journey that marks a transformative chapter for Billy Lockett. Born from a mix of personal milestones, raw emotion, and the spirit of change, the album was crafted entirely in Billy’s own basement studio – self-penned, self-recorded, self-produced, and self-mixed.
The inspiration for the record came from an unexpected and deeply moving place: a sketch left behind by Billy’s late father, featuring cartooned figures gazing upwards alongside the hopeful tagline “Things Are Looking Up” – a tribute to Billy’s early career. That drawing now adorns the album’s artwork. Highlights include ‘Cut Me Off’ featuring Northants Sings Out Choir, ‘Light Up The Sky’, ‘Sweet Tooth’, ‘Cornerstone’ and of course ‘Things Are Looking Up’ – songs infused with hope, personal growth and real-life transformation.
In Billy’s own words: “I’ve been making the album for just over three years and so it’s been a record of the changes throughout my life. Break ups, addiction but also recovery and love. The album is hopeful – I’d say most of the songs are upbeat and happy but it wouldn’t be a Billy Lockett album without some heartbreaking ballads slipped in. I wanted to make an album my dad would’ve loved. He was a huge fan of legends like Free, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, so I made sure to keep it real with guitar-driven songs and even some harmonica thrown in. It’s been over a decade since he passed away now, and for a long time I’ve not been able to write songs about him – I never wanted to force something like that – but with this second album they just came out naturally. I hope I’ve done his legacy justice.”
‘Things Are Looking Up’ is available to pre-order in various formats from Billy’s website.
