CultureLoad

Interview with Poor Billy

“We make the music, we feel is our vision” - Interview with Karsten Olesen from Poor Billy.

Poor Billy, this is mystic stories, dusty sounds and powerful roots music. Four outstanding musicians from Denmark create their own surpassing Western. These are: Karsten Olesen (Vocal, acoustic guitar and harmonica), Peter Sandegaard (Dobro, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and vocal), Jesper Holt Andersen (Bass and vocal) and Søren Poulsen (Drums and percussion). Together they have played all over Denmark for meanwhile nearly 10 years and at the moment they are working on a new album. Some songs of the first one “Moonlight Stranger” can be listened to at CultureLoad.
The singer and songwriter of “Poor Billy” Karsten Olesen has a word with us about their music and the vision behind.

CultureLoad: Karsten, you’re mainly responsible for the creative and kind of visionary songs of Poor Billy. First of all: how did it all begin, how did you get into music?
Karsten: I’m making music since I was 20 years, so it is about 30 years as a musician now. I love music and became fascinated by the possibilities of expressing your feelings through words becoming more and more strong through the melody and the rhythm. I began on my own with a guitar and one day I went into the street and became a street musician and so forth.

CL: So now you’re a vital part of Poor Billy, a very special band with a remarkable powerful sound. What makes your music so unique?
K: I think it is the atmosphere and the universe, it is very personal. There is poetry and surrealistic visions behind. I want to communicate the pictures in my head, so that you - as a listener - understand it in as many ways as possible.

CL: Can you outline your style for us?
K: Rooty, surrealistic, blues. It developed from melodic countryrockpop to rock with americanafeeling.

CL: You often say that you want to pass on the energy of your songs to the audience and you’ve just mentioned the communication between you and the listeners. Do you make your music more for them or for yourself?
K: First of all, we make the music, we feel is our vision. Next of course if somebody likes it, we are happy. But we don`t think about our fans when we create the music, only on the next level, when the music is delivered live or on CD.

CL: How are your songs created?
K: I make them home first as a sketch and present the sketches to the band. The songs they like, we work on in our garage till they fit Poor Billy. Inspiration comes from everywhere, the sound, a tone, a picture, a feeling, something I think about, a movie and so on.

CL: Your songs create pictures of dusty saloons and wide prairies – in my mind anyway. You as Danes, do you have the typical American Wild West feeling?
K: No not as Danes, but we love the music and the ambience and when I was younger and still, I love a good western. What fascinate me are the atmosphere and the dry solid rhythm and a song with a deep masculine voice.

CL: Some people might say Folk/Country music was kind of fusty. What do you say to those?
K: I think folk/country can be great, if it not too traditional, but has a twist of something else.

CL: Your music radiates a very deep, fundamental energy. Where does that come from?
K: From the roots of our unconsciousness, when you get in touch with the feeling that resonates with your soul and mind. It’s especially important for me to live and feel that there is something going on that gives you strength and love.

CL: Who would you love to play with?
K: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Patti Smith, Wowen hands, Sonny Boy Williams.

CL: What are you planning for the future? Any wishes to fulfill?
K: To make good music. We release our new album "Brother wake up" in September. To get out and play our music. We wish to fulfill the vision of Poor Billy, release the albums and make the journeys in music.

Karsten Olesen

Favorite artists: Dostojewskij, Herman Hesse, Cezanne, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Akira Kurosawa, Fritz Lang, Stanley Kubrick.

Good music: Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Wowen hands, Ben Harper, Patti Smith, Johnny Cash, Love, Nick Cave, Classic music like Bach and Mozart, gypsy music, and much more.

Interview by Magdalena Schüßler, Editorial Staff