Billy Hoyle

In the artist’s words: Describe one of your earliest musical memories in detail. Raised by my grandparents, I grew up on Motown, psych rock, and doo-wop. My uncle put me on to Zappa and Van Halen. I played trombone, then drums, and made parody rap songs as a kid. Run-DMC and N.W.A. were my first real hip-hop influences. What are your top 3 all-time favorite albums on Apple Music, and why? Why did you choose these three albums in particular? J Dilla, Donuts NxWorries, Yes Lawd! Your Old Droog, Your Old Droog All three of these albums capture everything I love about music - soul, grit, and honesty. "Donuts" taught me how to speak without words, "Your Old Droog" reminded me of the power of simplicity, and "Yes Lawd!" showed me how groove can tell a story. Find a song of yours on Apple Music that you love and tell us what makes it special. Tell us why you chose this song. “Lookin' Back, Pt. 2 (feat. Guilty Simpson)” Guilty's "Ode to the Ghetto" was the first album given to me at Timebomb, and it stuck with me. To later have him on one of my records - especially after spending time in Detroit - felt like a nod from the city that shaped so much of what I love. What’s one of the most memorable moments in your career so far? I heard Droog's debut the day it dropped - before anyone even knew who he was. Years later he hit me on IG to send beats, and we ended up making a track together. Going from day-one listener to collaborator was a full-circle moment I'll never forget. Is there anything left on your bucket list as an artist or band? There's still so much I want to do. I feel like I'm just getting started. I want to work with artists I've looked up to for years, build a real machine that can break new talent from Pittsburgh, and one day produce an album for my nephew.