Introducing… the dark pop world of Nic Billington

Artist Nic Billington is ready to denominate the dancefloors with his upcoming album Dark Horse. From South Africa to London the singer-songwriter knew from the tender age of six he was destined to be a star; spending much of his childhood with a tape recorder in handwriting down melodies and lyrics. He would grow to become on half of the popular house duo, The Verdict, continuing to harness his talent, and releasing a fountain rich of unique covers earning him a worldwide following (including that of pop icon Britney Spears!). 

Nic’s new single ‘Slasher’ is all about the darker facets of pop. An ode to American Horror Story stylistically, the track explores themes of passion and danger, defying the boundaries of what it means to be a pop star. We spoke with Nic about 80s synth, his younger self, and forthcoming album Dark Horse…

Hey Nic, thanks so much for speaking with us today. How’s 2024 treating you so far?

2024 is going extremely well. I’ve hit the ground running, which is probably expected when you’re gearing up to release a new album. I’m feeling extremely grateful and excited for the year ahead.

On reflection, both personally and professionally, how was 2023 and what are you taking from the year into this new one?

2023 was a big year of self-reflection. Sometimes we must look inward in order to move forward. Life is short so I decided that I’m only going to pursue the things that bring me the most joy and music is at the top of that list. I also have a few exciting businesses in the pipeline, including an underwear collection.

Congratulations on the release of your new single ‘Slasher’! How does it feel to have this out in the world for your fans to finally hear?

I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am. I’ve hung onto some of these tracks for the past 3 years while making the album. I’ve listened to Slasher more than a thousand times already – which is normally the case before any of my releases. It’s a great track and it’s time for the world to hear it.

The single gives huge 80s synth vibes, is this a taster of the sound of the full album?

Most definitely. I grew up listening to artists like Prince, Madonna, Depeche Mode, and Billy Idol. I’m incredibly inspired by 80s music and most of the tracks on the new record have some sort of 80s influence. 

Your sophomore album Dark Horse is out soon, can you tell us a little more about it?

Dark Horse is a collection of 10 songs that I’ve recorded over the past 3 years. The songs represent some of my deepest and most private thoughts as well as some life-defining moments. It’s an incredibly personal body of work that’s been a stepping stone to finding true myself.

You released your debut album Overload over 10 years now! What made you decide to release your second album now, and how does Dark Horse compare?

I’m all for releasing single after single but I think if you really have a lot to say, you’ll make more of an impact by releasing a full album. The new record is vastly different from the first one. I’ve grown up a lot and I’m more in tune with what I like, sonically and lyrically.

Let’s go back to the beginning – you knew you wanted to be a pop star at the age of six after watching a Robert Palmer music video. What happened after that? How was your journey into music?

It wasn’t the easiest journey for me. I’m painfully shy and introverted so I avoided being the centre of attention for many years. I eventually realised that in order to achieve something great, you actually have to do something and put yourself out there. I started taking singing lessons, did a few live shows and started recording covers and uploading them to YouTube.

One of your covers got recognised by none other than Britney Spears – tell us more about that experience!

In 2008, I had just started uploading covers to YouTube and logged on to see what people were saying about them. To my surprise, my Britney Spears cover of “Gimme More” had reached 100 000 views in a few hours. I quickly learned that it was featured on her official website. I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, and the whole experience really kick started my career as a musician.

What would you tell 2013 Nic now, if you could go back in time?

Brace yourself for some extreme highs and lows, but most importantly – live in each and every moment because you’ll never experience it again. Also, appreciate the people around you.

Pick your dream festival line-up of three headliners. Who are they?

Spice Girls

Nelly Furtardo

Grimes 

Other than the release of Dark Horse, what else can we expect from Nic Billington in 2024?

You can expect loads more live shows, some slick new music videos and some world domination. 😉

Thanks so much for speaking with us today!

Thank you sooooooooooooo much for the opportunity! Keep doing amazing things.

Make sure to check out Nic Billington’s latest single ‘Slasher’ here or below.