by bill biss
It was apparent even as a child that Billy Dortch had a love of the arts. In his formative years, he had a fascination with ballet and tap, as he will attest. “That was my deep dark secret that I’m glad is coming back to haunt me now. It made me fall in love with the stage. Yeah, my sister started dancing and low and behold…I wanted to join her. I actually outlasted her by a few years in the same dance studio.Some of this basic training in dance is still with him today as Billy adds, “ The basics are but I think I’m really a freestyle dancer so I try not to tell people that I dance. I can just basically memorize moves very well but I don’t think I’m that great of a dancer (laughter). I like the performing aspect of it.”
Dortch grew up playing piano as well. Then in high school he tried his hand at acting in school plays. For such an upbeat kind of a guy, Dortch really went for the dark drama in high school. “We did The Diary of Anne Frank. That’s a nice cheerful one. We did a couple of really dark ones. I was really into the dark drama stuff. We did a scary one called Hide and Seek, which was like a live action horror film. That was fun.”
The intriguing aspect about the career path that Billy Dortch is on right now—a career in the music industry—is he never sang in high school. Dortch says, “Yeah. I was a late bloomer. I was always afraid. I didn’t have any self-confidence. I just sang in my shower. I didn’t think I was good.” Yet, for those discovering this new musical artist who you can check out on billydortch.com, it is very true that he has a great singing voice and songwriting skill in the songs presented.
Dortch decided from the get-go to present himself as an out artist when he began his singing career. He explains his reasoning behind this by saying, “I never wanted anyone to out me except for myself. I’ve always been extremely comfortable with the way I was raised with my family. I never had an issue with it. But I didn’t do this for my career. I wish growing up that I had a gay role model to look up to. Someone who was out and proud from day one.
Not having a celebrity pulled out of the closet unwillingly. I wanted to be that for a lot of kids. I know that sounds cheesy but that’s the reason I chose to be out from the very beginning. I came out when I was 17. But as I’m doing my career now, it should be a non-issue. Even in the last year, with the help of Adam Lambert and a whole lot of other artists who are being recognized for pure talent, it’s paving the way for everyone down the road.”
The road to a career in the music industry for Billy Dortch took him to Los Angeles. He’s lived in L.A. now for five years. There, he pays the bills, even juggling two jobs at times. He also discovered success in the modeling business. His natural good looks landed him numerous print media assignments. He’s done campaigns for K-Swiss, Yamaha Motors, Los Angeles Sporting Club and others.
But modeling is on the back burner for the most part; he wants to take assignments that will tie-in to his independent career as a singer. Dortch offers his take on the independent music scene, “I have label interest but the way I see the record industry going right now, even if you do get signed to a record label…which is not a necessity these days anyway, I think they want a full package ready to deliver. They don’t want to create anyone anymore. They want people who have already created themselves and have a fan base…and then they’ll take money from you. You have to be your own press agent too for the first couple years and everything else in between.”
Dortch has already created a video for his song called “Breathe” off his yet to be released debut album. “Breathe” has already been named one the top ten videos on Logo for 2009. What’s his next song to be filmed for a video? “It’s a song I wrote called ‘Heart Clean.’ That’s the song we decided to do the next music video for. I’m excited about it. The music video is going to be great and that song was featured in the movie Eating Out 3, so it’s an easy segueway for the next single.”Listening to “Heart Clean,” the song is very pretty and seems to beg the question…was this about a relationship that Billy went through? He explains, “I wanted that relationship to progress in that way. I was just getting out of a long relationship and I wasn’t ready to…basically I met this great guy who was really into me and I pushed him away because I was too afraid. Then by the time I realized that ‘Okay, this guy is really good for me’ it was too late.
So that’s where ‘Heart Clean’ came from.” Songwriters go about the process of creating in their own unique way, Billy explains what it is that works for him when writing, “It’s actually poetry. I used to write poetry. I have my whole life. I have always thought in my head, ‘this would make a great song’ but I never thought of me as a performer in it. Music writing comes to me pretty easily. It’s easier than singing actually. (Laughter) I’m in a dry spell right now though. I have to be going through something great or really horrible to write. That’s why my last relationship was so good for me [writing songs] because it was always up and down. A lot of good songs came out of that one!”
Billy believes as many do that music has no sexual preference. He elaborates, “My really big inspiration for that mindset is actually thinking about Melissa Etheridge. Growing up, I didn’t know what gay and lesbian was but I knew that I liked her music. Now, that I listen to her lyrics, it’s completely asexual most of the time. I can be an out artist now and I don’t have to pigeonhole myself as gay or turn away straight people either. I just want to tell a good story. I want to prove to myself more than anyone that I can do this.”
More Bits from Billy:
What’s his favorite thing about L.A.?
“I can’t stay home at night. I have a hard time relaxing so there’s always something for me to do.”
What’s the one thing he doesn’t like about L.A.?
“I’m paying more for my apartment than my parents do for their mortgage (laughter).
What are some of his favorite things to do?
“I can watch The Simpsons 24/7. Also, I really like getting massages and going to the spa. Having a day with my best friend and ‘gaying out’ and getting manicures and pedicures. I also enjoy camping.”
What is Billy’s favorite movie?
“Donnie Darko.”
His favorite Broadway musical?
“Wicked.”
The last book he read?
“Oh. This is really gay. The Kathy Griffin official book club selection. Honestly, that’s the only book I’ve read in a couple of years.
Favorite color?
“Uhhh. I’m into blue.”
Favorite ice cream flavor?
“A Ben and Jerry’s Cake Batter.”
One of his favorite dinners with the folks is:
“Steak on the barbeque.”
