Sometimes you have to go and find your own way – BILLY BIBBY on past experiences that led to forming his new band THE WRY SMILES.

A while ago I caught up with Billy Bibby, former lead guitarist of Catfish and the Bottlemen, to talk about changes, musical progression and touring with his new collective Wry Smiles.

After arriving at, soon to become my regular spot, The Social and exchanging pleasantries with a few How are you? and How’s it going? it doesn’t take long until we move onto the topic of the Welsh quartet’s tour life.

The tour has been good. Very good! We’ve been busy. The venue we enjoyed the most was in Edinburgh and it’s called Sneaky Pete’s. It’s smaller than tonight actually, really tight place. Scottish crowds are always great to be fair, they’re brilliant. I think that’s been the best gig so far but tonight should be good. The sound is amazing for such a small place.

We’ve only recently been together as a band and we’ve been building a foundation up here first and then we might hit Europe. We want to play a few festivals next year.

But when asked about any interesting bizarre tour stories to share, he vaguely answers:

No, not really. We just keep us to ourselves.

The winter cold has been gradually creeping up on us but we still try to keep our memories warm as we reminisce about these past sunny (alright, maybe not always sunny) festivals this last summer season. And I believe we are not the only ones who still keep looking at their festival snaps from time to time.

As we exchange our thoughts and experiences Bibby says:

I love Reading and Leeds Festival! From what I’ve experienced they’re both great and Latitude is really good. But that was with Catfish and the Bottlemen. With this band we played Coastline Festival which was their first year running and it was great!

Any dream festival then?

I’ve played Bonnaroo but I’d love to go back again. It’s the best festival I’ve ever been to and I’d love to do that again with these lads. They’ll love it. That would be like a dream festival for me.

Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles are a new musical endeavour of former and founding member of Catfish and the Bottlemen – Billy Bibby. One thing you can say about them is that they surely haven’t been wasting any time.

It hasn’t been long since these four lads formed the band in autumn last year. During that short period of time they have managed to not only release a debut EP Bide Your Time (Feb 2016) but also play over 30 shows until they dropped their banger of a single Are You Ready? later in June. Not bad for a first couple of months, right?

We try to be the best we can

It’s been a year now and looking back at all of their achievements and challenges, Billy Bibby discusses the evolution of his Wry Smiles.

I sort of write the song beforehand I go into the studio. The things will change depending on how I feel. I might be listening to a bit of different music at the time or I might start writing a song similar to that kinda vibe. I try still keep it Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles as a band but you know I’m trying to take influences out of other things as well. I think it’s naturally progressive. Whilst before I was writing songs more acoustic because I didn’t have a band so they were a bit softer. Now I’m starting to think about the band, how this would sound better with a band. Songs have started to get a little bit heavier but still keep the element of the early stuff. It’s not gone too far out yet.

And as Bibby continues it turns out their relationship is one a few bands could certainly envy.

To be honest, it’s mostly love. We’re still in a honeymoon phase. We’ve only been together for a year so give us a chance. We might be tearing each other’s hair out next year. No, I don’t think so. We’re all just four lads who enjoy being on the road, have a laugh and play good music. We think it’s a good music at least. We try to be the best we can really. It’s all good.

The band’s latest single Are You Ready? was released in June this year and it’s a classic rock track. Delivered on up-tempo guitars with sharpness and precision its catchy chorus is designed to simply make you feel good. The musician said of the song:

“Are You Ready?” was the last one to be finished as a band before our first tour together, but it seemed to stand out as a major contender for the next single. I think this song musically just makes you feel good. When I was writing I wanted to make every piece of it stand out so every word of it could be sung at a gig or wherever it may be. However, in terms of lyrics some parts are experiences in the past but most of it represents how I was feeling at the time. It could be taken however you want, as the listener, and envision your own story when you hear it.

The clip that accompanies the track was made on mobile phones and it features the guys just doing silly stuff as Bibby explains. Watch it below!

However, as we speak the singer-songwriter spreads some rumours about another track that will be dropping, hopefully, soon.

The next single we’ll be releasing is called “Substitute“. We’ve been playing it for a few months now and the response has been great. We’re looking to record it within the next month or so and then release it early next year as a double single.

More about the story behind the song below.

To be honest it’s one of those imagination kind of lyrics. A lot of the songs I write are about things. This one is pretty much a mishmash of things. It was more about the music with this song. It’s just a really punchy track. There’s no real story behind it. Its one of those, there’s no real meaning. If the lyrics are not that cheesy you can get away with it sometimes.

We have come together and made things work

Obviously, having a history of being in different bands you experience your better and worse days. What has been the highlight so far?

Obviously, I have to say it’s when Catfish and the Bottlemen album “The Balcony” went gold and sold hundred thousand in the UK. That was great. A really big achievement. That’s definitely one of the biggest ones. And as a band with these lads it’s just doing what we are doing, touring and writing songs together. I’m proud of it more than anything really. We’ve come together and made things work.

Talking about Catfish and the Bottlemen. Do you ever think what would it be if you were still in the band?

No, no! We all get on and I’m not saying we didn’t get on in C&TB but a band is like a one big family and if something is not quite there then you have to go and find your own way. What I’ve got going on now with my band is like a family at the moment and I’m enjoying it more than I have ever enjoyed doing music.

What happens next then?

Just gigging and practising, writing and recording more songs.

Life changes, people come and go and the past should stay in the past sometimes as long as you know where you’re heading to. It appears that Billy Bibby has a clear idea about his band’s future musical career and looking at their accomplishments to date, that future looks pretty good. The path they’ve chosen is surely the right one.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka