A Milton resident went from viral music sensation to sharing the stage at Massey Hall with Jann Arden this year.
20-year-old Billianne first blew up on apps like TikTok and YouTube with her covers of ‘Simply the Best’ by Tina Turner and ‘Landslide’ by Fleetwood Mac. The Milton District High School (MDHS) graduate says she’s been singing her entire life, and her experience in extra-curricular groups at MDHS inspired her to do more with a potential music career.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Many were forced to stay home for months. That led Billianne to try something new. She recorded herself covering songs that she loved. With a soft yet powerful voice, she found herself receiving recognition online for her talent. Recalling the moment where one of her videos had first gone viral, she says it was a complete surprise.
Like many in her generation, Billianne looks up to Taylor Swift the most. Another artist that she’s been admiring is Lizzy McAlpine. Billianne says she enjoys McAlpine’s honest songwriting for someone who’s around her age.
2022 was a big year for Billianne. She received a direct message from Canadian legend Jann Arden. She was invited to share the stage with Arden at Massey Hall.
With the pandemic being a major factor during her young career, this single song on stage at Massey Hall was just Billianne’s second live performance ever. Her nerves were on fire in the moment, but she felt immediate relieve when she got a cheer after her first lyric.
In November, Billianne released her first original song. It’s titled ‘No Wonder’. The song stems from her life in Milton, being a homebody, and launching herself into a burgeoning music career and all that it has to offer.
You can watch the visualizer video for the song below:
What’s next for Billianne? The 20-year-old says she’s excited to work on new things. She’s hoping to make more original music, ideally an EP. She does admit that she can be a perfectionist and self-doubter, but she knows she has what it takes to make the kind of music she wants to hear.
You can follow Billianne on all of her social media channels:
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