Exclusive Interview With iTunes Chart-Topper Bill Abernathy

Bill Abernathy was on the road, performing on his "Living The Dream" tour, when COVID started rearing its ugly head in the US. Just like that, the live dates were done, and the singer-songwriter, like most of us, spent the year a relative recluse...doing his best to support local KCMO businesses with a series of livestreaming events and fan-requested video performances.  He finished off the year with a very successful single release, just in time for the contentious election.  "More Than Meets The Eye" reached the pinnacle of the international iTunes charts and gave Bill that extra push through quarantine.  Now, with 2021 upon us, we had the opportunity to catch up with Bill and find out what the rest of the year has in store for him...

Hi Bill!  Obviously, 2020 was a very unusual year, and 2021 has started off in the same way.  How did you find sanity and normalcy during COVID?

Though 2020 started great for me with my Living the Dream tour through Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico, it sure changed when COVID hit. Quarantine was quite an adventure. I took it as an opportunity to find new ways to communicate with my fans. We put together dozens of Live Stream shows from my loft for audiences all over the US Europe and Australia. We also put together our Corona Virus Sessions where I took requests, performed the request in a video, and posted onto various social media sites. All I asked was that the folks who requested a song support a local business in some way. Not only was this fun, I learned some songs I would have never thought to learn, and local businesses all over the US got some additional support from our fans. Win Win. but I will have to say I probably will never play Meatloaf’s Two out of Three Ain’t Bad again… just sayin… haha

You had a pretty successful year on the music front.  What was the highlight for you?

Anytime a fan tells me that one of my songs have meant something special to them is a big time highlight for me. I had several fans tell me they really enjoyed the live stream shows and hearing the back stories on some of the songs. We got a lot of press last year, and lots of really cool reviews, but it’s the contact with fans that really is special to me.

Your single, "More Than Meets The Eye" is awesome.  What inspired you to write and record that song?

During quarantine I spent time watching the various “news / opinion” stations. I really fascinating how a news story can be spun to further a particular narrative or agenda. More Than Meets The Eye is really an exercise to take a step back from all the day to day and minute to minute drama, and look at the situation from a higher level. Sometimes the old statement “you can’t see the forest for the trees” really is so true. Many times, I think we get so lost in the various stories, narratives, and reporting that we miss the bigger picture. Trying to see the bigger picture and understand the workings behind the scenes is really what More Than Meets The Eye is all about.

 

Congrats on several awards that you've been up for.  What do industry awards mean to you?

It’s always great to be noticed and honored by industry professionals. It means that they are really getting what you do and confirmation that you are doing it well. That affirmation is always a good thing. Other than that, the awards are great and all but not why I do what I do. I think I have something to say, and hopefully my fans understand that and continue to listen.

When are you planning to record a follow-up single or album?

We are currently putting the finishing touches up on 3 singles that will follow up More Than Meets The Eye. These are really diverse regarding content and genre. I am looking forward to hearing what our fans think of these new songs. So far a few in my small inner circle have hear the rough cuts with quite positive response.

Any plans on live performances?  Where would you love to perform?

I am not planning any live performances at this time. I am still not convinced we understand COVID as well as we should. I will continue to do live streams, and some special social media shows when the new tunes come out. My thought is maybe in the fall I will get out and play live. We shall see.

Dream duet...who would that be and what kind of song would you sing?

That’s a tough question. There are so many singers that I would like to play with. Let’s go with David Crosby. I love his voice and his writing is really special. I think we would have fun.

If you could meet your favorite singer, who would that be, and what would you say to them?

Most know my favorite artist of all time is Dan Fogelberg. His music is really the soundtrack of my life in many ways. I think if and when I get a chance to meet Dan out in the Nexus somewhere, I would just tell him thank you for the great thought-provoking lyrics and music he gave us all.

What are your favorite things to do, outside of music?

I love spending time with my kids and grandkids. We are all sports nuts and as the grandkids are playing ball it’s so much fun to go out and support them. I also watch as much NFL and College football as possible. Love it.

Any final words for our readers?

Patience is our friend right now. Things are getting better, but we still know very little about managing COVID long term. I know we all want to get back to “normal” as quickly as possible, but we can’t fool mother nature. She is smarter than us. Let’s be smart, patient and wise as we start to open up and get out again. And of course be looking for the release of our new music. I think you all will really like it. I know I do.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ke1nMGKuxX1mqzhNYCBwD?si=73f9dc9147b04688

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