Canadian singer/songwriter Billianne joined us at Gold Rush Vinyl on a chilly Friday morning in Austin for a live session during SXSW after wowing us all at our SXSW day party. Managing to stand out amongst an already stacked Paste showcase is no easy feat, and yet Billiane’s harmonies and infectious warm energy managed to entirely command the room, accompanied by Yun Lee on keys and Jeremiah Pick on guitar.
Full Session
Having such a personal session at Gold Rush felt fitting, as the vinyl pressing plant carries sentimentality to us here at Paste. Founder and CEO Caren Kelleher started her career with us at Paste and has been a great friend to us and the magazine since.
Billianne, who first garnered attention with her stunning covers on TikTok, shared two new original songs, “Future Emma” and “Crush.”
On “Future Emma,” Billianne sings about a brighter tomorrow, not one where there are no problems, but one where the problems you have are welcome ones—problems that you took for granted now that things are much harder, and ones you would love to have again. Harmonizing with guitarist Jeremiah Pick, she sings, “I’ll imagine in the spring it’s better/ and the only problems are the ones you always ask for.” The lyrics are a sweet comfort, promising “It’s not how it’s supposed to be, the smoke’s gonna clear eventually.” Inspired by friends talking each other through the difficulties of life, Billianne’s sincerity makes you want to believe in that smoke clearing. As the song ramps up and Billianne’s evocative vocals dominate, her hope becomes infectious.