By Jill Hughes Kirtland

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Billy Sherwood, has a career spanning 20+ years with highlights including being on multiple YES albums and tours, multiple side-projects with Chris Squire, multiple solo projects, producer and engineer for artists such as Motörhead and Paul Rodgers, and forming numerous bands: World Trade, Circa:, and YOSO. Today we talk to him about many of these achievements, including his most recent solo release Oneirology .

USA Progressive Music:   In the past three years or so, you've been releasing at least one good album per year (either on your own or with CIRCA: or YOSO), whereas other musicians take years and years to put out a decent album. How do you manage to be so musically-prolific?

Billy Sherwood:  It has to do with several factors. Owning my own recording studio allows me to create whenever I get an idea. The studio is set-up so that all the instruments [drums, basses, guitars, etc.]  are mic'd up and ready to record in a moment's notice. The idea of having the sound palette at the ready is a major factor that adds to the amount of music I can produce, like being a musical fireman, all the gear is ready for when the alarm bells ring. The most important thing for me is that I love making music and creating, I especially love working with sound as an engineer. It allows me to get to the exact tone or effect I'm looking for and makes it faster to get things done. All those factors combined equal as you said "prolific", to me it's just getting on with it.

USAProgMusic:   You're capable of emulating an entire band by now. You’ve played guitar and keyboards live with Yes (the Talk and Open Your Eyes tours), bass with CIRCA:, and you're also fluent at drumming, as per your latest, Oneirology solo album, who knew?!  Why did you decide to do all your own instrumentation on that album?   What instrument do you feel more at home with?

Billy:  In light of playing drums, guitars, basses, keys, sing, etc...for me the solo avenue is the perfect place for me to explore all those instruments. I really enjoy playing drums and I suppose that was my first passion and still remains high up there.

USAProgMusic:  You mentioned in an email to me that Oneirology is not being interpreted in reviews quite the way you meant it. Do you mind explaining what you mean by that?

Billy:  For instance "Setting Sun" which may seem from a dream I had but in fact it's about "Gen. George S Patton" and his dreams of reincarnation being on various battlefields from centuries past, ["over foreign fields I have soldiered on, I recall them all"]. I found that to be very interesting and began work on the song with that in mind, it fit within the overall theme of the record. Music and words conjure different visions for different people; it's all good.

USAProgMusic: After the third and last encore on the Talk tour on September 1st, 1994 in Montreal, QC, Tony Kaye threw his towel in the audience. You were not a band member at that time yet but were you already aware of the changes?

Billy: I was a sideman making my way through a pretty hectic and intense Yes tour. Whilst I was not privy (thank goodness) to the goings on internally, I knew there was a big storm on the horizon for Yes... 

USAProgMusic:  There's an orchestral bit on "Wake Up Call" that gives it a The Enid feeling. But you're the only one that plays on Oneirology. How did you achieve all that orchestration?

Billy: I have a palette of orchestral sounds that I turn to when needing to get that "realistic" orchestral thing going. EQ and reverbs and panning, placement all adds to the picture when you are trying to make a real sound as an orchestra. I thought it added to the dreamscape for that track. I wanted to do something surprising with an orchestral treatment, which I had not done to that degree before on a record. It feels like a classic dream sequence to me. Dreams take odd twists and turns and I wanted to get that feeling going on Oneirology as much as I could.  
 
USAProgMusic:  How's CIRCA: doing?  Any thoughts on playing more live shows with that band or working on another album?

USAProgMusic:  What can we expect from the upcoming YOSO debut album and when can we expect it?

Billy: Yoso has a unique vibe and sound all its own which by proxy includes the feeling of Yes and Toto while forging ahead with a new sound. We are looking forward to getting the music out there to the public, most likely July/August (sorting out the record deal as we speak). If CIRCA: is rooted in prog then Yoso is rooted in the classic rock genre. 12 brand new Yoso songs… I'm very proud of the debut record. For previews of Yoso music you can listen to tracks at www.myspace.com/yosohq or watch some clips of a Yoso concert we did in Mexico recently at www.youtube.com/yosohq. Enjoy !!

USAProgMusic:  At ROSfest 2008, there was criticism afterwards on forums that your bass amp was up too high during your Circa: performance.  What was the reason behind having the amp so loud?  Did you realize that the audience was not reacting to it well?

Billy: The encore and standing ovation CIRCA: received speaks to the bigger picture of the evening, overlooked because a few people felt the bass was too loud... life goes on.    

USAProgMusic: So what is this you are working on that has “Wetton in mind” that you keep writing about on your Facebook page?

Billy:  I was asked by John Wetton to produce his next solo CD. As a huge Wetton fan I was thrilled and honored to get that offer. We have been speaking of writing music together for quite some time now, since we have worked together on so many tribute projects recording other artists music, and so this project may just be the catalyst for that, hence "writing with Wetton in mind".

USAProgMusic:  Who else would you like to collaborate with in a would-be new prog super-group?

Billy:  I have always wanted to work with Kate Bush and or Peter Gabriel. I love their voices and the entire bodies of work. Please put in the good word for me if you can!!

USAProgMusic:  When you started your music career, did you think this is where you would end up?  Where did you want to be by this point?  Where do you want to go from here?

Billy: I have done a lot of cool things to date and worked with so many great artists I never would have dreamed of being able to work with. For me the journey is the thing, never know what's next while somehow always knowing where I'm going. My parents were musicians/entertainers, my grandparents were in Vaudeville and so I go forward in music. I really enjoy meeting people and music has allowed me to do just that, especially with the Internet. I have www.myspace.com/billysherwoodhq as well as other outlets where people can locate me and interact. I am honored to have such friends/fans/supporters.

USAProgMusic:  What are your thoughts on the current state of progressive music?  Do you think it will come full circle and become more mainstream again (where Yes was at one time)?

Billy: I think we are in an interesting stage for music where anyone with a dream and passion for the art-form can go for it in ways that were not available before. Media outlets, you tube, social sites allow networking and the spreading of the word so to speak. Take CIRCA: as an example, we started in 2007 and continue to distribute the CDs/DVDs, merchandise, etc.... ourselves via www.circahq.com. The same method is in practice for my solo works available at www.billysherwoodhq.com

USAProgMusic: How would you market progressive music to youth today?  Has there been any young fans that have surprised you at their eagerness and energy for prog music?

Billy: I get emails from young Circa:/Yes/Conspiracy/World Trade fans often and I am always surprised how into it they are. Like anything music is a subjective art form, that said a record made 20 years ago sounds fresh to the virgin listener. I think that's why great music will always stand the test of time, and remain a "new find" for any one, young and old alike. Recently in Frankfurt at the Music Messe a young fan approached me for an autograph for his World Trade Euphoria CD... now that's a young die-hard! The music is out there and being discovered all the time.

USAProgMusic:  Where does your heart find more peace, in the studio or on the road?

Billy:  My heart finds the most peace at home with my family. I have my studio in my home and have been doing my thing there since I left Yes in 2000. Between the love and support I get from the family and the access to the music wonderland in my studio, I have all I need right here.

USAProgMusic:  What is one of the best stories you can tell us about your travels on the road?

Billy: The most memorable moment ever on a tour for me was my birthday in Milan with YES. Jon was kind enough to have the audience sing happy birthday to me a few times that night. Very special indeed.

USAProgMusic: Well, that is all we have for you today. Thanks for being the one that keeps the Yes music spirit alive, always with new material and such good albums.

Contributing Writers:  Eduard Antoniu & Adam Garrie