- MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?- Dolla Bill: I was motivated when I started listening to my older sister’s records/tapes and other kids my age that were listening to the popular music of the time. I wanted to be cool and fit in. I started writing my first lyrics when I was seventeen and emulating vocal and writing styles of popular artists.
- MuzicNotez: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?
- Dolla Bill: My musical influences range anywhere from The Doors, Jim Croce, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Men At Work, Tommy Tutone, RUN D.M.C., LL Cool J, Eminem, The Game, Fat Joe/Remy Ma etc…
My influences from the late sixties through the early eighties really focused or honed in on the importance of solid lyric writing, theme metaphor and being abstract without losing the listener. Those popular artists of the time could do their songs acappella, freestyle, sound good and still be interesting. My later influences going through the eighties to present combine lyrics, dynamic beats/instrumentals, culture and musical composition or sound that evolved over a period of time. I started as a singer-songwriter with a focus on lyrics and melody. I evolved into a hip hop/rap artist because I found a voice or vocal style that worked well with my lyrics and beats. I started to discover that I could flow or drop some rhyme but still retain some lyrical integrity and composition. When I hit the playback button with the headphones on, all these elements and influences started to sync up and make sense.
- Dolla Bill: My musical influences range anywhere from The Doors, Jim Croce, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Men At Work, Tommy Tutone, RUN D.M.C., LL Cool J, Eminem, The Game, Fat Joe/Remy Ma etc…
- MuzicNotez: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?
- Dolla Bill: My ultimate goal as an artist/musician is for at least one aspect of my music i.e. lyrics, instrumental, vibe or visual to connect with a wider audience. I want listeners/fans to “get it” be moved or entertained by my music. I would like to break into the music business and make it more of a lifestyle than just a thing I do when I have the time. The only message I want to convey especially to young or new artists, is that I’ve had to sometimes stand alone by my music, craft and believe in what I was doing even if everybody else was saying “no.” Furthermore, in times of rejection, frustration and discouragement, I had to decide if I wanted to continue or go on a little bit more than I wanted to give up and call it quits.
- MuzicNotez: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?
- Dolla Bill: Judas Priest/Heart/Def Leppard and my own showcase performance in NYC of cover tunes.
- MuzicNotez: You’re latest release is the album “Goin Wit Da Flow….” What was the inspiration behind this?
- Dolla Bill: Actually, the inspiration for this came from the cover art I was designing for my next single. Then I realized I had enough hip hop/rap material to include and release as an EP on Spinnup. This release is commercially available on iTunes, Amazon etc…
- MuzicNotez: The lead single on this album is “Flippin’ Green”, how come you picked this to be the main track?.
- Dolla Bill: This track captured the main theme, idea, hip hop culture and vibe that is expressed through the “Goin’ Wit Da Flow” visual EP cover art. I just seemed appropriate to put “Flippin’ Green” as the lead track because the hope is that it will be engaging and draw the listener into the rest of the music on the EP.
- MuzicNotez: What’s your writing style like?
- Dolla Bill: (Verse/pre-chorus/chorus) (Rhyme/metaphor/visuals) (Strong intro)
- MuzicNotez: What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future?
- Dolla Bill: I’m currently composing and rehearsing my next single “Goin’ Wit Da Flow.” Yes. I know. That’s the same name or title of my EP. This single I’m working on was supposed to be part of that collection. However, art sometimes has a way of evolving ass backwards. This is going to be a cool track with a little magic on the vocal delivery. I might use the same cover art from EP or go in another direction. Work in progress…
- MuzicNotez: Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?
- Dolla Bill: At the end of the day, I’m just another guy from a small town with a dream, a couple songs and a story. I don’t recommend quitting your day job anytime soon. I keep tryin’ because I love music and what I do…
As a songwriter, Will was able to record enough material for his first album “Behind the Personas” and “Goin’ Wit Da Flow…” Personas was an easy listening/lounge and singer/songwriter project. Da Flow contained hip hop/rap tracks and remixes that really showcased style, theme and originality. Furthermore, it allowed Will to find his voice and a venue for his music.Will was featured on The Jared Rimer Show-986, THEMIX/Magnatune 2016, Artist First Radio Network 2014, SDC Radio Network 2013, ATLWEBRADIO-Featured Artist, a few mix tapes and blogs with music from his first album. Will Francis (Dolla Bill) was signed by Bentley Records on 09/20/2016 and has three commercial releases with this label. Currently, Will is promoting his album “Goin Wit Da Flow…” and new single “Flippin’ Green.” He has been evolving as a composer and lyric writer and continues to write, record, promote and perform his mixes for the whole world to hear.
- Dolla Bill: At the end of the day, I’m just another guy from a small town with a dream, a couple songs and a story. I don’t recommend quitting your day job anytime soon. I keep tryin’ because I love music and what I do…