sweetbillypilgrim

Mercury nominees Sweet Billy Pilgrim release their sixth album, Somapolis, a conceptual hymn to an imaginary city, on the 4th of November 2022. Liberated from a traditional band lineup and working with a handpicked group of talented collaborators, the band combine their avant-pop instincts (Prefab Sprout; Steely Dan) with their love of Prince, their fascination with the soulful electronica of Jon Hopkins and their joy exploring the low frequencies of modern R&B.

Tim summarises: “Yes, it’s a concept album, and there’s plenty to unravel for post-lockdown brains, but it also feels a bit more physical. People might not be able to actually dance to it, but for the first time, they might be able to imagine dancing to it.”

Sweet Billy Pilgrim is Tim Elsenburg and Jana Carpenter. In 2009, their second album Twice Born Men was nominated for a Mercury Music award, and they have now utilised two sheds, an attic, a Bothy and a converted servant’s quarters in creating their music.