Billy Nomates

Tor Maries (born 2 May 1990) is an English musician and songwriter who performs under the stage name Billy Nomates.

Billy Nomates
Billy Nomates singing onstage
Billy Nomates in 2023
Background information
Birth nameTor Maries
Also known asBilly Nomates
Born (1990-05-02) 2 May 1990
Leicester, England, U.K.
GenresIndie rock, no wave, post-punk
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2020–present
LabelsInvada Records
Websiteiambillynomates.com

Life

Maries grew up in Leicester and was a member of a number of bands that failed to be noticed. Following a period of depression, a Sleaford Mods gig inspired Maries to return to making music and she moved to Bournemouth to write and compose.[1] Her stage name, Billy Nomates, was taken from an insult directed at her when she turned up at the gig on her own.[2]

Music
Billy Nomates at the Strom Club in Munich, 2023

Maries' first album was recorded in Bristol with Portishead's Geoff Barrow.[1] She released this in 2020[3] and quickly gained attention from BBC Radio 6 Music.[1] She describes her music as no wave.[2] Critics make mention of post-punk and describe her delivery as sprechgesang.[1][2] She featured on "Mork n Mindy" by Sleaford Mods in 2021. She released the Emergency Telephone EP in October 2021, produced by herself on Barrow's Invada record label.[4]

Reception
Billy Nomates at the Valkhof Festival, 2022

BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Amy Lamé chose Billy Nomates's debut as her Album of the Year in 2020.[5] The Guardian's Laura Snapes picked out Billy Nomates as one to watch in 2020, describing her voice as "deadpan yet biting", offering "an acute lens on British class structure".[1]

After playing a set at Glastonbury Festival 2023, Billy Nomates received what she called an "insane" amount of online abuse and requested BBC Radio 6 Music remove footage of her performance from their web pages.[6] Fellow musicians such as Billy Bragg, The Anchoress and Lonelady expressed their support for Billy Nomates, calling out the misogynistic and sexist character of the abuse.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • Emergency Telephone (2021)

Music videos
Year Title Director Album
2020 "No" Jack Joseph & Bobby Spender Billy Nomates
"FNP" n/C
2021 "Heels" Jack Joseph Dalby & Bobby Spender /
2022 "Blue Bones" Tia Salisbury Cacti
"Balance is Gone" NWSPK
"Saboteur Forcefield" John Minton
"Spite" NWSPK

References
  1. "One to watch: Billy Nomates". the Guardian. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. "Billy Nomates review – post-punk soloist could do with some company". the Guardian. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. Murphy, Lauren (7 August 2020). "Billy Nomates: Billy Nomates review – One of the quirkier albums of the year". The Irish Times.
  4. Pilley, Max (4 March 2021). "Billy Nomates – 'Emergency Telephone' EP review: dial into one of Britain's most distinctive new voices". NME.
  5. "6 Music Recommends Albums Of The Year 2020". BBC Radio 6 Music.
  6. Geraghty, Hollie (26 June 2023). "BBC removes Billy Nomates Glastonbury clip after online abuse". NME. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  7. Aubrey, Elizabeth (24 June 2023). "Billy Bragg shares support for "brilliant" Billy Nomates after online abuse". NME. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
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