Billy Novik is a popular musician from St. Petersburg who gained fame in the late 90s for his specific country and surf music. Now he performs in trendy pubs, records and even takes part in theatrical performances. How Billy turned from a pathologist into a cult Russian musician, read below.
Biography
The life path of Vadim Novik began in 1975. He was born in the Leningrad region of Kupchino. It was there that the boy spent his happy childhood years. Vadim changed four schools, because his mother dreamed of giving her son a high-quality education, which would allow him to enter the medical faculty in the future. The boy supported his mother's desire, but, in addition to studying and additional studies, he managed to make music. As a schoolboy, he even organized his own group "Reanimation", for which he invented musical texts and compositions.
When the school years passed, Vadim successfully entered the Pediatric Institute. After receiving his diploma, he began to work as a pathologist at a children's medical institution, and also received the position of a laboratory assistant at the Military Medical Academy. In his free time, the young man was fond of music, looked for new sources of inspiration, tried to imitate American performers, and also practiced his guitar and drum skills.
Career
Vadim's musical career began with the creation of a rehearsal cellar in 1999. There he, together with his friend Andrei Reznikov, nicknamed "Ryzhik", organized a place for rehearsals and performances, to which he invited his friends and acquaintances. Later, the musician took the pseudonym Billy and began performing with the "Shards" group as a lead guitarist. At the same time, Novik began his work at the Boom Brothers club, first discovered the musical talent of Tom Waits, was fond of jazz music and created his first compositions. The audience received them with enthusiasm, because country and surf music at that time was not widespread in Russia, so the audience immediately picked up new trends.
A little later, Novik creates a new group called Billy's Dilly's Band. As part of it, he begins to perform foreign hits, as well as music from popular TV series and films of that time. His performances were inspired by Quentin Tarantino's films and American folklore.
But in 2001, Billy decides to seriously start writing his own music. He ends his collaboration with the club and stops giving mass concerts. However, a little later, Novik was invited to perform in Germany, to which the musician agreed. Together with the Billy's Dilly's Band, he performed his compositions in Munich and Berlin. The German audience liked the unusual creativity of Russian musicians.
Billy then decides to switch from guitar to double bass to give his music a deeper and more unique sound. A new wave of popularity of his group begins. Musicians were often invited to pubs, bars and clubs, as well as to theatrical stages. The first loyal fans of the group, partners and friends in the music business appear. At the same time, the group decides to slightly modify its name for easier perception. Novik thought that Billy's Band sounded much simpler and more original.
In the early 2000s, the musician completely immersed himself in the creation of albums. The then popular "Parisian Seasons", "There is Happiness", "Flea Market", "Aliens" appeared, he began to be invited to interviews and television appearances. At the moment, the musician continues to give concerts and write new songs.
Creation
Billy Novick has always been creative in his musical activity, from the choice of the unique style of the group to his own pseudonym. He independently recorded his albums and improved them with the help of sound equipment, without resorting to the help of specialists. Novik always believed that if a person is truly passionate about music, then he himself can learn to free it, transform and refine it.
In addition, Billy was madly in love with the theater and always dreamed of performing as part of an acting troupe. In 2010, he first appeared on the stage of the Bryantsev Theater for Young Spectators, playing the role of the Jester in King Lear. The musician liked the theatrical activity, and he decided to periodically devote his time to the practice of acting skills. His friends, members of the Billy’s Band musical group, often acted as actors.
Personal life
Novik has always been very kind to his family. He still considers his native apartment in Kupchino to be the best place in the world. The musician often visits his parents, loves to walk with them in St. Petersburg, to acquaint with his work.
Billy carefully hides his personal life, believing that it should always remain a secret from the general public. Nevertheless, it is known that the popular musician found his first darling in his youth, and the procedure for their marriage took place when he was only 19 years old. After some time, the couple ended their relationship, and Billy began to live alone, raising his young son.
According to the musician himself, now he has a harmonious and happy personal life, which he does not want to talk about. Billy is convinced that the personal should always remain personal. And those who are interested in his musical work do not need to know about what he does in isolation from music.
