BILLY DREASE IN TRAFFIC

At the Top of the Year, kicking it off with me being a featured artist in the first 2011 issue of the sleek, opulent and upscale magazine, “Traffic.” Check it out at Talking Leaves, Borders and/or Premiere Gourmet. Read HERE.

Through the years, I’ve heard many people refer to me as a Renaissance Man; one of many trades, roles and talents and interestingly enough I’m multi-tasking as I write this post. I’m in the kitchen with the laptop sitting on the counter aside bowls, knives and fruit ready to be chopped for the first breakfast of 2011. Being a dad and husband has always come first and it’s the job that I love most above any of the art, music and entertainment things that I’m involved in, so cooking and preparing food is my pleasure. My wife and I have also taken on our first major remodeling project of the year as I’m wearing dusty clothes from the demolition in our bathroom which has been underway for the past few days. So, in typical BDW fashion, the number of irons in the fire hasn’t decreased in the least bit.

Last year was a blast, given the back to back successes of “Shut the Gate,” “Just Doin’ It” and “Run” plus the “Run – Remix,” cumulatively boosting the Youtube stats to more than 1.6 million views of my top videos combined. Many thanks in part to the DTR45 staff, Tone X, Kate and Dom and friends.

TRAILER FOR NEW VIDEO: RUN

It’s truly taken a very long time for me to recharge and refocus my efforts. Although many people have championed behind GMA and myself and shown a great deal of support and push, it has still remained a pretty lonely walk. The best analogy is how it’s said, “If you have a workout partner, your chances of holding fast to your workout goals and regimen are higher.” So basically, I’ve been really exhausting myself trying to stay SELF-Motivated. Leading up to this very moment, I’ve been going through a transformation and true realization of facts and concerns that needed addressing, which truly lends to the authenticity of this NEW video, RUN. Dig It.

from email blast:

Nearly one year ago to date, I was on a magical, vibrant and expansive equestrian farm shooting the video for “Shut the Gate,” the leading single off Good Morning Amy. In May, Director Dominic Luongo and I collaborated on the simple, sleek and special-effects driven “Just Doin’ It” video, which is climbing to 500k views on YouTube. Over the last few weeks we’ve been workin’ hard to bring you what we’ve dubbed a Long Form Video for the album’s third single, “Run.” The visual treatment for “Run” is unlike any we’ve done thus far. Characters, sub-plots and time sequences develop organically in this video, which features many new talents, faces and locations both in and outside of Buffalo. It explores the deeper, darker side of Billy Drease as he goes through a physical transformation, experiencing love, pain, loss, recovery and renewal. “Run,” produced by long-time friend and collaborator Trevor “TrevThorne” Drayton, is available oniTunes today. Check out a sneak peak of the video now and look for the extended feature to drop soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-cuxOVmSPk

DAY 236 GRAMMY CHASE: HOW IT FEELS

The Just Doin’ It video is approaching 400k views and maybe there is something wrong with my view of success, as I only see it as the first leg of the journey as opposed to being the finish line. I haven’t made time to really enjoy this stretch of the road, but after I publish this post, I think that I WILL! I’m reminded that even the smallest of breakthroughs deserves recognition. So, exactly  how I will celebrate is still up in the air, but it may be as simple as doing nothing and catching a nap, seeing how sleep is always fleeting.

Yesterday, my mother in-law called me and read me an article that she discovered in the Buffalo News Gusto section. It was a brief write-up on GMA and how it was a great offering to the music scene and compared me to one of the giants in the industry in regards to being the pride of my city. In my head I had always wished to be a shining light, a beacon of hope for Buffalo, as it has certainly been in some of its darkest hours. But the bottom line is, 400k views with next to no budget or promotions in a crumbling city like mine with nothing major or positive to tout about, especially musically, is something that SHOULD be backed and supported by the likes of the movers and shakers in The Nickel City, however, it goes back to my point, that I still have so much further to go, as only a select few people right here in town TRULY want me to succeed. That’s how it feels.

DAY 221 GRAMMY CHASE: COLD WAR

The longest hiatus along this Grammy Chase, 20 days. I’ve been pretty much assessing what really matters. To you I offer this sentiment from a favorite artist of mine, in hopes that YOU know what you’re fighting for. Peace and Love.

DAY 202 GRAMMY CHASE: JUST DOIN IT

Well, here we are! More than 200 days into the year and approaching the closure of 2010 already. Unbelievable how much time has passed. As I’m typing this, I’m watching the story of Janet Hubert on TV1’s “Life After” series. Janet was the mother from Fresh Prince of Bel Aire. If you recall, the episodes where she was pregnant, well that child she was carrying is now 17 years old. So, in regards to time, it surely waits for no man and can be a detriment when mismanaged. I feel that I have truly mismanaged my personal time in trying to balance career, parenting, talents and other projects as well as necessary obligations. Fortunately, I have found somewhat of a remedy and solution, inspired by my own work. My latest offering from Good Morning Amy entitled “Just Doin It” is a testament and reminder to the brilliance that I can’t let go to waste and it is also a mantra to get things accomplished. Thanks to the incredible talent of Dominic Luongo, director and editor who was able to extract my motion picture thoughts directly from my brain, I present my finest work to you. Live the mantra!

DAY 196 GRAMMY CHASE: REMINDED

Nearly at Day 200, which is incredible, considering how many people aren’t really counting the days of the year but more so counting the months or even just counting the same 5 work days each week, when overall, 200 days is a pretty big deal. What have you accomplished in nearly 200 days? Do you still find yourself asking for more days in a week or more hours in a day? In recognizing 20o days equals 4,800 hours, what have you done with that time? 1,392 of those hours reflect the total hours of weekend up to this point. It’s quite shameful when I look at it in this manner. There are many projects that I vowed would be completed long before now and I know that these projects would only take about 72 hours to finish. So, seeing that I have the time, going by the given numbers, the question is: What AM I doing? It’s time to get it! Reclaim your time! Good luck.

DAY 194 GRAMMY CHASE: VISUALIZE

1:23 a.m., I just finished watching MTV Cribs where they featured Josh Hutcherson, the young actor who was in Journey to the Center of the Earth, Zathura and Bridge to Terabithia, some pretty big movies. He had a painting of an Oscar Award on his wall as he wished to one day win it and it reminded me that maybe I should paint a Grammy Award on my wall to better visualize the trophy that I desire to bring home to Buffalo. Just a thought, but I think that it’s becoming necessary, as I feel myself getting closer to the goal but at the same time feeling like the mission is even more impossible that I originally anticipated. Looking back at past accomplishments, everything that I’ve ever drawn on paper, as usually come to fruition, so with that being said, I’ll be putting paper to pen shortly. Visualizing!!

DAY 185 – 186 GRAMMY CHASE: WONDERFUL WORLD

July 4th weekend was time well spent with the family, explaining the brief lapse of GC blogging…as I was “thinking to myself…what a wonderful world!!”

Louis Armstrong didn’t win an award for this incredible time enduring song, but he did win a Grammy in 1964 (7th Annual Awards Show) for “Hello Dolly!” for Best Vocal Performance, Male.

DAY 184 GRAMMY CHASE: YEEEEAH BOWIEEEEE

David Bowie – 1984  – Album of the Year Nomination, losing to Lionel Richie’s “Can’t Slow Down.” Nevertheless, a nomination is a nomination and who better to lose to than a sensation like Lionel. However, one of the most popular cuts from David’s album, was the title track, “Let’s Dance,” which was sampled  years later by the “80’s Sampling Don,” Puff Daddy or better known now as Diddy. Diddy’s version titled “Been Around the World” was featured on his Grammy Award Winning Album, No Way Out – 1998 – Best Rap Album – Puff Daddy.

DAY 183 GRAMMY CHASE: MOVING FORWARD

Good Morning Amy, in my opinion is the most important body of work that I’ve created to date. I’ve invested all of my energy, creativity and faith into this 1 project. I’m a pretty well rounded individual with numerous talents and gifts enabling me to be able to compete in various markets and vocations, but for the past 3-4 years, many of my friends and family know that GMA is the culmination of time, dedication and many sacrifices. I’m just hoping that after its all said and done that it’s all been worth it. Why music? This entire time I could have been certified and licensed with some sort of skill. I could have completed a Masters Program. I could have traveled and wandered the world. But I chose music. How do I move forward knowing there may not even be a pay day? As children we marveled at rainbows because they looked tangible and so real that we assumed that if we followed it to the end our street, that we’d find a pot of gold. As adults we learn that a rainbow is just a refraction of light hitting water droplets. No gold. I’m preparing myself for that scenario in regards to the light that refracting from GMA.