At what age did you realize you wanted to be a singer & how did you get involved in singing? In High School when I entered a talent show is when I realized I wanted to be a singer.
Who would you say was your most influential figure in your career?
Cyndi Lauper…we met a couple of times and were on the same label for a time…Jellybean Recordings. We actually had a duet lined up called “Dare To Be Different”, but we never did. My deal at Jellybean fell through.
What type of artist are you? What type of music do you do? I do club, dance, merengue basically anything danceable, but freestyle is what I like to do.
You are known as a freestyle/dance artitst with hits like, “Touch Me All Over,” “Drop Those Pants,” and “Boy Next Door.” Which would you consider to be your favorite and why? My Favorite, would be my newest single, “Boy Next Door”…its a reality issue. A reality issue, really? How so? mmmm..you posting this..(laughing)…Well, You know how R. Kelly sings about a man cheating on his girl with another girl? Well, this one is about a man cheating on his girl with another man.I seems your music is geared to the Gay market. How has that worked out? Oh yes, really good, especially when the single, “Drop Those Pants” hit the gay circuit like in Ft. Lauderdale, New york, and the East Coast. In fact, the last two albums I did have led us to pull selected tracks out and re-do them as remixes on a new remix album….thats where we going at the moment.
Tell us about your label, LawTown Music? LawTown is an online music community and record label. LawTown got its start by promoting local artists, at first, but then grew around the Boston area and even now has grown internationally. Debra Gibson & Safire are on LawTown as indie artists as well!!
Looking back, what is your best memory as a dance singer? Is there something that stands out?? My best memory would be my HighSchool Talent Show but the one that stand outs is my first community event because that is where I introduced my image!!
Where can your fans find or hear your music?
These are the links:
Bylli’s MP3 Site
Bylli’s Remixes
Bylli’s Music ~Various
Who is your favorite dance/freestyle artist? I have always loved Real McCoy…but in Freestyle its hard to say considering I have gotten to know alot of them…mmmmm…Cynthia would be my favorite!! One song that stands out would be “Change On Me.”
Is there an email address that your fans can contact you with? Yes, anyone can contact me at: thecolorfulone@hotmail.com
Do you have any advice for new and upcoming freestyle artists trying to mak in the biz? Would you encourage them to stick with their love of freestyle, or get into a more ‘stable’ genre first? My opinion is to go where your heart is. I like pop & dance music but my favorite is freestyle. I can do anything but I suggest to other artists go what you feel. If it is not marketable then go with some thing that is marketable.
What do you see in store for the future of freestyle? Actually, I was having a meeting about that and really feel positive about it. I think there is a coming back of it considering alot of artists are coming back like Johhny O, Stevie B, Lil Suzy, TKA, and Safire. There are so many coming back on. Even LawTown has freestyle like Dominique Marte. Another LawTown artist, Justina, is also on the way up with Freestyle & House, so keep an eye out for her!!
What are you working on now? Just concentrating on my remix album that is due out April 9th. It will be a UK and US release available online everywhere!!
Are you planning to do a tour to promote the new album? Actually, yeah in May, I am starting my promotional tour which kicks off in Ft. Lauderdale, Key West, Miami, Atlanta, and even doing a place in Kentucky (laughing).
Name some of the places that you have performed at? I have done a club in Key West called “Numbers,” the “Copa” in Ft. Lauderdale the “Splash” in New York, the “Avalon” in Boston, the “Warsaw” in Miami and have done alot of community events in Boston and in my local area.
Is there a message you would like to leave for your fans? Stay true to your roots. If you are doing a demo mix, you better make sure you get your music copyrighted. I even have started my own publishing company called, Funusual Music and is through ASCAP. Its all about image and presentation.
With Freestyle on an uprise, especially in Germany, do you see yourself establishing a market there? I did Korea last summer and performed at the “BlueHouse” which was hooked up by my former manger and promoted by the MTV I-Group. So, it could be very well possible!!
Recently, you attended the LawTown Music Awards. Tell us about that? Well, It was held exclusively by Boston’s own Jammin 94.5 Hip-Hop station and got an award for being #3 for “Touch Me All Over” for the top 20 of 2001 and won best freestyle dance single for “Touch Me All Over.”
Well, Bylli, thank you for taking your time out of your schedule for this interview and wish you all the best. Is there anything in general you would like to add? I hope I make in the Boston Music Awards coming up on April 11th and want to thank you, Freestylemania, for this interview!!
Thank You, Bylli Crayone!!