Billy Moran is an American rock, alternative and blues artist, songwriter and guitarist based in Los Angeles.

Loaded with grit, integrity, and creative authenticity, Billy Moran’s folksy twang and hard rock edge form a sound both nostalgic and entirely of the now. He performs independently and with American indie rock band, Louden Swain.

Moran evokes the breadth of Americana and the depth of blues in a single chord – a rare skill that speaks to his musical mastery. Comparable to artists like Gary Clark Jr. and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Moran’s gift is his ability to enhance a song. His instincts bloomed in childhood, in his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut.

At age eleven, he picked up his brother’s guitar to accompany Adam Clayton’s bass line in U2’s ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’. Moran plucked out the notes with a cool ease that swiftly blazed into passion. From then, he developed creative tunnel-vision, locking himself in his room until he’d learned a song by heart. This artistic discipline shapes Moran’s style, sound and substance to this day. 

Attention to detail and a relentless pursuit of perfection are two tenets crucial to Moran’s artistic sensibility. His passion was influenced by legendary guitarist Slash (Guns N’ Roses), whose imprint is tangible in Moran’s playing. Entranced by Slash’s signature sound, Moran rushed out to buy “Appetite for Destruction.” Within one week, he could play each and every song off the album, all by ear. Moran, who takes pride in guitar and seeks out musicians who inspire him to want to create, says: “I love the feeling I get when I’m able push my own creative boundaries.”

Moran performed in various bands in middle school before starting his own, Circle of Karma, as a high school senior. Despite solid success opening for Godsmack, Circle of Karma faded. Shortly after, Moran joined up with local band X-IT, which led to rave reviews and opportunities to open for artists like Wyclef Jean and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

But Moran was still restless, eager to continue honing his craft. In 2001, he loaded up his things and moved to the West Coast, settling in Los Angeles. There he formed Lost In Mayberry, an independent three-piece rock trio. Affirmation that he was on the right path came when, after a show at the Viper Room, the band’s performance was praised by iconic music persona, Matt Pinfield.

When Lost In Mayberry disbanded in 2006, Moran’s momentum kept building. He landed a gig with up-and-coming indie rock band, Louden Swain. Here, Moran truly came into his own, writing and arranging the music for several songs including: ‘Carpool Lane’, ‘Mrs. Vance’, ‘She Waits’, ‘Past Perfect’, ‘Fifteen’, ‘Honey Bee’ and ‘Help You’. The latter appeared on the official soundtrack for the feature film, “A Little Help.” Moran’s touch led one music reviewer to comment: “Louden Swain demonstrates why the bar for musicianship and song crafting is so high in the "indie" world.”

Beyond Louden Swain, Moran regularly collaborates with other artists, from playing guitar on their records to writing and recording together. He teamed up with Briana Buckmaster to put out a cover of the classic rock hit, ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ for the Supernatural TV series fandom. Moran then jointly released a single, ‘Shed A Little Light’, with singer-songwriter Paul Carella under their new project, Tricky MC. Moran also helped form The Station Breaks, a side project composed of himself, Rob Benedict (Louden Swain’s lead singer), and artist Jason Manns. They released their debut album in 2016 – their second album is currently in pre-production.

Moran has also lent his guitar work to various records including albums ‘The Dance And How To Do It’ (Richard Speight Jr & The Volunteers), ‘Never Is What It Is’ and ‘Best Days’ (Sun Spin featuring Michael Rosenbaum, known for playing Lex Luthor on “Smallville”), ‘Begin’ (Briana Buckmaster), and multiple albums by Jason Manns including ‘Covers with Friends’ and ‘Quarantunes’. Moran’s discography continues to grow.

Moran is now stepping rightfully into the spotlight in tandem with Louden Swain, bringing their music to fans worldwide. And though musically ambitious, Moran’s drive is humble: “It’s about connecting with as many people as I can through my music. Some of the best feedback after a live performance is when someone tells how my music has positively affected their life. What an indescribable privilege.”

Stream Billy Moran’s album, ‘Surprise Party for The Introvert’, out now.

MUSIC

PHOTOS