In Motion With Billianne
Photo Credit: Nadia Doss
When I sat down with Billianne, there was a spark of both nervousness and excitement in her voice, the kind of energy that only comes when you’re standing on the edge of something life-changing. Having just released her new debut album Modes of Transportation, I was super excited to talk with her about the journey to her new release and what was in store for this up and coming singer-songwriter from Canada.
Modes of Transportation is a culmination of countless miles traveled, people met, and moments of transformation lived. The album’s title draws inspiration from her first experiences of constant travel when she first entered the music industry. Flying frequently, falling in love with trains, and the process of venturing out into the world only to return home transformed. She described Modes I and Modes II, the first and last track, as a way of tying the whole concept together, capturing both the literal and figurative journeys she had taken.
Having been released prior to the launch of her debut album, ‘Baby Blue’ is a playful and introspective pop song that perfectly captures the bittersweet feeling of young love. Billianne wrote the song with the intention of creating a fun, energetic contrast to some of the more layered and introspective tracks on the album. Having felt inspired by the experience of making connections while navigating new cities, catching melodies with vivid storytelling like riding the subway and reminiscing about a lost romance.
Touring had become a big part of her early adulthood. Meeting new faces every night, whether fans at the merch table or fellow musicians on the road, had forced her to grow quickly. Each trip away and return home brought her a new version of herself, and that sense of transformation seeped naturally into her music. She told me about her upcoming tour, set to begin in Los Angeles in September before crossing the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., and it was evident how eager she was to take this new chapter on stage.
As an artist, letting go of perfection was one of the most difficult parts of making music for Billianne. With stripped-back songs, she often felt a natural stopping point, but the layered tracks always tempted her to make more tweaks to the songs she created. In the end, she said, it came down to trust and knowing when to finally stop.
Through embracing her imperfections, Billianne had successfully caught the attention of Taylor Swift, who praised Billianne for the honesty and vulnerability in her music. For Billianne, hearing that from an artist she admires felt like a validation that staying true to herself was enough.
As we spoke about the release, she shared her hope that fans would discover the small easter eggs sprinkled throughout the record. The reference of trains, planes, and subways, all falling back to the theme that had shaped her life for the past year and a half. She looked forward not only to listeners connecting with those details but also to seeing them in person again on tour.
Having started her journey back in 2021, I was keen to know what she would say to the version of herself starting out. She’d hoped to know that her younger self could hear that everything would work out, even in moments of doubt and know that an album would be released someday if she trusted the process.
Carrying with her both the vulnerability of an artist and the thrill of knowing her journey was only beginning. Modes of Transportation wasn’t just an album, it was the story of growth, travel, and self-discovery, and she was ready to carry it out into the world. Filled with abundance and warmth, her album is now waiting to be discovered on all streaming platforms.