Billy Bobak’s Billy Wakes Up is one of those debut albums that feels both nostalgic and brand new at the same time. You can hear echoes of The Beatles, Bowie, Blur, and Elvis Costello running through it, but what really stands out is how personal and unfiltered it feels — like a journal turned into a record. Across its ten tracks, Bobak takes listeners on a journey through the chaos and wonder of growing up. It’s the first in a planned trilogy (Billy Remembers Dreaming and Billy Hits Snooze are next), and this opening chapter captures that hazy period between teenage recklessness and adult realization — full of mistakes, small triumphs, and the kind of reflection that only comes with time.
Recorded between Reading University, Unwound Studios, and Bobak’s home setup, the album has a real sense of scope. The Reading University Orchestra and Choir appear on several tracks — “Intro (Breakfast?)”, “Respite,” and “Indo Girls” — adding a cinematic sweep that contrasts beautifully with Bobak’s grounded, often intimate vocals. Aya Elmansouri’s soft backing harmonies and Nick Fitch’s expressive lead guitar lines give the songs even more colour, while producer Dae Lee ties everything together with a delicate hand. You can tell this was made with care.
There’s a real charm in how Billy Wakes Up blends big ideas with little details. “Most Nights” hums with restless energy, “Rush & Touch” experiments with percussion made from kitchen utensils (yes, really), and “Make Me a Jess” brings a warm, jangly energy that nods to Britpop without feeling derivative. Every track feels alive — curious, searching, sometimes clumsy, but always honest. Bobak writes like someone trying to make sense of where they’ve been and where they’re going. There’s humour and heartbreak in equal measure, and even when the production swells to orchestral heights, the words stay close to home. It’s music about growing up, about getting lost, about waking up to who you are — all the messy bits included. As Bobak puts it himself: “We don’t know where we’ve ended up until we reflect. Music provides us with the most beautiful catalyst for reflection.” That’s exactly what Billy Wakes Up feels like — an artist reflecting, learning, and inviting you to do the same.
English