Bill Barlow is a seasoned writer, digital music composer, and storyteller whose creative roots run deep. With a successful background in advertising and marketing, Bill Barlow has spent decades crafting messages that connect—but it’s his passion for poetry and songwriting that has remained his truest voice since his teenage years.
Bill Barlow’s lyrical style is personal yet relatable, often weaving in themes of longing, resilience, and reflection. Whether composing a heartfelt ballad or a soul-searching melody, his work invites listeners to slow down and feel. His songs resonate not because they are loud, but because they are true.
By Special Request is an eighteen-track collection of the raw emotional essence that Bill Barlow is known for delivered in a mix of styles. The flow and balance of the tracks promise the listener a storytelling new journey and musical experience that Barlow has designed to evoke thoughts and emotions in a way that is Bill Barlow’s signature trait.
With By Special Request out now, we took some time to hear from Bill Barlow. Read below to learn more about Bill Barlow, the story behind By Special Request, and what’s to come.
Hi Bill Barlow! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
That one is easy. It’s my real name.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I was born in Tampa Florida, and I still live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I have been around the world many times and haven’t found anywhere I’d rather live.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I was a kid writing poems and my friend would sing them and play guitar. We were at another friend’s house, and the neighbor was there. He was a semi-famous jazz singer called Harry ‘the Hipster’ Gibson. He saw me carrying a handful of poems and asked me what they were. I said that I was a songwriter. He laughed and said, ‘Son, until someone pays you for your work, you aren’t a songwriter.’ He asked to see my poems. He read a few and stopped saying, ‘This is good.’ Then, he reached into his pocket and handed me 50 bucks and said, ‘Son, you’re a songwriter now.’ I have been writing ever since. I never knew that he recorded that song, which was released after he died a couple of years later.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
My genre is not completely consistent, meaning I don’t stick with pop, blues or R&B. The best way to describe my work is ’emotions.’ I write seeking to convey a particular emotion or feeling. My stories feel personal, raw and transparent. The musical side must support that story. Therefore, I end up with a mix of musical styles. I want you to listen and feel or in many cases listen and heal. But, it’s always entertaining as a song.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
For a long time creating and writing music was my hobby. I did a lot of ghostwriting for other artists. But now I have stepped into the spotlight myself. I’m still getting used to that. So, now my hobby is bike riding and travel.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
My number one and two current influences are Rob Thomas and Ed Sheeran. I have always admired Rob Thomas’ lyrics and one-word titles. In the case of Ed Sheeran, I like that this guy pushed through the ‘junk’ in the business to become someone who makes his own rules. I also admire the sheer volume of material that he produces. I write a lot of material; most days, I have something new to take into my studio. I align with Ed on that.
Who is your dream music collaboration?
I would love to write a song with Rob Thomas. I have been a fan of his forever.
What is your greatest musical aspiration?
This may be an odd thing to say, but I’d like to have one of my songs covered by a well-known artist. The thought that my words would be coming through their recording is my greatest aspiration.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
It’s hard to be heard and get noticed with so many things vying for your attention. But, my most recent proudest moment lately was getting played on the Euro Indy Radio Network. Once you are on there, the only way that you can keep getting played is for listeners to vote (or request) for your song. I was initially thrilled to enter the top 100. More so when my song hit the top 50. As of recently, it charted to #6. Not bad in my view. I am humbled that the listeners have embraced my music at that level.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
Every song that I write needs to make a connection. I have written stuff that was interesting to me but not to others. I have learned that making an emotional connection with my listeners is the most important thing.
Now onto your release, By Special Request. What inspired this album?
I have a lot of material as I said before. Choosing the right songs is critical to connecting with your audience. It can be guess work and I could choose wrong. I let my fans, friends and family tell me their favorite songs. I also took the time to hear why they liked a particular track. So the inspiration for the album was listening to them.
What is the overall theme of By Special Request?
All of my work lately is about creating or conveying an emotional point in time. I tried to weave a flow of emotions that balance each other out by the end of the album. The tracks and stories are relatable, personal and filled with raw emotion.
What was the creative process like when making By Special Request?
Once I decided to select tracks as influenced by my fans, I felt like they had to make sense to each other. The flow from one track to another was important to me. I wanted to hold your attention creatively and emotionally as you listen to the tracks. I wanted the album itself to be an experience not just a list of tracks.
How long did it take to complete By Special Request?
Individually, the tracks were written and produced over a period of nearly a year. Then, I spent a couple of months assembling the tracks and playing them. If the flow wasn’t good, then I’d rearrange them. I probably drove my wife crazy doing this. But, overall the album was about 14 months in the making.
Is there a specific song on By Special Request that speaks to you the most? If so, what is it called, and what is it about?
The most? That is a tough question. I guess I need to pick ‘To The Edge,’ the last track on the album. I went through a difficult period. I was lost professionally, I felt distant from people personally. I felt that things could not have gotten much worse and I had no idea what to do. The song explores that time and what goes through your mind when you feel like you are out of options. But the silver lining is that when you are pushed to the edge, you are capable of doing far more than you think. The song can be perceived as negative, but the truth is it is a song of hope and endurance. If you are in this position in your life know that tomorrow brings hope in ways we can’t always predict and orchestrate.
What message or messages do you hope fans take away from By Special Request and your music in general?
It’s ok to feel a mix of emotions. In fact, facing them head on is a healthy way of dealing with them. Allow yourself to explore the tracks and see which ones stir up emotions. My guess is that is an area that you need to process internally.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I am starting the work on a new album project. I won’t sing on a single track (except backing vocals). All of the songs will have female vocals and tell emotional stories from a single perspective. So far, the project is sounding pretty amazing. I hope the fans agree.
Where can we follow you on social media?
TikTok @billbarlowmusic
Instagram @billbarlowmusic
Facebook facebook.com/BillBBarlow
SoundCloud soundcloud.com/famousdiscoveries
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
