It’s a wonderful moment in a young writer’s development when they realize what they are capable of.

Sitting with an acoustic guitar and moaning about imaginary lost love is one thing. But hearing Billy Libby grow into the expansive multicolored palette featured on the new CD “Pitter Patter” is to witness a performer who understands that only so much can be achieved on angst alone. These songs are all grown up, and hold great promise for Libby’s ability to produce goose bumps in rooms in the Northeast and beyond.

He may make his home in Brooklyn now, but these brooding layers suggest the craggy coastlines and long winters of Libby’s youth. Catch Libby in his home state Tuesday night at The Oak & The Ax in Biddeford.

How does the forthcoming “Pitter Patter” compare to “The Little Bird EP”?

“Pitter Patter” is a much more accurate representation of what my music is all about. “Little Bird” actually was released after the “Pitter Patter” recordings were almost finished as a means to get something out there, just to start building some momentum, but I’ve always viewed “Little Bird” as an acoustic sort of demo EP, while “Pitter Patter” is the big picture, with all the songs fully arranged.

“The Little Bird” is nice in its simplicity, but “Pitter Patter” is really lush, and the arrangement is sort of out of the ordinary. Most of the drums I did by layering drums on top of each other, as opposed to using a drum kit in one take, as well as not using bass very often, and trying to use some unusual means of filling out the songs.

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What does Portland have that Brooklyn needs? What does Brooklyn have that Portland needs?

That’s tough, because they are very different, and I also can by no means really claim to know what the Brooklyn scene is all about. In general, Portland has such a great tight-knit community that is amazing, but it can be hard for the talent in Portland to get out and get exposure on a national level.

In Brooklyn, there are a lot more people doing big things on a much bigger level. But it can feel quite overwhelming and difficult on every level there, but also inspiring to see people really making it.

Share some of your favorite memories playing in different bands growing up.

I have a lot of great memories with my first band, Even All Out. I was a huge fan of all the music in Portland, and getting a chance to meet and play with the people I looked up to was great. We played a couple packed shows at the State Theatre, which were pretty amazing and unforgettable. We also did some showcasing in NYC, which was pretty surreal at the time. Playing in my most recent band, Seymour, was a really wonderful experience, and helped me shape a lot of the songs on “Pitter Patter.”

In general, it’s been pretty amazing watching the scene change and different musicians do different things as the years pass.

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What was the hardest part about leaving the familiar in Maine?

The hardest part has been just the network of people I know. If I need help taking photos, I know who to call. If I need help making a promo video, I know who to call. If I need to promote a show, I know where to hang fliers. In NYC, I just don’t have as big of a network of people. It’s also harder trying to find a place to practice, a space to record. But that is to be expected going from a place I’ve lived my whole life to a giant city.

How has Your Song, Your Story, the music program you developed as a therapeutic way to help children deal with grief or trauma, impacted your life?

Your Song, Your Story has been a wonderful thing in my life. I’ve always had a feeling of not knowing what I would do outside of being a songwriter, which is an extremely hard thing to bank on.

Your Song, Your Story feels great, because it is a way that incorporates all the skills I have acquired over the years and applies them to something meaningful outside of myself. I have been working with kids for years and have been a songwriter for many, so putting the two together and adding a love for traveling on top of that feels great. It’s also been amazing to get such a great response. I am excited to see where this goes.

Mike Olcott is a freelance writer who lives in Portland and Boston.

 


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