Based in Chicago, Billingsley attracted the attention of legendary producer Brian Deck (Josh Ritter, Iron & Wine, Nathaniel Rateliff), who recorded and plays drums & percussion on her forthcoming debut album, Not the Marrying Kind (out June 12). American Songwriter recently called Michelle’s work “charming” and Glide said it was “biting & enigmatic” with the “knock ’em dead bravado of Nancy Sinatra and the blunt storytelling of Neko Case.”
New single “Once in a While” is a gorgeous, sparse Americana ballad—a duet with country & Western revivalist Wild Earp that sounds plucked straight from ’70s Nashville-outsider doc Heartworn Highways. As evidenced by this track, at her best, Billingsley channels Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark & John Prine as good as anybody working today. “Once in a While” is as genuine as they come, a nakedly honest series of vignettes about a steady hookup with an expiration date, yet one that’s anchored by a disarmingly sweet and genuine mutual appreciation that’s unburdened by expectations…
I’ll be your once in a while, babe
Just for so long, babe
Gone by the morning’s first light,
you’ve got to be getting on
One side of an album, babe
No time for breakfast, babe
I’ll be your once in a while