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INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER (NEZAVISNE NOVINE) Banja Luka, Sunday, August 19 2007
“THE BEATLES” HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON MY MUSIC
The band Vilby’s Heroes was formed by the London musician Paul Wilby in January 2006 in Banja Luka where he is living for the last three years. The album “Banja Luka Metal Factory” has been recorded in studio “Pacifik” in the period between January and July, and the CD then pressed in both the EU and USA.
This album reflects Paul's writing style developed since the age of 14. The album is English pop-rock which perhaps reminds a bit of Elvis Costello, Sting and Squeeze touched by the distinct sound of American female vocals.
Currently the band is completing the second album,  which will be finished in October. The band is made up of great musicians: Dejan Milic Dejvi on drums, Nenad Tomic on guitar. Back vocal is done by Sheila-Marie Berg from Cincinnati. Beside these, there are 6 other local musicians who played such things as viola, violin, trumpet, and trombone…
We talked with the front man of the band, Paul Wilby who is the songwriter, bass guitar player and vocalist.
Nezavisne Novine(hereinafter NN):What led you to Banja Luka?
Wilby: Ihave been working on EU projects for the last 11 years. I lived in Prague, Warsaw and Budapest and three years ago I came here. I settled here and this is now my home. I met many talented musicians in this town and that is how it all started.
NN: Before you came to BiH, did you know anything about this country?
Wilby: All that I heard of or knew about Banja Luka and BIH in general was what could be heard or seen on TV e.g news during those unfortunate times. But that was a long time ago and much before I came here. Of course, I have since formed a different and much more positive view.
NN: What do your songs sound like?
Wilby: it is very hard to answer that question. The only thing what I can say is what other people said. It is some kind of mix of English pop rock, style which reminds on music style of Sting, Shade, Elvis Costelo and anyway Paul McCartney.
NN: What kind of music are you listening to in your free time and who are your models?
Wilby: If I tell you that, I’m afraid you will run away (laugh). The Beatles had the biggest influence on me when it comes to music. To be in London when they “ruled” was something special. They changed everything around us.
NN: Did Vilby’s Heroes already have any live gig?
Wilby: We have an obligation to do a live gig which would be available on the Internet, as commercial support for selling the album. I think it will take place at the beginning of October. Before gigs, I wanted to record the new album, and live gigs and everything else we put to one side. There is a level of nervousness because it has been ten years since my last live gig and I don’t know how people are going to accept that. This is maybe a small town by population but you have a big music scene.
NN: Do you go on some live gigs in your free time?
Wilby: If I go to gigs it tends to be after recording with the band and the local band I know best is “Balkan Express”.
NN: what are the plans after publishing the album?
Wilby: The second album will be finished before the end of October, but not going on the market before March next year. Also, very soon we will start to work on the third album. We now have 24 songs from which to select when we play live and the 3rd album will add more of course.
NN: can we expect soon the promotion of the album?
Wilby: The main campaign will start in about six weeks time from LA and the songs will be available on iTunes and other web sites. We are also doing a documentary about how we recorded the 2nd CD. We are planning to do some video clips which are going to be available on the Internet and, if we are lucky, maybe on some of your TV stations too.
Jelena Babic
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