Punk bass lines, biting lyrics and deadpan vocals that hover between song and speech are some of the elements that define Billy Nomates' unique sound. Tor Maries, better known by her stage name, Billy Nomates, is a British singer, songwriter and musician with a sprechgesang-esque vocal style and sharp, critical social commentary. Billy Nomates' 2023 Tour takes her throughout France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Billy Nomates' concerts are energetic, with an eclectic sound and a cynical but humorous tone. Nomates often takes to the stage alone with a laptop, dancing in her own eccentric way. Her style has expanded beyond her post-punk roots, mixing a myriad of genres and sounds into something truly original. Billy Nomates premiered in 2020 with the release of her self-titled album Billy Nomates. Her next release came shortly afterward with the Emergency Telephone EP in 2021, which she produced herself. Her second full-length studio album came with CACTI in 2023.

Billy Nomates Live in Concert

After being a member of a string of bands in her '20s, Tor Marie had given up on music in an attempt to start a career in marketing. While living with her sister and recovering from a breakup, she once more turned to songwriting. After selling her guitar amp to buy a laptop, she began working on what would eventually become her self-titled debut album in her sister's kitchen. She was discovered after sending her music via direct message to the band Sleaford Mods, who passed on a recommendation for her. Tor Marie says the moniker Billy Nomates was inspired by an insult from an audience member when she turned up to a gig all alone. Her distinct way of moving and dancing onstage was inspired, she recalls, by performances by contemporary dance students that she had seen working at a university. As she elaborated in an interview with the Quietus in 2021, "I mean I'm not a dancer of any kind, but I got really into how movement can be effective." After turning her father's shed into a makeshift studio, Billy Nomates' ambitions were slowed to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not content to bow to circumstance, Billy Nomates used the time to focus creatively on her Emergency Telephone EP. When asked about her songwriting process, Nomates said, in a 2023 interview with Clash Music, "It's different every time. I just doodle. I constantly doodle at home. I've got all my stuff set up here. I'm always playing. I just doodle!" On Spotify, Billy Nomates has more than 170,000 listeners per month. Her most popular song, "No", has been streamed more than 2 million times and her track "blue bones (deathwish)" has been streamed more than 1 million times and counting.

Billy Nomates FAQ

What was the inspiration for Billy Nomates' stage name?

Tor Marie says the moniker Billy Nomates was inspired by an insult from an audience member when she turned up to a gig all alone.

What can be said about Billy Nomates' concerts?

Billy Nomates' concerts are energetic, with an eclectic sound and a cynical but humorous tone. Nomates often takes to the stage alone with a laptop, dancing in her own eccentric way.

What was the inspiration for Billy Nomates' way of moving and dancing onstage?

Her distinct way of moving and dancing onstage was inspired, she recalls, by performances by contemporary dance students that she had seen working at a university.

How did Billy Nomates get discovered?

Billy Nomates was discovered after sending her music via direct message to the band Sleaford Mods, who passed on a recommendation for her.