Meet Billy Cousins: Your New Favourite Imaginary Superhero
SICKY—the one-man alt-pop powerhouse otherwise known as Mick Butler—kicks off his latest album ‘Troubled Delight’ with Billy Cousins, a song about an imaginary alter ego you can channel when self-doubt creeps in.
Hailing from England’s Black Country and now based in Shropshire, Butler is no stranger to the UK music scene, having played in bands spanning from the brass-soaked pop of Papa Mantra to the raw grit of SUMO. Now, he’s all in on SICKY, crafting punchy, Britpop-infused indie rock with echoes of Beck, Supergrass, and Blur.
‘Troubled Delight’ is a whirlwind of energy, packed with sub-three-minute tracks bursting with character. Double bassist Jen Bone (Project Blues Band) lends her groove to three tracks, while Rebecca Butler and Lily & Scarlet Butler add backing vocals that elevate the album’s infectious melodies.
On Billy Cousins, SICKY says:
“It’s a song about an imaginary character you can become when you’re doubting everything. The production? Think Prince’s ‘Get Off/Sexy MF/Batman’ era—big beats, outrageous grooves, and hooks for days. That little purple genius blew my mind.”
The track’s music video features a clip from the gloriously chaotic 1963 film It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, a childhood favorite of Butler’s. “My mom used to laugh so hard at it she’d have to leave the room,” he recalls. “There’s a bit of that spirit in Billy Cousins—no worries, no stress, just a little escape from reality for 2 minutes and 55 seconds.”
Beyond Billy Cousins – A Snapshot of ‘Troubled Delight’
The album is packed with real-life moments—joy, conflict, false promises, and even the absurdity found in life’s darkest corners.
- ‘Ten Minutes’ features the bells of Bridgnorth’s St. Leonard’s Church.
- ‘Money For The News’ incorporates the sliding doors of a Stourbridge shopping center.
- ‘My Girl’s Gone’ includes a snippet from Quatermass and the Pit, courtesy of Hammer Films.
- ‘The Hill’ captures the agony of a grueling 22-mile charity walk (Butler swears he’ll never do it again).
Since his lockdown-era debut ‘Bowling Balls’ (inspired by Prince, Bowie, and Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles), SICKY has been making waves. His 2023 album ‘Garbage Town’ garnered acclaim, and now ‘Troubled Delight’ takes things even further.
‘Troubled Delight’ track list
- Billy Cousins
- I’m Happy If You’re Happy
- Ten Minutes
- My Girl’s Gone
- Slide
- Money For The News
- Win
- Life In A Jar
- Songbird
- The Hill
- Mankind
- Just Me
‘Troubled Delight’ is out now on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
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