Riverview resident Matt Billor, 22, has been making waves in the country music industry recently. His song and official video for his single, Beer Can Island, came out on October 19.
Gary Ramos, who was Billor’s sister’s teacher at Riverview High School asked Billor four years ago if he wanted to write this song. According to Billor, Ramos is a part owner of the island and also owns the name Beer Can Island. Billor was familiar with the island and agreed to do the song.
A small, comma-shaped island located between Apollo Beach and MacDill Air Force Base, the island is officially called Pine Key. Local boaters know it as Beer Can Island because of its popularity as a stop to relax and enjoy a cold one on the beach.
Billor wrote the song in three days and recently recorded it in Nashville, Tennessee. His family has always been interested in music, but he started taking guitar lessons his freshman year of high school and picked up singing as well.
During his junior year, he participated in his high school talent show, called Riverview Idol. He didn’t do as well as he wanted, not making it out of the first round. That really motivated him to get better. He took vocal lessons once a week and later competed again in his senior year, making it to the final round.
Billor has written an additional 11 songs in Nashville, but he isn’t able to release them yet because they are for presentation purposes to help gain a record deal. According to Billor, the music video took a total of eight to nine days to record and a couple of months to edit and complete.
Billor is an outdoorsman. His other hobbies include fishing and golfing. He goes to the Keys every year to fish and he has gone to Beer Can Island for years. “The song’s general meaning is about escaping and having a good time,” said Billor. “It’s one of those fun songs that you can’t be upset or stressed out when you listen to it.”
Biller wants to gain a foothold in the country music industry and be the best that he can be. He thinks that he has the potential and work ethic to be the best ever. For now he is playing gigs and paying his dues. He wants to thank everyone who has purchased his song, Beer Can Island, which is available on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Music.
The official music video is on Youtube. For more information, you can visit his website at MattBillor.com.
