Singles Spotlight:
Billy Joel Jr. – “Ur A Star”

Hello reader,

As SWT closes out 2025, we’ve slowed our coverage output in December because of the holidays and because everyone here needs breaks (I know we’re not alone in that sentiment). We’re still excited to advocate for one more Singles Spotlight. And when you’re done with this spotlight, be sure to stick around our site and check out other articles, essays, sessions, and more that you may have missed in 2025. Add our socials too to stay up to date with all things SWT. We’d greatly appreciate that, and I know you will too as you discover some new favorite artists this year and in the future.

Today, SWT is shedding light on an up-and-coming indie rock band with an attention-grabbing and albeit clever name: Billy Joel Jr. Formed in 2022, the Chicago-based quartet features singer-songwriter Ari Levin, drummer Karl El Sokhn, lead guitarist Nate Dorian, and bassist Charlie Dykstal, and has been making some noise within the Windy City underground scene. Take note, this isn’t a tribute band, nor is there a piano being performed. In 2024, the band released their debut EP, Rubberhose, which was produced and mixed by Blake Sokoloff and mastered by Greg Obis at Chicago Mastering Service.

And a couple of weeks ago, in mid-December, Billy Joel Jr. released their debut full-length album Ur a Star. The band again worked with Blake Sokoloff and recorded the album at Abbey Cat Recordings. After listening to the album, I liked what I heard and knew I had to share at least one of the songs with you listeners as part of the Singles Spotlight series. On the album, they prove they are not a joke and are talented musicians and songwriters, and I hope that listeners can take the band seriously. Those who do will be rewarded.

I think the titular, “Ur A Star,” serves as an excellent introduction to the band. The song opens with some fantastic guitar work, jangly strings hanging in the air in the best ways. Smooth guitar chords replace the jangle. The bass over the steady drum work means the three pair for a memorable, well-layered listening experience. The vocals, both the lead and the harmonies, add even more depth in the best ways. Overall, it’s got a chill, but energetic vibe throughout most of the song, often taking me back to listening to ’90s music. The song at times erupts into explosive soundscapes, crescendoing in intensity like a finale in a Fourth of July fireworks show. And for me, all those reasons are enough to advocate for a band originally named after the famous singer, songwriter, and Piano Man. One who is crafting their own serious music in the modern age.

Via the album’s press release, “Frontman Ari Levin said of the album, ‘it’s a total reflection on the irony and sincerity that comes with the dysfunction of modern living. Each track stands on its own — one might be about falling in love, one might be a little silly, and another about feeling your own mortality at a party — but they’re all tied together by this tension between self-deprecation and genuine emotion. The title track sits right at the center of that; it’s the emotional hinge of the record. It’s where the humor drops away, and something more honest and introspective takes over.'”

Take a listen to “Ur A Star” for yourself and see what you think via the band’s Bandcamp page. It’s track #5:

The cover art for Ur A Star:

The track list for the album Ur A Star:

1. Intro [0:55]
2. Bad Heart [3:47]
3. New to Love [3:19]
4. She’s Always on my Mind [3:28]
5. Ur A Star [4:57]
6. Isn’t It Funny [3:57]
7. Girlfriend/Twin Bed [2:40]
8. About Me [3:40]
9. About Dying (Hannah) [4:49]
10. Blue [4:10]

You can connect with and listen to Billy Joel Jr. at the following links:

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com