26 - Ayla Billick
Ayla Billick began her musical journey early. She grew up singing and dancing along to her mom’s rock/metal records, while drumming on her surroundings and messing around on an old acoustic guitar. She started out as a drummer but remained interested in wanting to play guitar. On her 11th birthday she received her first electric guitar and began learning the blues while also picking along to rock and grunge artists she heard on the radio. Many of her initial hero’s included Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Scorpions, Metallica, Nirvana, Eric Clapton, ZZ-Top, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and 50’s Rock n’ Roll icon Buddy Holly. At age 16 she turned her fascination towards hard rock and Gibson SGs after seeing Angus Young wield his SG with ferocious tenacity, running around stage with AC/DC, playing their revved up and sweat soaked version of blues Rock n’ Roll. Def Leppard also played a major role in influencing Ayla’s playing style as she was mesmerized by Phil Collen’s fast flamenco shredding and Steve Clark’s flamboyant stage presence and the fiery, emotional way he played. Especially the use of a tremolo to create crying/mournful almost human sounds with his guitar. Ayla is a singer/songwriter. She works as a recording artist as well as a performer, and thrives in a band environment where everyone creates together. Ayla plays guitar in the alt/rock band Allegra Hernandez, and drums alongside her brother/guitarist Dustin Creagan, in their band Savera.
Ayla’s guitars:
Unknown “2005” Sunburst partscaster with Fender parts and custom birdseye maple neck (HSH) Dimarzio Super Distortion in bridge.
2006 Heritage Cherry Epiphone Custom Shop “1966” SG.
1974 Walnut Gibson SG Standard, w/Bigsby tremolo all original except for the bridge pickup which is a ‘57 Classic.
2013 Black Ibanez Destroyer DT520 w/Dimarzio Tone Zone (bridge) and Air Norton (neck) pickups.
1996 Ferrari red Gibson SG Special w/ aftermarket Gibson fine tuner bridge
1974 White (aged) Gibson SG Custom w/aftermarket Bigsby, neck and bridge are stamped patent number pickups and the middle is a PAF w/sticker.
2004 PR-200 Natural Epiphone acoustic
What was your first guitar and do you still have it?
First guitar: 1988-1992 Pearl White Squier ll Contemporary Stratocaster, (HSS). All original except the whammy bar. Yes I still have it.
What's your favorite guitar right now and why?
Current favorite guitar is my 1975 Gibson SG Custom. It is my dream guitar and it plays, sounds, and looks like one too! It also happens to be my latest purchase!
How often do you play?
I play daily. Either my own music or someone else’s.
What's the music you are creating, what's the mission behind it?
I’m constantly creating as music is form of escapism, therapy, and healing for me. Music has always been there through my life. I love to lose myself in it and allow it to connect myself with others and world around me.
