Profile - Billy Fields

RevRebel is the latest project from Atlanta native Billy Fields, whose face should be familiar to anyone who checks out Mic Club at Apache Cafe, caught electronic soul group Seek in the late '90s, or remembers hard-rockers Follow for Now from the early part of that decade.

Fields has experienced the extremes of the music industry, going "from sleeping in abandoned buildings to hanging out with Lenny Kravitz." But while on his third tour with the Indigo Girls — he just returned Feb. 16 — Fields didn't lack for much. "They can afford whatever!" he says.

After founding Seek following his run with Follow for Now, the change wasn't always welcomed. Some thought the group was "disturbingly mellow." Not Fields. "I just got tired of loud rock guitars and rock egos and that whole mentality, so I just wanted to do something completely different."

RevRebel is Fields' opportunity to speak his mind — and play most of the instruments on the debut album, including keyboards, guitar and bass.

While he can write a pop song, Fields would rather "rev" up listeners to "rebel" against the current state of the world.

His politics are strong on the album, tackling everything from his view on the government's role in 9/11 to media conglomerates.

He also plays various instruments with funk-rockers Three 5 Human and reggae band Eastern Standard. Also, Fields is one-half of electronic duo Guerrilla Renaissance, and he brought in the new year with James Hall.

You can pick up the RevRebel debut, Rebel Style, at Criminal Records, or at live shows, two of which are coming up at the Drunken Unicorn and the

Five Spot in March.