Los Angeles is a city of dreams, a music mecca; The Chateau Marmont, The Troubadour, the Whiskey A-Go-Go, it’s seen and done it all. Yet still, years later it continues to spit out artist-after-artist. Dyllan is one of the newest to pop their heads up. She’s an LA angel, and yeah, she’s cool, so we thought we’d hear her story of La La Land.
Being from LA, how does living in such a free city shape your music or you as an individual?
That’s an interesting question, I’ve honestly never thought about that before. Moving to New York was a huge change for me being from California; it’s a gritty, unforgiving place. It did wonders for my songwriting as I tend to draw inspiration from darker stuff, but ultimately the lifestyle wasn’t for me. I don’t think I would have appreciated where I’m from if I hadn’t gone away, and now I see how much freedom, space, and clarity I have to write.
The fact I grew up with supportive, creative parents who drove to me every open mic and gig from age 15, really helped shape who I am. I feel a sense of community here, which especially in the last year has bolstered my confidence and helped me feel supported, even when I don’t make conventional pop music. I like to think about Laurel Canyon back in the seventies and the amazing music that came out of that community. I guess maybe we’ll look back and say the same thing about Highland Park.
‘My Fears’ is your new track, it is a lot slower and more serene than your other tracks, what is the story behind it?
I actually wrote “My Fears,” over three years ago, so it feels new to my listeners but old to me! I am not a fast writer. I had a lot of material that I had compiled over the years, and the songs I felt were the strongest were the ones I decided to record and release. It took a while but “My Fears,” is actually the last of that bunch. Now my goal is to release songs a little more quickly! My roots are in traditional folky singer-songwriter stuff. I performed “My Fears,” with just acoustic guitar and vocals for a few years, and then I made a demo in Ableton with some more electronic textures. Andrés Rebellon (my producer) worked long and hard to help me finesse the production to get it to a sort of middle ground between acoustic and electronic.
As such a personal song, do the feelings ever flood back when you’re performing it? Do you think these feelings make your performance stronger?
Yes, the feelings do flood back, and necessarily so. I don’t think it would be a good performance if I weren’t connecting with it. Although the circumstances have changed and I’ve grown a lot, I definitely still get anxious thoughts, self-doubt, and I have trouble telling people how I feel. So I still grapple with all of these things.
‘My Fears’ encapsulates a moment that has now passed, was music a way out in your journey away from the fear?
Music is definitely an outlet for me to work through complex emotions. Songwriting helps me rationalize feelings into a pretty basic structure (verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, etc.) Encapsulating it in a song allows me to almost look at it objectively – and even develops into a time-marker of sorts. Honestly, when I think about a time in my life that I was feeling a certain way, or a person I dated, I usually think of the song I wrote about it.
Is there any artist you would travel through Hollywood Hills to collaborate with?
Wow, there are several, but I’ve always wanted to meet Joni Mitchell and soak up some of her genius.
You mentioned the thought of taking four trains to give someone a Christmas tree to prove your love, but what is the most romantic gesture you’ve ever received?
Gifts aren’t really my love language, but someone took a road trip and sent me love letters from every place they stopped on their route which was pretty romantic.
In both your music videos and social media posts, you have makeup looks to kill for, what is it about glitter and eyeshadow that makes you, you?
Thank you! Glitter is just one of those things that instantly makes me feel joyful. Like twinkle lights- it has the same effect on me. I like that it’s reflective and whimsical.
I saw that recently you performed at a fundraiser to help people in Southern US states access reproductive care, is this an issue you find close to heart? Especially in certain states with their abortion laws, do you think by being involved in these benefits, you’re helping spread the word with music?
I certainly hope so! This is an issue that is very close to my heart. It’s really frustrating to me that we’re still living in a time where we have to fight for the right to make decisions about our own bodies. I feel very privileged that throughout my life I’ve had good healthcare and access to birth control, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone everywhere. I hope that by supporting these causes I can spread the word to listeners who do live in other states and may be able to make changes in their own communities as well.
Do you have any messages for those who relate to ‘My Fears’, and may be in stuck in that rut?
This is something I have to say to myself (even now) when I’m in a cyclical thought pattern; I’ve come out on the other side before and will again. Even though it feels like you’re stuck, you have to remind yourself that the moment will pass, you’ll have perspective again.
Listen to Dyllan on Spotify and Apple Music. Get the latest print edition of our magazine featuring interview with Black Honey, Mattiel, Molly Burch and Matt Maltese HERE.
