Q&A: Dylan Dunn is Moving on in New Single “Seasick On The Ground”

Q&AMusic

Sep 14

☆ BY GiGi Kang ☆

BIDDING GOODBYE TO OLD FRIENDS — in his new single, “Seasick On The Ground”, Dylan Dunn expresses what it’s like to part with close companions. The 19-year-old songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is preparing for the release of his sophomore EP this fall and the new single hints at the indie-pop sounds fans can expect.

Playing music throughout high school in bands that appeared on local radio, Dunn’s talents in songwriting, piano, bass, and guitar have always been a source of self-reflection as much as a means to connect with others. Raised in a musical household, he received his first guitar as a gift at only nine years old from his great uncle, Donald “Duck” Dunn, an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Booker T. & the M.G.’s.

Dunn describes “a small sense of longing” in his music, as his mother elected to use a donor sample from a cryobank for his birth. “I’ve always wanted to meet my father,” Dunn says. “In a way, my vision ties into self-reflection and expectations. When I was younger, I would daydream about my dad hearing something I wrote on the radio.”

One notable connection that has emerged from Dunn’s music is frequent collaborator and producer Adam Castilla of The Colourist. The pair collaborated on Dunn’s debut EP, Blue Like You, and have now collaborated on “Seasick On The Ground” as well as Dunn’s upcoming EP.

Approaching the one-year mark since the release of his first single, Dunn discusses his journey so far, his collaborators, and the new single below.

LUNA: Congratulations on “Seasick On The Ground”! Your first single, “Such a Freak,” came out just less than a year ago. How has the past year been for you?

DUNN: It has been great. My goal since the last release has been to play live more often and the new connections, friends, and memories I’ve made in the past year have made it a worthwhile experience.

LUNA: Throughout it all, you’ve worked with producer Adam Castilla of The Colourist. What effect would you say having a frequent collaborator has on your sound?

DUNN: Adam’s unique style of production adds a certain “magic touch” to our records that I’ve found difficult to replicate anywhere else.

LUNA: “Seasick On The Ground” is lively and very catchy. How did the song come to be?

DUNN: I wrote “Seasick On The Ground” about a group of friends who pushed me away as we grew apart. I wanted this song to act as a final “so-long” to those who made me feel out of place.

LUNA: There’s a great attention to detail in the visual elements of your work. The cover art of your first two singles, “Such a Freak” and “Lemonade Eyes,” feature the work of an artist called Mary Margaret. The music videos of both songs are made up of memorable images, such as zombie-esque chaos at the dining table or a lemonade-eyed head. Do you find the visuals of a project inextricably linked with the music?

DUNN: I found Mary Margaret’s art very intriguing, as it has a very Tim Burton/Wes Anderson feel. I wanted to come out with imagery that would burn itself into your head.

LUNA: Similarly, I know in addition to singing and writing your music, you also play bass, guitar, and piano. Has having more than one musical or other artistic outlet always been influential to you as both a musician and a person?
DUNN: If I hit a creative drought, switching instruments is often the remedy. I’ve found that moving between guitar and piano can change the way I feel about a melody and open up new directions.

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