Black is the New AP Style

There is nothing more exhilarating than being on stage. It is the place where I feel most myself, most connected to the world, and the most at ease. Music has always been a place where I’ve found the answers to my life.

My records have always revolved around real life events and when you have to refine your emotions or moments in approximately three minutes - you begin to understand what you were trying to say or how you felt.

My new album, in particular, was written during some of the hardest years of my life. My family fell apart, my love life fell apart, and I lost some incredible people. Music gave me the ability to channel my emotions and articulate exactly how I was feeling.

This album helped me heal in ways I never thought possible. When you write from a place of truth, it is undeniable, it is raw -- it is YOU.

Through this process I finally found my true music self. I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin and if you were to look around my apartment, my walls are covered in David Bowie, The Cars and Jimi Hendrix. I wanted to bring those vintage synths, splashes of punk guitars all mixed in with my deep vocals and some current sounds.

I found the sound that best suited my personality and musical interests - I found DYLYN through all the turmoil.

I’m happy to announce that the album Sauvignon and a Kimono is dropping February 23rd, 2018 and I am touring in Germany this May. Music as a career is something you have to deeply love in order to keep going. Life will throw grenades and it’s up to you as a person to see what you can do with them. My biggest hope is that if a person is sad, angry, happy, depressed, anxious and need something to calm them down they can listen to a track on my album and it takes them to a place where they can work it out in their heads.

Music is meant to heal the soul and I truly hope this album does that for some listeners as it did for myself. If you have a dream, keep going, if you have a bad day or year, channel that negative energy into something beautiful and honest – you win in the end.

x DYLYN

February 23, 2018 No comments

Jesca Ashton is a detective in upstate New York, where her mother Beatrice lives just across town. The same town where Beatrice stumbles over the dead body of one of her students, Amber Inglin. The clock is ticking to find her killer, and the suspects get guiltier by the second.

In Cynthia Robinson’s novel, Birds of Wonder, she combines plotlines of murder, inner demons, infidelity, abuse and neglect into the stories of six characters – Jes, Beatrice and the four potential suspects in Amber’s murder.

Liam Walsh owns the vineyard in town and has made a name for himself as an advocate of children that are in custody of Child Services. When Amber turns up in the field on his property, suspicion arises as she was part of his foster care system crusade and was working at his vineyard.

Edward Friis and his sister Sara were staying at the cottage their sister Cate and her husband owned, directly across from the crime scene. Amber was Cate’s babysitter, who was driven home by Edward the night she was killed. As the last one to see her alive, Edward’s secret addiction is brought to the attention of the police and incriminating evidence doesn’t help his case.

Connor and Megan Sorensen are also products of the foster care system, living under the same roof as Amber. When both of them skip town after her death, and Megan returns on her own, the police scramble to find a connection.

Waldo was rescued from an adult assisted-living program by Liam, who brought him to work at the vineyard. Diagnosed schizophrenic with an obsession in birds, his behavior and non-verbal body language begs the question of what he may or may not have seen that night he was out in the field.

Robinson’s web of connecting each character is intricate and speaks beyond what is expected of a novel with multiple points of view. She takes the small-town, “things-like-this-don’t-happen-here” backdrop and adds a multitude of secrets each character is keeping. She expands on self-destructive tendencies and their consequences, which each character possesses in their own way. It adds to their personalities, placing them at a more relatable level.

“A number of the characters and situations in Birds of Wonder are drawn from real-life experiences, either mine or those of people to whom I am close,” Robinson said in a press release.

Birds of Wonder speaks of unsettling yet timely themes, combining true crime with distinct characteristics that make for a non-stop page turner.

February 22, 2018 No comments

Photo courtesy of Ariel Kassulke

With a dream-catcher hanging off the centered microphone stand, a drum kit strategically placed at the front of the stage and a logo with a hand reaching out hung from behind, DREAMERS recent Chicago show was not your typical performance.

The Los Angeles-based rock band, formed in 2014, have played anywhere from hole-in-the-wall bars to massive summer festivals and arenas, but it is a happy in-between that they find themselves in to start their 2018.

Playing alongside New Politics for the Lost in Translation tour, DREAMERS brought their ‘A’ game to Chicago with songs from their debut LP, This Album Does Not Exist, and songs from their upcoming release, to be announced.

Most cases for opening acts involve a sense of having to prove themselves as they amp up the crowd before the headliner – which was not the case for this show. The audience was equally delighted to see the trio step out onto the stage and begin the opening notes of “Wolves (You Got Me)”.

The band came out to a pre-recording of Alan Watts, British philosopher, who spoke of the dream of life: simply meaning that life is what those make of it. One could dream for a night and only dream of fulfilling wishes, or one could let go of control of dreams and push boundaries until the dream mirrors the present.

"You would dream the dream of living the life that you are actually living today."

Guitarist Nick Wold, bassist Marc Nelson and drummer Jacob Wick all contributed vocals throughout the night, adding harmonies to Wold’s main vocals and giving each song an effortless approach. It’s a sound that will transport you to different genres that make up their influences, including Weezer and The Cranberries.

Their set list also included "Last Love Song", "Bleed Through", "Karma" and "Painkiller" as well as their cover of "Zombie" and popular singles "Drugs" and "Sweet Disaster".

Chicago has great meaning to them, as the city is one of the first that played them on the radio and Lollapalooza was one of their first major music festivals. This Chicago performance was no exception to their thunderous live shows. It was a performance that glowed not just in fluorescent lighting but in musical and lyrical talent.

While DREAMERS gears up for their second full-length album, Chicago will be gearing up for their return.

February 20, 2018 No comments

In 2012, Andre Rodriguez was attending the Art Institute in Los Angeles and working on his senior thesis for Audio Music Production. He decided that he rather create his own original content versus finding a band to record their music. Ultimately, this became the beginning for Coat Check Girl.

The first song written for his thesis was “Yellow | Blue | Red” which was inspired by a song he heard by a Colombian artist. Rodriguez also took inspiration from what would become his favorite band, My Chemical Romance. As the project was coming along, he enlisted the help of his friends who assisted in tracking vocals, drums and violin as well as his brother who tracked bass while visiting from out of town.

After he finished recording and began the mixing and mastering process, he received a decent amount of positive feedback. Not only were people impressed with the music, but they requested to see the band perform live.

“It was an interesting, long ride that just happened because it happened,” Rodriguez said. “I wasn’t actually trying to find a band. I thought I was going to be done with my thesis and was going to be a producer or engineer.”

He wasn’t actively searching for band members, but met Toby Harmans while working for Warner Music. Harmans recognized him from his former metal band and the two immediately hit it off as they were both from Venezuela. They discussed starting a band and as they jammed together, Harmans showed his roommate, Nate Rich, the material from Rodriguez’s thesis. A classmate of theirs, Alfi Lucero, was a bass player looking for a band, and Coat Check Girl was complete.

“It’s insane, to be honest,” Rodriguez said. “It was just going to be me writing a bunch of songs and try to sell them to people and make a living off of that if I’m lucky. It’s not that I didn’t want to play those songs live; it was that I never thought about playing them live. The thought didn’t go through my head. When we started playing those songs, it made me just want to write more and more.”

In 2014, Coat Check Girl played their first live show. The songs written for Rodriguez’s senior thesis were on the set list, and since then the band has been creating more original music. Their mentality of letting this project flow naturally has become a staple of their music – a staple that keeps surprising them and their audience.

February 15, 2018 No comments

Hannah is six years old; her brother Jack is four. And they’d like you to know that it’s been a while since they last reviewed a book.

The Beauchane children love a good book, even one beyond their reading level. Hannah has begun reading on her own and constantly challenges herself to complete any type of book. However, she made it very clear that she is not a fan of chapter books.

The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels is a series based around a third grader with an active imagination. In the latest addition to the series, Volume 4, The Double-Dog Dare, a new student named Zeke comes from a wealthy family and threatens to steal Michael’s best friend, Kenny, because of said wealth. This sparks a heated argument between Michael and Zeke, ultimately ending with a dare contest.

First, Zeke dared Michael to jump onto a table at Kenny’s birthday party and cluck like a chicken. Easy enough! But as retaliation, Michael brings out the double-dog dare and told Zeke he has to repeat everything their classmate Harriet says for an entire day. Michael’s plan is foiled, as he didn’t specify that Zeke had to repeat everything loud enough for the whole classroom to hear him.

As their double-dog dares get worse, they start to bend the rule of not requesting a dare that would hurt someone’s feelings. Feelings are ultimately hurt, and both of them learn valuable lessons when it comes to respect, open-mindedness and the value of true friendships.

Respect is a major lesson that Hannah and Jack caught onto early on. They thought it was silly that Michael and Zeke couldn’t share Kenny as their friend and didn’t like that their dares became mean. When they became disrespectful to their classmates Harriet and Absimil, they lost a bit of interest in the storyline as it wasn’t something they’ve experienced before.

There were quite a few concepts and phrases that were sprinkled throughout the book that had Hannah and Jack stop to ask questions. Words like “refugee” or “betrothed” or the concept of freedom in America were all topics beyond comprehension. While all great lessons, they are lessons that should be discussed at a much higher reading level - as this book is intended for grades first through fifth, it will be interesting to revisit when they’re at that level.

It’s safe to say, while they laughed and asked tons of questions, The Misadventures of Michael McMichaels: Vol. 4, The Double-Dog Dare will be one of their books that sits on the shelf until they’re a bit older.

February 13, 2018 No comments

Not very often is the band from high school the same one seen playing 10 years down the line. For Sub-Radio, these high school friends-turned-bandmates have been jamming together since 2009 and have a new EP coming out this spring.

After high school ended, the guys – Adam Bradley, Matthew Prodanovich, Michael Pereira, Barry Siford, John Fengya and Mike Chinen – attended three different colleges, but kept the band as one of their top priorities. Their practices ranged from once a month to nearly once a week, driving almost two and a half hours crashing on one another’s couches and floors.

“We all have a passion for music so it was worth it to us,” Chinen said.

“Honestly the driving part in itself was really cool because we got to make that long drive down but we had in depth conversations with each other,” Siford added. “We learned more about each other, talked about music and the things we like and we grew as a group.”

After releasing their first album, Same Train//Different Station, and a series of monthly singles, they’re back with their EP Head First. They took everything they learned from their six-month trial of releasing singles on a monthly basis and put those experiences into Head First. This time around they had the opportunity to take their time with the songwriting and recording processes, giving each song its own love and appreciation before moving onto the next.

“It was nice because with releasing the singles every month we realized that when we do that sometimes you end up rushing the material you release so it’s not always 100% what you what,” Chinen said. “It was nice to eventually put that aside and work together and spend months writing this new five- song EP.”

Head First is everything that Same Train//Different Station was, only with much more of a dance vibe. Some of their influences include Walk the Moon, Two Door Cinema Club, Misterwives and Smallpools – all bands that add unique elements to what would otherwise be classified as generic pop music – and these influences are heavily channeled throughout each track.

“It will make you move but at the same time there’s substance to each song,” Siford said. “We’re not putting out a pop song for the sake of getting people to move. We want definition to it and I think we bring that.”

With a schedule for an April release, Sub-Radio’s latest EP has unique elements that translate both through their recordings and live on stage. It’s an EP that has the effortless pop feel mixed with an indie/rock sound that’s sure to bring the summer vibes a little early.

February 08, 2018 No comments

In England, a City Technology College is a state-funded secondary school that costs nothing to its attendees. In 1992, the program established the BRIT School, a performing arts and technology school dedicated to providing its students a chance to establish careers in the arts, entertainment and communications industries. Some of its alumni include Adele, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J and Natalie Shay.

Shay’s musical journey began at age five, where she began training in classical guitar as well as musical theatre. At age 11 she was writing her own songs and played her first show at age 12. After becoming the winner of London’s Gigs Big Busks competition at age 13, it was the confidence boost she needed to audition for the BRIT School.

Since studying there for four years and graduating in May of 2017, her solo career has given her opportunities to play to sold-out audiences at some of London’s most iconic venues. She’s also added a lengthier list of awards to her resume, including London Music Award’s Best Undiscovered Talent and two-time winner of the Mayor of London Gigs.

Her debut single, “Follow You Home”, reached number 15 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts in 2014 before teaming up with producer Pete Dowsett in 2015. He is known for his work with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg and has done engineer work for various in-house and touring productions. It was a writing session between Dowsett and Shay that sparked her interest in continuing to work with him.

“He's so smart and creative and just a pleasure to work with,” Shay said. “Pete has great ideas and he understands the music I’m trying to make; I feel this is very important. He likes everything to be perfect and I like this, as it shows he is as passionate about my songs as I am.”

Her time in the studio has made her appreciate the importance of bringing live sound to her recordings, and her interest in going beyond typical production values is part of that reason. Playing live is her favorite aspect of what she does, so live instrumentation and sound is important both on and off the stage.

Her latest single, “This Feeling”, was written in 2015, produced in 2016, prepped for release in 2017 and released into the world in 2018. It’s the song that best represents the genre she’s going for and gives her the ability to highlight those powerhouse vocals. It’s relatable but not overly personal, making it the perfect stand-alone single.

With a degree from the BRIT School, an array of awards and a promising year, Natalie Shay’s musical journey is gearing up for the next chapter.

February 06, 2018 No comments

From writing song after song, bringing them into a recording studio, creating the perfect sound and replicating it as many times as necessary, getting those mixes back can feel like Christmas morning. At least, it did for Brandon Zastrow.

I, Alone is Zastrow’s project that he began in 2017. When deciding upon naming the project versus going the solo artist route, the symbolism of him being the lone mastermind behind it all was something he enjoyed.

“This journey lies in my hands, and only mine,” he said. “Yet still, if I ever decide to add to the group, the name can still apply in a rock and alternative environment. It's dynamic.”

His debut EP, Collateral Beauty, released in December and was created at CrossTrax Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. It was produced, engineered and mixed by former 12 Stone guitarist Justin Rimer, who also contributed to much of the instrumentation as well.

Zastrow went into the studio with around 25 songs before narrowing it down to six. Being able to take the music inside his head and put it out into the universe is the most enjoyable aspect for him, and the process went better than he could have expected thanks to his effortless working relationship with Rimer.

“There were only a small number of cooks in the kitchen and I believe that aided my record's consistency and cohesion,” Zastrow said. “We both have a focused vision on what we are looking to create beforehand. So with that, I find the studio a really rewarding process.”

Lyrically, the aesthetic with I, Alone involves a lot of symbolism and metaphor. He’s not the type to add anything into his songs just because it’s something that fits. He finds that painting broad yet descriptive pictures allows the listener to interpret the songs in a way that makes them applicable to their own lives. By doing this, interpretations thus far have been diverse and fiercely positive.

“A song is a journey and each phrase must set you up, or take you somewhere. I try not to put restrictions on my sound, but rather let the song call for what it needs. I have to let the listener take the message to their heart. I cannot do that myself,” Zastrow said.

It’s no surprise in addition to doing his homework before entering a studio, he’s done the same for all aspects of this project. He’s put in the time and effort to create quality music that has meaning and purpose. While his journey as I, Alone has just begun, it’s a journey he’s well-prepared for.

February 01, 2018 No comments

In a world full of superheroes, sometimes it’s hard to recognize the heroes that don’t have shields or hammers. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and can be heroic in places as small as their village or as big as an entire island. With Disney on Ice’s latest show, Dare to Dream, they showcase new and old heroes.

Director Patty Vincent and choreographer Cindy Stuart have brought many Disney stories to the ice, including Disney on Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Disney on Ice presents Follow Your Heart and Disney on Ice presents Let’s Celebrate!. Their backgrounds in ice skating and working with this very production have given them the ability to showcase their talents on and off the ice.

The female presence is prevalent in more ways than one at Disney on Ice. From Vincent and Stuart to the show’s female host to each princess, the concept of heroes – female heroes – is just the message that this generation of children needs.

Belle of Beauty and the Beast starts off the show, in an array of dancing silverware and pyrotechnics that ends in a surprising song and dress paying homage to the 2017 film. She not only saves her father from imprisonment, but saves the beast from a lifetime of punishment and shows her village that love is stronger than hate.

Anastasia and Drizella helps change scenes as the Fairy Godmother (along with the audience) Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo’s Cinderella’s pumpkin into a glimmering carriage. The music is subtle as the royal ball takes place and when the glass slipper finally finds its match, it’s Cinderella’s belief in a wish her heart made that gives her a happily ever after.

Although Flynn Rider thinks he’s the hero for saving Rapunzel from her tower, it’s her dream of seeing the lanterns – as well as the dreams of a few other ruffians – that at last brings her to the light. Her independence and fearless determination to get what she wants is her strongest trait and most powerful weapon.

Queen Elsa might have lost her way in terms of being herself, but her sister Anna is determined to prove that their love can thaw the most frozen of hearts. Embracing their dreams, as unlikely as they seem, is what makes the impossible possible.

The island of Motunui holds Moana, daughter of Tui and chosen one to return the heart to Te Fiti. Her perseverance through every obstacle gave her more and more strength to complete the task of returning the heart and showing kindness to the world.

Having the ability to harness superhuman strength or levitate isn’t what the definition of a hero typically is. Heroes are strong, but not always physically; heroes are powerful, but not through their fists or iron suits; heroes are tall, short, big, small, men and women. Disney on Ice’s Dare to Dream displays some of their most powerful heroes and shares the most beautiful life lessons.

January 30, 2018 No comments

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