A Quick Chat With Dylan Pinkerton
Naarm/ Melbourne-based songwriter, storyteller and producer, Dylan Pinkerton, has released a gem in the form of his new electro-pop track ‘One That You Love’. Although he has just a few releases under his belt as a solo artist he has a plethora of experience having played over the US and AUS in various projects since 2012 including huge festivals including Splendour In The Grass and Bluesfest. This polished new release from Dylan has grabbed our attention, so we caught up with him to find out more about it, his process and more.
Can you tell us what this track means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
To me 'One that you love' is about seeing through someone and realising that they are more than flesh and blood, that they have a beauty which extends beyond our physical world. Dance, cry, reflect, in the end I just want people to have a bop and think about someone they love.
Who are some of your influences and why?
Early on my biggest inspirations were Matt Bellamy from Muse and John Mayer. They really influenced the way I sing in falsetto, and you can hear that in ‘One that you love’. More recently though I’ve been taking influences from pop artists like Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber. I really enjoy a short, catchy high production song that you want to play on repeat.
What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
I record everything in my home studio in Melbourne. Generally songs either come out in a day as a flash of words and sounds, or it takes months of writing and reworking. ‘One that you love’ was one of those songs that was almost completely written within an hour. I had produced the main elements you hear in the first minute of the song, however in true Dylan fashion I lost track of time and realised I was about to be late for an appointment so I quickly grabbed my microphone and improvised the first minute of the vocal melodies, lyrics and well… they stuck.
From there I sent the track to Jordan Leonard who co-produced and mixed the track. He’s such a gun at production and added in lots of extra percussive elements, vocal effects and synth layers.
What do you think makes a great song?
The heart of a great song is a message or story people can identify with. As songwriters our music sets the tone of so many moments in life, from weddings, parties and even our saddest moments. If you identify with the words and the feeling in that moment, it's a great song.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Working with someone like Justin Bieber or Ed Sheeran would be a dream. It would be amazing to work with such talented songwriters and be surrounded by a creative team to make sure a song reaches as many people as possible.
When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
I rarely get time away from music these days, but when I do though I’m usually riding through Melbournes many parks, playing squash or reading a fantasy book and drinking a big ol coffee.
Who are some local bands we should check out?
Well Genniie Boy comes to mind first, Alisha and Scott are legends and releasing some slick tunes. I'm actually still feeling out the scene in Melbourne so please dm me if you're a Melbourne based pop artist and want to put on some shows in 2023!
Winter or summer and why?
My favorite thing is to play music outdoors in the sunshine, but the Melbourne sun is a harsh mistress. Sign me up for spring please!
What else do you have planned for the year?
Definitely a few swims in the ocean, and cold ones this summer are on the agenda. Music wise I literally just finished a song I wrote for my best friend and showed them this week, it was super wholesome. So expect more music very soon.
Follow Dylan Pinkerton
Website | Facebook | Instagram @dylanpinkerton | Triple J Unearthed | Youtube