From acting, to Rock Band, to DJ and Producer, London based artist Dillistone has quite the array of talents. Between his collaboration with singer-songwriter Aayushi, which found it’s way to Hypemachine’s most popular chart in 2015 and his recently released, three track, Furnace EP his abilities in singing, song writing and production have not gone unnoticed. The smooth melodies and soft vocals evoke emotion that pulls from Dillistone’s real life experiences making you not only hear the music, but feel it as well.
We had the chance to talk with the budding producer on everything worldly. Check it out below:
You’ve been around the world quite a bit. Between Copenhagen, Shanghai and London what has been different and similar musically between the three?
I think, being metropolises, all three are incredibly open to new styles and realise the value of supporting art. All three have incredible festivals, vibrant nightlife and fantastic musicians passionate about their music.
The key difference really is the music scene in China is rapidly trying to catch up to the West. China was only opened up in the late 80’s, so had no experience of contemporary music. While I was making music, there was a huge vibrant underground jazz, rock, punk, dubstep and drum and bass scene all at the same time, it was all very counter culture and so exciting. China is incredibly hungry for new sounds.
You got your start at age 16, that’s pretty young, at what point did you figure out you wanted to create this genre of music?
Once I had DJ-ed for a while, I started realizing that I wanted to play my own songs. There wasn’t really anyone I knew who was producing so I set about teaching myself, listening to others and being inspired by the music I was listening to.
How did the Chinese culture react to your music when you first started out? Were there any other artists trying to bring the same music to the area?
When I first started DJing people just stand and look. I don’t think they had never heard anything like it. It was crazy sharing what I loved with people who had never heard anything like it, and for them to feel the same way about it was amazing. I think a great song is universally understood, whether it’s Danish, English or Mandarin!
There weren’t a lot of well-known homegrown producers in Shanghai in the genres that I wanted to explore, so the Internet became my main access point to explore new styles and to get in contact with likeminded people. It has been an incredible sharing tool, and I have learnt so much from people I have never met.
Why London?
Just to add more cities to the mix, I actually studied in Liverpool! But I chose to come to London as it is a melting pot of creative minds, everyone has a side project they are working on, and it makes the atmosphere electric. There are so many incredible musicians and singers living in the city, something I haven’t always had access to.there are so many opportunities to get together and collaborate! Plus, it is one of the original Sin Cities, so I feel right at home!
How has your music progressed going from one city to the other?
I think having the opportunity to live in so many different places has allowed me to meet so many people who were much better than me. The feedback and tips and tricks they’ve taught me, helped push my sound to new levels, and being around more talented people has encouraged me to keep learning and to not settle for ‘ok’.
In China I was very much trying to find my footing and get a grasp on production. Coming to Liverpool and London has been more about now taking my understanding and collaborating with others to create music.
On a subconscious level, I think what you create is always influenced by you’re surroundings, so I like to think there is a little bit of the sky line of Shanghai, the peaceful tranquility of Copenhagen, and the hustle of London in my songs!
You were making all this music and then went to school for Acting, why did you choose that and is it still part of your career today?
I knew that I would always be involved in music for the rest of my life, but I was unsure if I would do that same with acting unless I studied it. So when I was given the opportunity to go to one the best performing arts universities in the UK, I could hardly turn that down. Coincidentally I also met my managers at LIPA, and we’ve been together since the beginning, so ironically I don’t think I would be anywhere near where I am with my music if I hadn’t studied Acting.
Growing up I’ve always loved acting and performing and as part of the arts, music and drama go hand in hand. Having studied ‘professional storytelling’ also helps every time I sit down to write a song.
On a personal level, drama school also forces you to come to terms with a lot of things about yourself, so it was an invaluable experience.
You also song write, what influences the lyrics of your music?
I try find inspiration in experiences in my life. As a song writer it’s been about trying to become as frank about those experiences as possible. It’s not always fun to tell the truth, but it’s definitely more interesting. I’m influenced a lot by what makes us sad or passionate, it’s something universally experienced and so I hope others can relate.
You just released your first EP, what was your inspiration for that? Are there any real life stories behind any of the tracks?
The songs are definitely attached to events in my life. ‘Furnace’ is a bit of a romantic look back at the beginning of some of the relationships I have been in. That exciting start to something where you don’t really know what to expect but you are just living in the moment, and testing the waters. Teasing each other and promising the world, without giving it all away.
If you could have an artist remix any of the EP tracks which artist and which track would you want remixed?
I would love for Evil Needle to use his melodic gifts on ‘Move On’! He is one of my all time favourites, and I’ve been an avid fan of his progressions and production for a long time. I think I have every song he has made ever.
Who do you look up to most as an artist?
I’m in awe of Gold Panda. He was one of the first artists I saw play a live set in a random field in Shanghai, and I was blown away. His sampling techniques and vocal chopping has been incredibly important for me, and I have great memories attached to nearly all of his songs. His samples are also perfectly imperfect and just work, it’s hard to explain. I could listen to ‘You’ all day.
Anything else coming up? Tour? US Shows?
Hopefully another EP by the end of the year, a few remixes for some great artists and if everything goes well a few shows in the UK (and maybe Denmark if it all works out).
Over all pretty exciting!
Connect with Dillistone:
https://www.facebook.com/DillistoneMusic
https://www.soundcloud.com/dillistone
https://www.instagram.com/dillistonemusic
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