It’s always thrilling to find an artist who skillfully incorporates the inspiration from the great musicians with their own style. Dylan Wager’s recent single, “Lay It on Me,” is a smooth soft rock song that is inspired by the songwriting of Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, and Thundercat.
The chord progressions are creative, the guitars are soulful, the drums are laid-back, the bass line is funky and the synthesizers are vintage, all of which make this track pulsate with a nostalgic yet fresh energy.
The harmony of the vocals stacked on top of each other is so beautiful that it tells a relatable story about the need for physical intimacy in the age of digital connections, and, thus, it prepares the stage for two more singles before the release of his full album in June.
Folks who are into smooth grooves and soulful vocals, “Lay It on Me” is here to make your heart beat faster and your feet start to tap. From the punchy drum beats and dreamy guitar riffs to Wager’s rich, velvety voice that croons with effortless romanticism, this song immediately turns the dance floor into a party. The bridge has a driving, contagious guitar solo that gives a feeling of excitement to the song’s smooth and gentle vibe.
Dylan Wager, being from a musical family, has shown with this single that he has the talent, charisma, and sound to make a significant impact on the music scene. With his sophomore album, “Soft Chain,” which is going to be released this spring, there are many things to anticipate.
In this exclusive interview, we will find out Wager’s inspirations, his creative process, and the path to the creation of “Lay It on Me. ” We will also talk about the artist behind the music and what the future holds for Dylan Wager.
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What is your stage name
Dylan Wager. My last name is pronounced “Way-Grr”. It’s my real name.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in a lot of different types of music I listen to. Most of the time, the overall texture of a song will inspire me. For example, recently I’ve really been enjoying the Low Fidelity textures of Mk.gee and MacDemarco. What I’m obsessed with is always changing though so if you ask me the same question next week, I might give you a different answer. I also find inspiration for lyrics in my personal life and observing my thoughts on the world.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
I remember the first time I really liked a song. I was probably 5 years old. I was in the car with my dad and we were listening to the radio. “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon came on and I remember asking my dad what song that was because I liked it so much. Soon after that I got an iPod for Christmas. It had a bunch of popular songs from the early 2000’s that my sister had loaded up on there. “Baby got back” was probably my favorite one on there. It was awesome.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Yes I am. My grandfather was in a surf rock band called The Chantays. He wrote the popular song “Pipeline” in 1963. My parents are musicians as well. My dad plays guitar and my mom sings. They still perform together to this day. My brother also composes and plays piano and drums.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
I always liked music growing up, but when I was 14, I watched John Mayer’s live album “Where the Light is”. The whole time while watching it, I was just thinking “yes. That is what I want to do. Write and record songs and play them for people.” And I’ve been chasing that dream ever since.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
I learned my first guitar chords when I was 12 from my Dad, who also plays guitar. We still talk about music theory and guitar knowledge and jam to this day. After that I kept learning more songs and exploring the guitar. When I was in highschool I joined the jazz band and that helped to push me to learn more complex chords and it forced me to get better. I honestly learned how to write songs by just writing a lot of songs. The first songs I wrote were bad but it was just fun to write them. After writing a bunch you get the hang of things.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
My first concert was the Neon Trees. They are from my town of Murrieta and they performed at my highschool.
How could you describe your music?
I would describe it groove driven, very inspired by 70’s and 80’s, with everything from slow grooves to fast rock beats.
Describe your creative process.
For me, a song starts with having a single lyric come to me, I’ll write it down, and then and I’ll come back to it later and write lyrics around that idea. Same goes for a short chord progression or a melody that will come to me. I don’t write a whole song at once. Usually I’ll have a random musical phrase come to me, and then it’s a lot of hard work to write the rest of the song around that single small idea. My brother calls these small ideas “song seeds”.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Yes. I feel like my music has evolved to become more like myself. As I’ve gotten better over the years, my art becomes a more accurate representation of me.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
No one. The only one I’m competing with is myself to get better. Everyone’s on their own journey.
What are your interests outside of music?
I like learning about lots of things, I like playing chess, yo-yoing, learning about quantum physics, space, skateboarding, and hanging out with my girlfriend are some things.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
I’d probably try to become and engineer of some sort. Maybe a train driver.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
The biggest problem is having constant motivation. Burnout is a real thing. sometimes I’ll try to keep pushing myself because I want to be satisfied with a song even when I’m burned out and need a break. Usually I just have to remember that I can come back to it later and it’ll be fine.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I wish that so much of the music industry didn’t rely on how much money you had. It’s possible to work as hard as possible but realistically you’re going need to pay for something to get to the next level. I’m not sure what the solution to that is, but it’s just reality currently.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
My album coming out in June ‘24 is called “Soft Chain”. The name refers to the impossibly brief gap between the past and the future, and how we live right in the center of it. Each of these tiny events are like a chain of time linking everything together, even though we only ever have one single individual link. So the world is like a soft chain of events that we move along.
What are your plans for the coming months?
I’m looking forward to performing these songs live and spreading my music!
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
I already do collaborate. My best friend Asher Rowland, from San Diego based band Exotic Fruit Tour, plays bass on the Soft Chain album. He and I are always working on new music. I also had Aaron Sterling record drums for Soft Chain. He’s an amazing drummer who’s established in the music industry, so it was an absolute dream to be able to work with him on the album.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
I would like to say thank you and I love you guys! I appreciate everyone who listens to my music and enjoys it. This music was made for not only me but everyone who likes to listen too. I hope to see and meet everyone at a show sometime soon.
