Dylan Andre: Music’s In His DNA

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D.N.A: Dylan Andre Dylan Nathaniel Andre otherwise branded as DNA is a singer turned MC turned Nashville Unsigned Alumni. We got the pleasure to sit down and talk with him for our Red Couch Late Night series, welcoming him to our Class 13 and now over 110+ exclusive Alumni. Who is Dylan Andre? Dylan is ...

D.N.A:

Dylan Andre

dylan andre click music video nashville unsigned Dylan Nathaniel Andre otherwise branded as DNA is a singer turned MC turned Nashville Unsigned Alumni. We got the pleasure to sit down and talk with him for our Red Couch Late Night series, welcoming him to our Class 13 and now over 110+ exclusive Alumni. Who is Dylan Andre? Dylan is a man of many talents. Singer who rose to the top of America’s Got Talent. MC dropping mixtapes that put a spotlight on his past. Video and Music Producer, because well, when you’re an independent musician it’s better to know how to make killer content without shelling out thousands of dollars.

He has had a hard fought journey to get here. None of this comes easy. How does it go again “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…“. You know who said that. Theodore Roosevelt (aka Teddy Bear). Dylan hasn’t had a cookie cutter life to say the least. Growing up surrounded by alcoholism & depression. Taking care of his mother while being bullied by other around him. It’s a heavy burden that can and will take a toll on anyone.

Trust me, as someone who grew up in a similar life situation and in a neighborhood that it’s easy to fall into the “cycle”; I know how easy it is to just feel stuck. To be stuck. To think there is nothing to turn to other than what you know. Dylan chose a different route. He found the outlet that he needed & took all that was happening around him and channeled it. He turned to music.

Breaking Point

In everyone’s life they find themselves in a time that in how we respond to it can define the rest of our lives. Dylan Andre found himself at one of these moments in life back in 2o14. After years and years of physical and mental abuse taking its toll he had a breaking point. This is when he had to decide how to proceed. Keep pushing forward with a promising music career or focus on repairing his mental health. His family and friends not aware of what was happening.

With the recommendation from a close friend who later passed he chose to focus on his mental health. Taking the right steps for years and in doing so came to a place of growth. After 5 years he became a new man. Married and an elevated sense of self-worth he dusted off the pen, pad, and mic. Refocused and determined he made his mixtape titled DSM-5. From there; he was back, because music’s in his DNA.

New Beginnings

After getting drunk on an airplane and having a layover in Nashville (check out our Red Couch Interview with Dylan for that back story), he brought his talents to Music City USA. He started working on some singles. He kept working. Kept Working. You guessed it, and kept on working. As a result, he had a bunch of songs he liked, that the end of it all, fit together.

Against his managers suggestion decided to officially put out an album. That album dropped on May 31, 2019 titled Psycho Theory. A completely self-produced and written album he also directed and shot his videos with his wife. As the resident Rap/Hip-Hop guy I will get carried away. So I’m going to stop now. We have an album review for you with all our juicy takes coming. Stay tuned… or just tune into the record yourself.

Psycho Theory

Psycho: Short for Psychology

Theory: Dylan’s study of his own Psychology

Psycho Theory in a sense is a look inside Dylan’s own journey discovering what make’s him Click

Backstory

…Thanks for hanging out during the commercial break. I’m back. Hopefully you got a chance to listen to the record by the time you’ve made it here. Lets talk music. Psycho Theory is a 10 track record that gives you more truth about DNA, his past, and his growth than you may realize. DNA started off as a Folk singer-songwriter. You read that right. You can’t hear any influence of his past style in this new album at all. He said ‘That’s all Folks‘ to being a folk singer.

This album is all grit and grind like the Memphis Grizzlies of old. This album is pure hip-hop down to even how it got done. The beauty of Rap/Hip-Hop music is I’d consider it one of the most mobile processes along with Modern R&B and Pop. With VSTs and Engineering software what it is you can record vocals in the worst environment and get it to sound crispy. Dylan took the ground level approach. I’m sure you’ve heard of “Bedroom” albums (Recording in someones bedroom. Damn sure you haven’t heard of “Ford Focus” albums. Psycho Theory was written, produced and recorded by Dylan in his Ford Focus in 15 days. No man can do it alone though. His wife Laresa Andre shot the Album art and is the mastermind behind his music videos. If you’re digging the visuals definitely thank her for sure!

The Music

Click | Another Level

You’ve already been given a backdrop to Dylan above. So no need for me to repeat it when I say this album touches on so much. We are given Click to start the album that is just that nasty cinematic Hip Hop that makes you think final Fast & Furious chase. It’s an epic way to start a project. Another Level continues hitting is with some hard hitting Violin licks & spit-fire lyrics. This is the motivation record “Get up on your own two, Don’t ever let em tell you what you goin’ do”.

Relentless | Not As I Do

Continuing, the third song Relentless brings a dark ominous piano and some more up-beat violins that touches on his nature to keep going every day. Using the music itself as therapy regardless what people think. Not As I Do is about individuality. “You ain’t Andre, gotta find you” is a constant in the hook as Dylan is able to keep the syllables and rhyme mirroring in tact through each hook while giving us something new each time. It’s always a refreshing take when an artist is able to (ford) focus in on his writing that keeps the listener on his/her toes.

Legend | Look At Me Now

Furthermore Legend hit us with a Tyler Joseph meets Eminem quick punch rapping style on top of a simplistic dark production that highlights what DNA is saying. That is to say he shows us his skills if you haven’t realized it yet. However, Look At Me Now has a relaxed high hat and a muted piano lick that as a result gives the listener a full focus on DNA’s rapping that leads into singing hook. As a result, this song is aggressive but has its moments that feel more a natural flow, that give us a look into his softer rapping.

Down I Go | Back Then

After, Down I Go begins with a soft piano and tranquil female vocals that sends the listener into a trance before the hard hitting kick drums hit into your soul. Additionally, this track actually came from DSM-5 but because its sound and message fit so well in the collective, down Dylan went to resurrect it from the vault. Back Then is an emotional song that gives us as listeners a strait forward sight into Dylan and what he’s gone through. You feel it when he’s talking about coming home with bloody noses, not trying to feel alone, wanting to fit in, and trying to not let people get under his skin cause he’d built up his confidence. Of all the tracks on the project this is the glass window.

Too Late To Run | Insanity

We’ve come to the the backend of the record. By no means though does it mean these songs aren’t integral to the collective of the album. As you may recall Dylan after his break had a friend tell him to get help. That friend also passed. Too Late To Run details the repercussions of his death and the toll it had on Dylan. This is the song that made me cry. I’ve lost friends and my older brother and the line “I’m telling you I miss you; Loosing a brother give everything in this mother fucker to hit you on the line” just hit me right in that void. You can hear the pain & passion in his voice as he’s recalling everything that made their bond special.

Lastly, Insanity closes out the album. This is the song that started the whole thing. Writing this song is what sparked the inspiration for the project to come together. How fitting to close the album with the song that started it all. This 2:07 track has us listening to bar after bar after bar of high energy hip hop. Now knowing this is the song that started it all you can see where the dark-emotional vibe with pianos and violins highlighting the productions throughout.

That’s All Folk’s

Dylan Andre is a man who has seen his fair share in his day. Who has gone through it himself. He chose to take his pain & his struggles and turn them into art. He has owned his own mental health and turned them into audio and visual representation for the world to listen in Psycho Theory. People like him give a light of hope to those who are growing up in the same environment. This album is the glass window to see into Dylan and relate to his struggles. To those who are dealing with their own mental health issues. Dylan is someone that a lot of people can look too and be motivated by. That you can still chase your dreams and deal with keeping your health in check.

I salute you Dylan. You’re a good dude and you make some damn good music. That is an undeniable truth. Can’t wait to see where you and your music go from here.

Socialize

If you’d like to find all things Dylan Andre including his new music, his new music video for “Click”, show dates, and everything else in-between go to: https://www.dylanandre.com/

I won’t leave you hanging though. I know you want the good stuff. So I’ll give you the good stuff: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, and SPOTIFY