Dylan Dunlap On Being A Mental Illness Advocate And New Single ‘Could Have Been Ours’

This singer-songwriter is amazing!

With over 50 Million streams on just Spotify alone, Dylan Dunlap has quickly made a strong name for himself in music. Today, he’s back with a brand new single ‘Could Have Been Ours’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Dylan about his songwriting process, dream collaboration, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue music as a career?

D: “Ever since I discovered the keyboard at age 6. I taught myself how to play a melody that had been sitting in my head for quite some time and here I am still doing the same thing!“

Tell us about your amazing new single ‘Could Have Been Ours’.

D: “Thank you. This one’s a big one for me. I don’t just want you to hear my frustration, but what I chose to do with it. All throughout the pandemic I felt like I was working as hard as I possibly could to please certain people in my life, but I didn’t necessarily feel safe, seen, or heard by them in return. This summer breakup anthem represents taking an incredibly difficult season and showing that you can still make something absolutely epic out of it.” 

What is your songwriting process usually like?

D: “All lyrics, syllables, chords, and melodies are intentional and serve a purpose in each song’s structure. There is so much noise happening inside my head at all times that I think my ability to hide away from the world & challenge my brain to craft the “perfect song” brings the volume down. I’m so grateful to be channeling my pain into art that not only has the power to help others, but has already helped me significantly.“

This single is a part of your upcoming EP. Can you tease what the EP might be like?

D: “Fingers crossed they let me answer this question soon. I WILL say this. This single is a part of something much bigger & more conceptual. On top of that, I have the next year and a half of my career fully mapped out and I will not stop releasing music anytime soon.“

If you could collaborate with any artist on a new single, who would it be and why?

D: “Chris Martin. We don’t even need to collaborate. I’d be happy to just grab coffee & play pianos together. I have never felt more connected to somebody’s brain and how they approach their instrument. Not to mention how important the family dynamic is for him and his band.“

On just Spotify alone, you have received well over 50 Million streams. Has your rising fame hit you yet? Is there anything you want to say to your fans reading?

D: “At DD HQ, it has been agreed upon that I will only allow my rising fame hit me if Chipotle & I make it official. I’m just going to keep my head down and keep grinding. If you’re out there and you’re listening, thank you! I’m grateful to have the tiny little role that I have in your life and hope it’s been helpful for you.“

You are a strong advocate for mental illness. What inspired you to give back?

D: “I guess I’ve never felt fully accepted for my own mental illnesses. Instead of waiting around for somebody to help me understand or learn how to live with everything, I have spent my entire adulthood teaching myself how to survive. I’m just grateful to still be here and the very least that I could do is share my story in hopes of preventing my experiences from happening again to somebody else.“

Do you have any advice for fans who might be struggling with mental illness?

D: “Speaking from recent experience, I know it feels like the absolute worst thing in the world in the moment.. but if you think you need help, please ask for help. I promise there are is support out there for you. (Please e-mail my team & I at serotoninsunday@gmail.com if you need any help accessing info/resources from any of the mental health organizations that I’ve had on Serotonin Sunday).”

What’s a fun fact about yourself that most of your fans might not know?

D: “I used to play this game in high school where I’d ask my friends to name 3 artists/bands that they loved. Then I’d recommend something new that I felt like they’d enjoy. I absolutely loved scouring iTunes top to bottom and trying to discover all the underdogs that were out there. Working on getting back to that place of listening to music for fun again 🙂.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

D: “LA, NYC, and Europe in the weeks/months ahead + @iamdylandunlap everywhere online! 
Thanks for the support everyone. I really enjoyed this interview 💙.”

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.