Dylan Cartlidge's new single Molasses (Walk The Walk) is out now! We chat to the musician about the release and more.
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English musician Dylan Cartlidge shared his first release of the year last week, has new single Molasses (Walk The Walk).
The groovy release is crafted in Cartlidge’s signature sound, taking his listeners on a ride through different emotions and exposing them to sounds that they may have never heard before. Layered in gorgeous harmonies that command your attention from start to finish, Cartlidge’s vocals truly shine throughout as the track plays with variety, tone and instrumental layering. The composition and production of the track coheres beautifully with the clever lyrics, the signature genius eclectic artistry that is Dylan Cartlidge on full display.
Having grown up small town in the North-East of England, Cartlidge has turned the phrase "Hope Above Adversity" into his motto. His life path took a turn out of being submerged in adversity and gave him hope for his future when he was spotted and signed to Glassnote Records in 2018. With two EP releases under his belt, Cartlidge uses his music to expertly shift between genres, creating his own unique soundscape to every track he brings to life.
Molasses (Walk The Walk) is out now! Read our full interview with Dylan Cartlidge below!
Tell us a bit about how you began your musical journey...
Unfortunately, through circumstances out of my control as a child, I began writing raps about my experiences to make a positive out of something wholly rooted in a stark negative reality of what my childhood was & that is where my relationship with music and myself truly began.
Congratulations on the release of your new single Molasses (Walk The Walk). What inspired the conceptual standpoint of the song?
For me, the song is about almost being a slave to ideals and confident words & plans you set out in the height of feeling yourself and it is about that moment when you're in the middle of doing what you’d set out to do, only to find the person that made these plans, is now absent & the naked n’ afraid husky version on yourself that exists when you feel intense negative emotions usually at the most inconvenient and unplanned times. And just that initial denial you feel when you find yourself scrambling to find that confident person with all the answers when people are waiting for you to be the best version of yourself.
The track features stellar layered harmonies atop electric production with instrumental layering that plays with different tone and textures.How did you craft the sonic soundscape of the song?
It started as a bass riff and progressed into something else entirely, and bounced around a few different sets of hands before eventually becoming the song you hear today.
If Molasses (Walk The Walk) was a piece of visual art, which artwork would it be?
That famous picture of the person screaming.
What messages do you hope listeners take away from the song?
Ride out the bad ones, ride on the good ones. Don’t put crazy pressure on yourself, life is tough enough already.
Could you tell us a bit about your creative process when writing and recording songs?
It's very cathartic for me. It almost always comes from where I’m at in my head, and it's usually totally improvisational as I feel that gets me as close to my most authentic self as possible. I wrote this song with Ed from the Glass Animals who is an absolute sweetheart so it was super fun.
Did you encounter any challenges whilst creating music during the COVID-19 pandemic, or did it allow you the time and space to immerse yourself within this musical project?
The hardest thing for me personally is the coldness of the thing. I’m somebody who thrives off the personal feeling of being in a room, meeting with somebody getting to know somebody and creating together, reading cues, vibes and body language, but it just feels hella impersonal and stiff on zoom and almost sucks the best bits out of it for me if you are working with somebody you haven’t done before. But I’ve also written an album over zoom in lockdown, so what do I know? :’)
Will you be dropping a full length release this year? And what can fans expect from your future releases?
A full length project will be coming this year, and I think a lot of people are going to be surprised. It has been a lifetime in the making and hopefully represents my journey.
The current pandemic has obviously put a halt to touring and performing live, what are your touring plans post pandemic. What can people expect from one of your live shows and do you hope to visit Aussie shores when able to do so?
It would be a dream to play down under, I’m a massive fan of a lot of the vibes and cool music that just seems to effortlessly ooze out of that island! Love it! And when this is all over, deffo coming for a jam.
RAPID FIRE
Biggest influences?
Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco, Stromae, Cage The Elephant.
Dream collaboration?
Kid Cudi, Cage The Elephant.
Album that has had the most impact on you?
Man On The Moon (Kid Cudi), Blackroc (The Black Keys), Elephant, Songs in the Key Of Life (Stevie Wonder).
How do you define your musical style in 3 words?
Crazy Black Guy.
A musical release you’re most looking forward to in 2021?
Love to hear some new stuff from Oliver Tree, guy's dope af.
If you could create the soundtrack for any film, which one would it be?
Pretty much any horror movie, maybe WWZ 2. Was proper jealous Matt Bellamy did the first! It was great.
Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus?
Hannah Montana all day, escapism at its best!
Album you would listen to on repeat on a road trip?
Always try to find something new, so usually there is just whatever new music everybody has heard on the aux cable! aahah.
Best concert you have been to?
Cage The Elephant.
Last concert you went to?
Cage The Elephant.
If you were a Spice Girl, what would your spice nickname be?
Hairy Spice.
Guilty music pleasure?
Charli XCX.
If you could support any artist on tour, who would it be?
Royal Blood, those guys look like a right laugh.
An artist you think has had the most influence on the music industry.
The Weeknd or Kanye West.
What advice would your current self, give your future self, for a year from now?
We’ll get through this and told you so.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
When I knew you can turn reality into fiction with art.