INTERVIEW WITH... ALTERNATIVE HIP-HOP ARTIST DYLAN CARTLIDGE

An 'Artist To Watch' the electric musical stylings of Dylan Cartlidge is something to take note of. The singer and multi-instrumentalist was in “The Mighty Redcar”. A BBC documentary about the lives of young people in small town U.K. A few years on now signed to Glassnote Records. Dylan fuses Hip-Hop, Soul, Rock, and Funk to create his often trippy blend of tunes. One of which, “Yellow Brick Road” has hit the Alternative Airplay charts. I chatted with Dylan Cartlidge over email we chat his music, Glastonbury, and ramen!


THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Tell us more about how you got started as a musician and singer-songwriter?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: I began rapping at the age of 13 and then at 18 I managed to broaden my horizons after finally listening to music with live instruments. I learned to play a few and here I am, a few years later!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Let’s talk a bit about your current releases ‘Cheerleader’ and ’Yellow Brick Road’. ’Yellow Brick Road’ just hit the Alternative charts and is getting radio airplay. What is the backstory behind both tracks? How has the writing and recording process been like for the upcoming EP?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Yes, Cheerleader & Yellow Brick Road were written around the same sort of time. YBR was the first song I’d written in a kinda big studio with an amazing producer and friend called James Dring, who I also worked with on Cheerleader. I went into YBR still working in a bar and not knowing whether this was going to be the first and the last fancy studio session I was ever going to do so the song ended up encapsulating those feelings. Cheerleader was the realisation that this wasn’t going to be the last time & that actually, I need to believe in myself a little more when faced with a seemingly daunting task and not write myself off before I see what I’m fully capable off

https://youtu.be/hEFzSLTTW_o

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: If you could collaborate with any artist who would you pick and why?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Andre 3000 - the combination of our random noises and funny voices would be too much to handle I think. I would love that shiz!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What’s your earliest musical memory?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Listening to random CDs and Tapes that were left around the house I grew up in.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: You were featured on a BBC documentary called “The Mighty Redcar”. How do you think that changed your perspective on life and as a songwriter? Or changed your life and outlook in general?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: I learned a lot of things about the recording process and the people involved in documentary filmmaking that I didn’t know before. It gave me an insight to how my personality and elements of my life are viewed from a third person perspective and that’s interesting to me.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Switching gears... Here’s a fun one... If you could live in any fictional universe, which would you choose?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Ayyy, love this question! Ok, it's definitely going to be an Anime then because I love Anime world building. Or a horror movie as crazy as that sounds. There’s always been a like weird fantasy I’ve had at times of wanting to live in a zombie apocalypse because it looks so cool & stoic in the movies. But I imagine in practice it would be horrendous lol! Failing that, it has to be either Hunter x Hunter as the world building is mega and the way it is all entered around peoples life forces and how the choices people make, can either maximise or diminish your potential OR maybe the game The Witcher 3 - who wouldn’t want to be the ultimate badass in a crazy fantasy world.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Hearing the clear hip-hop and rap influence in your music. What’s your favorite ’90s hip-hop jam?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Too many to name but Big L - Put it On, AZ - The Format or Biz Markie - Just A friend, I’m a relic from the era where rappers weren’t afraid to sing and sound trash, love that shiz “YOOOU, YOU GOT WHAT I NEEED"

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Do you feel that writing about important societal, political, or environmental issues is something that’s essential to being a musician today?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: I think everybody has a truth and for a lot of people that truth involves all of the above issues and it has been that way since the dawn I think. Music is a great tool to be heard, sometimes for the best sometimes for the worst but overall, talking about big issues is essential to music and society today tbh!

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: You played Glastonbury last year for the first time ever. What was that experience like? Did you get to check out any other sets?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Awwww man, it was absolutely wild! I got to play with my friends and family right there and lose my shiz to Tom Odell, Tame Impala, Hot Chip plus a load more artists I vibe with.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What artists and music are you listening to lately? Any playlists?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: All over Benee, Gus Dapperton & Oliver Tree atm, as well as Giant Rooks

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: To end... I peeped your Instagram and I saw that you really like ramen. What is your favorite place to eat ramen?

DYLAN CARTLIDGE: Yes! Mu Ramen in Long Island City NY hands down…best ramen in my world so far (although I haven’t made it to Japan yet)!

Dylan Cartlidge's new EP “Yellow Brick Road” is out now.

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