In conversation With #078 - Dylan E. Crampton
Irish singer-songwriter Dylan E. Crampton recently released his self-titled debut EP. We had a chat with him about the project, Ireland and what's next from him.
Congrats on the release of your debut EP! How does it feel to have it out in the world?
I have to say it feels great having new music out there, I’m really enjoying the feedback from people about the EP, it really inspires me to keep writing and recording!
What inspired each of the tracks and are there any overarching themes?
‘When I’m Sad’ started out as two different songs - so there are a few different meanings behind that one... It’s really inspired by my feelings about my parents break up and also the anxiety that I suffer with on a daily basis, but it’s also kind of a love song too ha! ‘On & On’ is one that I co-wrote with my brother Elliot - who played on and produced all the songs. It’s pretty much about growing up and the responsibilities that come with becoming an adult! This one is probably the most musical track as there is a lot of percussion used and a couple of musical sections without lyrics over them. ‘Pretty Clothes’ started out as a little fingerpicking guitar piece that I had for a while. I always thought it was kind of romantic and French-sounding and so I wrote some lyrics that I thought matched that kind of vibe. I’m a sucker for a good love song and so that’s what I aspired to write. ‘Oh Penelope’ is another one that Elliot and I wrote together. This started out as a tune that we loved jamming in the studio for fun and one day we decided to turn it into a proper song. This one is definitely inspired by the sounds of the sixties and seventies. It’s got a couple of dimensions, the bluesy riff that kicks it off and runs throughout, the stripped back verses and the fast harmony - infused choruses. It’s a fun one to play!
I can’t really say that there is any major theme running through this EP but I wanted to put out a collection of songs that got people moving, tapping their foot and hopefully made them cheer up if they needed it! I do hope people can relate to the songs too especially in the case of ‘When I’m Sad’ as this is probably the most personal song on the EP.
Do you have any behind the scenes stories from the recording process?
I really enjoyed the recording of this EP. I loved working with Daire Winston at Beechpark Studios on this as did Ell. It was my first time working in a professional studio and it was just a really cosy, safe, positive environment!
It was interesting because Ell and are always fighting with each other over stupid stuff ESPECIALLY when we’re recording (brotherly love!) but we had to reign it in and behave because we were working with Daire, so that was different! I like to say we’re like The Gallagher Brothers but better looking! We had the honour of getting to use one of Stepasides’ original guitar amps on ‘On & On’ - a really old and cool Fender amp. Stepaside was a great Irish Rock band.
Despite our current situation, how would you describe the gig scene in Ireland?
I think there is a really healthy gig scene in Ireland. I live in quite a small town in the East and there are about three really cool music venues that I’ve had the pleasure of playing in that always have something cool on. The next town up from mine has several bars and pubs that always have great local talent on too. Of course, Dublin has an array of really cool venues ... The Workman’s Club, Whelans, The Mercantile to name but a few, that always have gigs on. It’s the same North, South and West of the country. Galway in the west has a great music scene. Traditional music is definitely alive and well in Ireland too.
There are some clear iconic influences coming through in your music, but who would you say influences you that we wouldn't expect?
I’d say one of my biggest influences that you wouldn’t expect is Status Quo. I’m a huge Quo fan. This is really down to my Dad - he’s always been a Quo head. I even got to meet them when I was 12 years old backstage at the N.E.C in Birmingham. They say you should never meet your heroes but I’m so glad I did they were so cool and friendly! They wrote some of my all-time favourite songs ever. The Quo influence doesn’t really show in my songs but I’m not sure how because I pretty much listen to them every week and probably have done since I was very young!
This time, the current situation considered, what are your plans for the rest of 2020? If any... Thanks, Dylan!
My main plan for 2020 was and still is to keep working on my first album with Ell in our home studio! Definitely a good way to keep busy during a pandemic and it’s great having something like that to work towards! Thank you so much for the feature, rock on!