Spotlight Sounds; Episode Ten with Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets

Welcome back to Spotlight Sounds, a series by Secrets Behind the Sound celebrating the vibrant world of Irish music. Dive into the blend of tradition and innovation that characterises Ireland's contemporary music scene, featuring both established and emerging artists. Explore the influences and experiences shaping Irish musicians and join us as we delve into their creative processes, stories, and journeys. Through in-depth discussions, Secrets Behind The Sound recognises the groundbreaking contributions of Irish artists to global creativity. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, Spotlight Sounds invites you to explore the captivating realm of Irish music—a journey into the stories, sounds, and enigmas that make up Ireland's music scene.

On this week's episode we have Limerick's own, Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets. This five-piece ensemble cater to the often-overlooked twenty-somethings, like myself, in Ireland, crafting tracks that resonates with the struggles of this demographic. This up-and-coming band have amassed over 500,000 streams on Spotify, scored support slots alongside emerging Irish bands NewDad and Milk., and enchanted audiences in sold-out venues across Ireland. The indie-rock band blend elements of Alt-Country and Americana into their tracks, taking influence from artists like The War on Drugs, Bon Iver, and The 1975.

Originating from their meeting in college in Limerick, the band utilises their music to explore profound themes of loss, relationships, and mental health. With dynamic live performances and self-produced releases that have gained attention from outlets like Hot Press and Indie Buddie, this indie-rock outfit is swiftly rising in the Irish music scene. Notably, early last year, Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets marked their presence with the release of their debut album, How Are You Feeling Today?.

Can you start by introducing the band and your musical background?

My name is Dylan, and I'm the lead singer/guitarist in Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets. We are a 5-piece Indie-Rock/Americana band from Limerick City. The rest of the band is made up of Keagan on Lead Guitar, Chris on Sax/Keys, Killian on Bass and Evan on Drums.

How would you define the genre you as a band primarily identify with, and how do you incorporate other influences into your sound?

I think at our core we are an Indie-Rock band, but we definitely lean in to other genres in our music. Over the last two years, Alt-country and Americana have been big influences on not only my song-writing, but our instrumentation too. Another genre that often comes to mind is 90s Alt Rock. We definitely have a more immediate and loud side, especially playing live, and that's definitely coming through on our new stuff.

What are some of the challenges Irish artists face in today's music industry?

Ireland is a really small place, and with their being so many bands, but not that many places to play, it can be hard to tour. We have been very lucky to have played a lot last year, but for acts just starting off it can be really hard to get your foot in the door of the venues. I think that's down to the lack of venues in most towns and cities- there is a really high demand for these spaces, and the venues can't accommodate everyone.

In what ways does your music reflect your Irish identity or connect with the local culture?

Musically we are always looking for ways to weave Irish influences into our tracks in authentic ways. We look up to acts such as Lankum, John Francis Flynn and Ye Vagabonds and what they are doing to move traditional music forward. It's really inspiring to watch them blend other genres with traditional music, and for it to be received so well at an international level. When it comes to identity, we try to write about our experiences in our city and the people we meet. I think that's what resonates with us, but also our friends and people we meet at shows. I find people really connect with someone who is talking about issues such as housing, homelessness, emigration, and mental health, because they are either going through the same thing or know someone who is.

Can you walk us through the creative process when writing and composing music?

The process has changed over the last couple of years, but the way we are working right now is the most fun we have had making tunes so far. It starts with me writing a song on the acoustic guitar, usually the full way through, before bringing it to our drummer, Evan. Between me and him we feel out the vibe of the track and what direction it's going to go in. From there we often create a rough demo of drums, bass, guitar and vocals that we will send to the rest of the band. Everyone listens to it, works on parts, and we get in the room and play it. Before it was a lot of working on parts on a laptop by myself but that got really boring, and the collaborative nature of how we work now is a lot more fun.

In your opinion, what role do live performances and venues play in the Irish music scene today?

I think live performances are key to growing as an artist in Ireland. It's where you meet new people, grow your audience, sell merch and most of all, have fun. Without that, being in a band becomes very difficult. As I mentioned earlier, the lack of venues in some places is a really big issue. It's stopping so many people from getting up on stage and playing in front of people. Social media can be great, but when you're starting off, word of mouth from live shows can be huge for an artist.

Diversity is an important aspect of any music scene. How do you think your band's music contributes to the diversity of the Irish music scene?

Diversity is something that we always keep in mind in all aspects of our music. Whether that be live shows, musical collaborations, photographers/videographers etc. it's important to be inclusive and be knowing of it. I'm highly aware we are 5 white guys in a band, so it's important to surround ourselves with people of different cultures, genders and race. Irish radio is one of the biggest problems when it comes to this. The lack of diversity when it comes to what is played can be shocking at times.

As an Irish band, what advice have you got for other artists trying to navigate the industry and find their unique voice?

I think the biggest thing is to take your time developing your sound, and to understand that this can take awhile. You don't need to sound like a polished, fully formed artists straight away, that's not what's important. It's about being creative, trying new things, and having fun playing with your friends. Navigating the industry should come after you have done that- if you focus on that side of things too early it can really get in your head.

What can listeners expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming releases, collabs or projects you're excited about?

We are going to be taking a break from shows for a little bit as we are finishing off a lot of new music. We have some new singles coming soon, as well as some videos we are excited about, so keep an eye on our socials.

I am going to finish off by asking you, what is the most bizzare fan/show experience you've had?

I think the most surreal moment for me was when we played our first London show last year. The crowd was filled with people we didn't know, singing the words to songs that had come out a couple of weeks beforehand. That really made me reflect on how lucky we are to be able to play these shows.