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Brennan Dylan Interview
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Posted by Gham 666 on June 8, 2013 at 9:33 in Interviews
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Trashbrat ...
Posted by Gham 666 on June 8, 2013 at 9:33 in Interviews
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Trashbrat is back, and this time she has a full interview with Brennan Dylan, guitar virtuoso and all round nice fella. We'd like to say thanks again to Brennan for taking the time to do the interview and look forward to more from him soon.
Trashbrat13: Hey Brennan! Thank you for taking time out of your crazy schedule to do this interview for us! It's much appreciated.
You are a phenomenal guitarist by the way! At what age did you start playing and what was it that prompted you to pick up the guitar in the first place?
bd: Oh you are welcome. Thank you for having me and by the way, also, I love the compliment. I play guitar, write and perform for people like you, people who appreciate what I do. The money fuckin' sucks (LOL) but I really enjoy what I do. I picked up a guitar for the first time when I was 14. My Dad had one stashed in the basement for 20 years. While the house was getting renovated 2 workers discovered it, pulled it out and had a go at it. As you'd say in the UK, 'cheeky fuckers' for doing that but as it turned out that moment was the turning point which got me involved with guitar and away from the sax. When I picked the beast up it felt like a perfect fit and since sax taught me to play single note melodies the transition was pretty smooth.
Trashbrat13: Your style of playing encompasses so many genres. Who would you say are your main musical influences?
bd: My very first influences were Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and swing….mainly Benny Goodman. When I moved to guitar I studied rippin' bands like Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Megadeth and Motley Crue. When I was 15 I switched to classical guitar and incorporated what I was learning there in my rock compositions. At that time I got every 80's rock and metal CD and DVD I could get my mitts on, studied them and studied them some more. Also, I started playing improv rock, jazz and blues at a club several times a week. My influences broadened at lot because of my exposure to so many older artists I tore with. We played a lot of Dick Dale, Doors, Pink Floyd, George Thorogood, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson and even Jefferson Airplane. When I was 18 I got involved with the electronic scene and began fusing hard rock, metal and neoclassical guitar to techno, electro, electronica, industrial and eventually dubstep. But things really ramped up when I studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston. There I studied practically every style conceivable. Guys like Stevie Wonder, The Allman Brothers, Uli John Roth, Jeff Beck and of course the king of them all Paganini. I experimented with pedals and effects while there but concluded that the real guitar greats get their sound from their guitar without a football field sized pedal board. So I sold all of my pedals and effects but one, a Dod YJM308. To evaporate the melting pot I've been exposed to down to size I'd have to say that my main influences in no particular order are Jeff Beck, Paganini, Bach, Benny Goodman, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, Malmsteen, Dick Dale, Mozart and Mick Mars.
Trashbrat13: I understand that prior to playing guitar, you also played the saxophone for a few years. Would you say that this in any way helped to shape the way you play now? Do you play any other instruments besides these?
bd: Sax is very important to my style of play because there are no chords. If you want to play a melody on a sax you have to play single notes and because I understood that dynamic, I was able to tear with a guitar almost immediately.
Trashbrat13: What is your guitar of choice and why is it your preference?
bd: I'm sponsored by Gary Kramer Guitar of L.A. Leo Scala, the luthier and owner, knows my style is very aggressive, not in the sense that I bash my axe around but because of the intensity I bring to the table. I bent the neck on several off the shelf guitars because I get my sounds from the guitar with my hands, so a 3 hour gig is a killer workout for me. Leo knows me, my style and is a master craftsman so crafts guitars for me that are not only strong but suit me perfectly.
Trashbrat13: In 2010 you released your album 'Bullet Ride' and followed this with your 2012 release 'Broken Glass'. How would you explain the diversity between these albums?Also, how would you say you have evolved musically since your earlier works?
bd: I'm always evolving because I'm always studying new artists and learning. 'Bullet Ride' was recorded in L.A., in the Valley, in mid-July 2010. First, I despised the guys I was working with because they were such bullshitters. Secondly, while I was recording at the studio the engineer allowed visitors to walk in, in the middle of the session, which disturbed my concentration. Also, it was 110 degrees so after 10 hours of recording and performing I was in no mood for their crap. Needless to say, I was pissed for 2 weeks and I think it shows in my work. Before going into the studio I played nothing but Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughan and while recording I had the Kottonmouth Kings blasting in the car every day as I drove through Laurel Canyon on my way to what I called "The Furnace". Now, its wasn't all bad because I learned a lot from them. But it was a very painful experience because they were so full of shit. 'Bullet Ride' really got me a lot of exposure and some great reviews. My follow up was 'Broken Glass', a CD recorded in my studio over looking the Hollywood Hills. I took what I'd learned from "The Furnace" and expanded upon it developing a CD which was very complex and in some instances very orchestral. Those experiences pushed me to where I am today musically. Currently, I writing and recording a new CD called 'Animal'. My guitar is called 'Animal'. This CD is much simpler than either of my 2 previous releases but more powerful and focused in that I've gone back to my hard rock riff driven roots splattered with neoclassical mayhem and am having the electronic music make cameo appearances only. So my musical evolution is this. I have taken all I learned from my last 2 recordings, 3 actually……I released 'Raining in Berlin' an electronic CD in April/13, whittled down the electronic music, hyper focused on hard rock riffs and melodies with blazing guitar solos bolted into place with titanium rivets.
Trashbrat13: So, what are you working on right now? Are there any plans for another album in the near future?
see above
Trashbrat13: Are there any reasons you have chosen to remain a solo artist as opposed to going down the whole 'band route'?
bd: Yeah, there are a number of reasons why I decided to be a solo artist. I've been is several bands and my experience has been that many musicians are not committed to the path I'm on. Also, a lot of musicians aren't reliable. Now, electronic music is here to stay. In the 70's the 'Moog' replaced orchestral musicians and DJ's replaced bands. Who needs the hassle right? But there is a huge market for a guitar player who knows how to kick ass. The greats are old, I mean in their 60' and 70's. Who are the young dudes coming up to take there place? What, we are going to be treated to the talent of someone ripping away on 'Guitar Hero' or shredding the guitar with their cell phone. I fuse the analog age to the digital. Singer/songwriters are solo artists as am I. I just use my guitar to speak for me, that is my voice.
Trashbrat13: Tell us about your live performances. What can your fan base expect when they come to see you play live?
bd: Every show I play is different in that I never play any song the same way twice. A lot of what my performance says is what the audience says because I feed off them as they feed off me. It is an interaction, an exchange of energy. I give them what they come to see and experience and they give me their gratitude. That is a very fair exchange.
Trashbrat13: Which of your tracks do you most enjoy performing live? Any reasons behind this?
bd: That would have to be 'Shattered'. I just like the feel.
Trashbrat13: Do you have any funny stories or crazy things that have happened to you whilst on the road that you'd like to share with us?
bd: I played a show in 2010 at Hermosa Beach, California opening for a big name 80's dance band. Hell, I don't even remember their name. During my show a lady in her early 40's red lined it and was hell bent on shutting me down. She wanted to have a quite Friday night out with the girls. Why they invited me to their fuckin' party is beyond me. Anyway, she spent about half an hour looking for the manager to pull the plug on me and while he hid I tried everything in the book to sway her, including shredding with one hand while I drank a water and talked to a fan. Nothing……finally she cornered the club manager who shut me down. That has to be one of my craziest experiences ever.
Trashbrat13: You have achieved a hell of a lot in a relatively short time. What, would you say, has been your proudest moment to date?
bd: It is and always has been what I'm doing at the time. For example I won Rock Guitarist of The Year at the 20th Annual LA Music Awards. That was awesome. But a few months later I opened for Michael Angelo Batio which was my proudest moment. Writing the song 'Broken Glass' was an amazing moment for me. Now it is my next CD………'Animal'.
Trashbrat13: If you could pick any five bands or musicians to share a bill with (with yourself headlining of course!) who would they be?
1. Malmsteen
2. Steve Vai
3. Satriani
4. Ozzie
5. Motely Crue
Trashbrat13: Can you name five albums you can't live without?
bd: Not really, I go from artist to artist to artist and back again then onto a new artist etc. I like studying music.
Trashbrat13: You have a pretty manic schedule. What do you like to do to kick back and relax?
bd: Play my guitar, walk my dog, ride my bicycle, watch TV, drink beer, see bands live.
Trashbrat13: Is there any question you have always hoped to be asked during an interview, but have yet to be asked? If so, what is it and what would your reply be? (Yes.. lazy interviewer!)
Question: You have lived in Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, Los Angeles and New York. Where would you like to live or where do you plan to live.
bd: I've always been partial to Los Angeles and plan on living there. I like the beach and feel of California.
Trashbrat13: What do you think you would be doing if not involved in the music industry?
bd: I can't imagine what I'd be doing if it wasn't music. My whole being is about music.
Trashbrat13: So, what's next on the agenda for you? What are your overall ambitions as a musician?
bd: When I was 15 I visited L.A. for the first time. Standing outside the Whisky A Go Go I knew where my path and future lay. I've been composing since I was 10, recording since I was 15, started getting radio play when I was 16 and offered my first record deal when I was 17. Now here is one for you. I was offered my first record deal on June 6, 2006 ( 666 ). While I was opening the letter my Dad was busy putting out a raging fire he'd accidentally started on our deck. I see myself being a very successful composer, performer and session man. 'Slammin' is my first placement and is in a Nurse Jackie Trailer.
Trashbrat13: Is there any piece of advice you would give to somebody just starting out in the music industry?
bd: Practice your craft and make it part of you, study as many artists as you can and as much as you can, don't fear making mistakes, compose as much as you can, be who you are and learn to like Kraft dinner.
Trashbrat13: In closing, is there anything else you would like to add, or say to your fans reading this?
bd: Yes, thank you for your support and appreciation. Fans bring the best out of an artist they support by showing gratitude. Great artists are great because they have worked hard at their craft sure………but truth be known fans can bring the very best out of an artists. Keep rockin' !!!
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Waves of Shred (2nd entry)
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Here is my entry to the Waves Of Shred Contest.
Recorded Direct. NO EDIT.
It takes... Here is my entry to the Waves Of Shred Contest.
Recorded Direct. NO EDIT.
It takes about 1 hour from start to finish (give or take).........when I first listen to the backing track to the time I upload the finished video to Youtube. My method is very simple, first I listen to the backing track 2 or 3 times to get my feel for what the composer is saying. Next, I improv to the track. What I do is rip a number of ideas while the track is running. If you listened to what I'm playing it would sound to you like I was an escaped mental patient who was totally tone deaf. When I know exactly what it is I want to do I get the camera rolling. The French Guitar Contest 2 was 1 take. Too bad I didn't follow the instructions!!! LOL. My first entry for Waves Of Shred was the first or second take......I forget which. This time around I was satisfied on the 5th take. I know when I have what I want and that's the long and short of it. Oh yeah, this version smells like the latest cologne from Nirvana.
Hope you guys like it! Thanks For watching
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Waves of Shred
nice job Brennan, good feel for? the track........Laurie Monk
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Brennan Dylan: Bitten-live
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Here is my original song Bitten. It is the bluesier song in my set and a lot of fun to rip to. Perfo...Here is my original song Bitten. It is the bluesier song in my set and a lot of fun to rip to. Performed live at Goodbye Blue Monday April 26 2013
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Brennan Dylan: In Shred We Trust
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NYC artist Brennan Dylan is a 24 year old world class improv guitar player and composer fusing rock,...NYC artist Brennan Dylan is a 24 year old world class improv guitar player and composer fusing rock, metal and neoclassical guitar to techno, dubstep and industrial. He has performed on bills with Michael Angelo Batio, DeathRiders and Gorillaz and has over 500 performances to his credit.
Brennan studied Performance Guitar at Berklee College of Music, is receiving national and international press including Guitar World and NME, is sponsored by Gary Kramer Guitar, worked at Capitol Studios, won Rock Guitarist of the Year at 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, has extensive media coverage and has been getting radio play since he was 16. A recent CBS Radio interview aired to an audience of 25-30 million listeners. The media acknowledges he has created a new and unique music genre, one he calls "Dracula Drinks Daylight". Bullet Ride, a 2010 release, firmly established Dylan as a guitar force.
"First, Dylan can play guitar like Neil Zaza, Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Second, his music combines the raw, 80s rock anthem guitar loved by so many with the spirit and moxie of a surfer. And, third, did I mention this guy can play?"
- Suite101, 11.27.2010
Dylan is an emerging artist who unites a unique guitar style with the electronic age. His website is: http://www.brennandylan.com. Many of the guitar greats are in their late 50's and 60's. John Mayall is 79 if you can believe it and Brennan has a long career ahead of him as well. "Raining in Berlin", his 16th CD, will be released in early 2013.
The shred video I've included is "The Truth in Shredding" as it is what it is. Sure the sound should have been recorded with a USB cable into a computer to be cleaner. But then it could have been edited. This is the real McCoy: no takes, no editing instead just shredding plain and simple. What you would have heard if you were in the room with him when it was happening.
Here is a little clip of some shred guitar, I hope you guys enjoy it :)
Please follow me and "Like" my page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennanDylan
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BrennanDylan
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Brennan Dylan
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Hey guys and girls!
Today, I am with Brennan Dylan, a very interesting musician from LA – recentl...Hey guys and girls!
Today, I am with Brennan Dylan, a very interesting musician from LA – recently from NYC though. He plays the guitar and he plays it good. But that’s not all, he puts a lot of different things together, bringing rocking heavy metal guitars, electronic and dubstep all at once to the table!
Lady Obscure: Hello Brennan. Let’s start with how your journey started…
Brennan Dylan: The sax started me on this evolutionary journey when I was 10. I played jazz, classical and swing in stage bands. At 14 I picked up my Dad’s dust covered guitar and it was like I’d found the secret to eternal youth, it was that magical for me. I started by studying rock for a year but switched to classical guitar when I was 15. Sure I studied classical guitar but did so to make myself a better player and to give my rock compositions a different dynamic. That same year I started performing rock, blues and jazz improv guitar with local and touring acts at The Rainbow in Ottawa and did that 2-3 times a week all through high school. I also started recording my music then which lead to me getting radio play on 2 California college radio stations when I was 16 and a record deal when I was 17. I turned the deal down and went to Berklee College of Music to study Performance Guitar instead. And that is how this party got started.
LO: Yeah, certainly a good mix going on there! So, what drew you to metal?
BD: I think what draws me to metal is that it is really heavy. I like the sound of thunder ricocheting around a track. Also my favorite drummers are The Rev, Tommy Lee, Mike Portnoy and Vinnie Paul because they are heavy hitters and know what they are doing. Unfortunately, The Rev is dead but I still listen to his music. Also, when I was in L.A. and was playing The Whisky a lot, I was paired with metal acts who gave me a warm reception as did the fans. So a lot of my fans are metal heads.
LO: Not very traditional metal though – how are the fans’ reactions?
BD: Very good. People really like my live show unless they are totally into the accordion, are funeral directors or like the folk scene.
LO: You’ll keep at live performances then? Is more coming? What about a tour or an album?
BD: I try to have at least 5 or 6 shows booked ahead all of the time mainly because I love performing. As for touring I’m talking with an agent who is really interested in me so we’ll see how that goes. Hopefully, touring will be happening soon. As for my next album, I’m in an out of the studio all the time anyway so am always working on my next album. Creativity is there when its there.
LO: What’s happening currently then? You moved from LA… Is everything coming together?
BD: I moved to NYC on January 1 of this year and lived in a hotel for a month until I found a place to live, then spent a few weeks getting furniture and my studio set up. I haven’t been here very long but have made some excellent connections. A recent connection I made is talking collaborations but who knows.
LO: Yes, about that, how’s the future looking?
BD: I wear shades most of the time. In fact most of my photos are of me wearing shades. What’s that tell you? LOL.
LO: lol… Back to your music; how do you write your songs? Do you decide on the concept first for instance?
BD: I don’t really think about writing or sit down to develop a theme to my writing. I create when its there and let it unfold. Generally, it takes me about 20 – 30 minutes to write a song but that is just the bare bones. When I have time it usually takes about another 2 weeks to put the final product together.
LO: Who are your heroes then? Who inspires you?
BD: Certainly, I am a product of all that I have listened to, studied and practiced. Even my dog Jody’s bark is on one of my recordings. For guitar my main influences are Malmsteen, Joe Stump, Satriani, Motely Crue, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Jeff Beck and Megadeth. On the electronic side my main influences are Deadmau5, Tiesto, Skrillex, Knife Party and Nero. But I also count Dick Dale, The Ramones, Benny Goodman, Mozart, Bach and Paganini as major musical influences as well. These guys inspire me also.
LO: What do you focus on more? Catering to your fans? Or, do you focus purely on where music takes you?
BD: You do have to cater to your audience because your audience is your fans. They are your fans because of who you are. However, you must do whatever you can to engage them but that doesn’t mean playing country if you’re metal to the core. Sometimes a promoter will put an artist in front of the wrong audience. Whose fault is that? That has happened to me twice in approximately 400 performances. I tried my best but no matter what I tried it didn’t work so wrote both shows off as a bad cup of coffee.
LO: You’ve created a new and unique music genre; rock, metal and neoclassical guitar fused with techno, industrial and dubstep… Quite interesting, I should say. How did the idea come about?
BD: In a word it came about because of evolution. I started out with a sax playing and listening only to jazz, swing and classical. I picked up the guitar and immediately started listening and playing hard rock, blues, metal and neoclassical. That isn’t to say that jazz, swing and classical didn’t influence my playing and compositions because it did and still does. Then in August 2007 I saw a Tommy Lee/DJ Aero show with Deadmau5. That show had the most profound influence on me of any musical influence I have had to date because I saw an opening, a means to fuse analog to digital or guitar and electronic to one another. Immediately after the show I set about fusing hard rock guitar to electronica. That evolved into fusing rock, metal and neoclassical guitar to techno, house, dance, electro, trance, ambient, industrial and dubstep individually. From all the experimentations of fusing genres it has evolved into rock, metal and neoclassical guitar fused to techno, dubstep and industrial. It started with a 3 song demo in Oct./07 called “Paris at the Hilton”. That was followed by another demo called “Paris for President” in May/08. Then there was “bring on the thunder” in 2009 followed by “Escaping to LA” in the same year. May/10 saw demo “Escaping to Vegas” come and go as quickly as it appeared as CD “Bullet Ride” took its place in Aug/10. By November 2011 “Broken Glass”, was pressed into 2000 CD’s. I’m in a different place today because I never sit still. To get here I bent the neck right out of shape on 2 guitars because I’m a very aggressive player. I broke a ton of strings and improved to everything electronic that showed up on my laptop. That and I tend to improv with a new guitarist every 2-3 weeks; artists like Eric Johnson, John Petrucci and Joe Walsh. But I also study classical guitar almost everyday and dig up new electronic artists to improv to as well. But I’ve always done this in one form or another since I was 10 so its no big deal to me. But where would we be without music lovers like Lady Obscure? We’d be on “The Highway to Hell” sung by Justine Bieber that’s where……….and we’d all be fucked. So drop her a note saying thank you for promoting the artists drinking daylight.
LO: The media acknowledges that you have singlehandedly created a new and unique music genre, one you call “Dracula Drinks Daylight”. So, what does that mean? I smell a story there…
BD: Its like this. When I auditioned for Berklee in March/07 I knew I’d been accepted because I improved like a bandit to a guy hammering out blues on a grand piano. So when my acceptance letter came in May/07 it was no big surprise to me. What was a big fuckin’ surprise was my guitar placement exam in Jan/08. I performed hard rock and neoclassical guitar fused to electronica for 2 blues dudes. My placement was in the basement when I should have been seeing daylight. Oddly, the Moog had been gradually replacing orchestra musicians since the ’60s so my fusing of analog and digital shouldn’t have come as a shock. Strangely however it did. So I sucked it up and worked twice as hard. Studying and practicing my Berklee work by day and fusing my hard rock guitar to various genres of electronic music by night……sometimes into the wee hours. Therefore “Dracula Drinks Daylight”. Larry Baione, Chairman of Berklee’s Guitar Department, really encouraged me to follow what I was creating as did my friend and teacher Joe Stump.
LO: Do you see a significant difference in the audience’s reaction to what you do as opposed to a more “standard” rock stage performance?
BD: Oh yeah, big time. For one thing very few people have seen a guitar player like me. I do not mean to be arrogant at all because I’m not. I keep learning and growing but when I performed my first Whisky A-Go-Go show there was an A&R rep in attendance that came up to my manager 3 or 4 times during my performance flipping out at what I was doing. He wanted to do something with me but because I was so “obscure” he really couldn’t grasp what to do with me. That happened a lot when I was in L.A. When I’d walk into a club to do a gig with DJ gear, an axe, an amp and a cab I’d get the gears because the other bands saw me as a lame ass press play DJ. That all changed when I plugged in to do a sound check however. I played 5 sets between acts for Namm 2011 at The Whisky.The acts included metal names like DeathRiders and Michael Angelo Batio. The DeathRiders lead guitar player and a few of his students thought I was the craziest they’d ever seen. During the first 2 minutes of my set opening for MAB I broke a string. Since I don’t carry a spare guitar I transposed everything in my head and ripped like a mad man for another 28 minutes. What is different with me is I weld rock, metal and neoclassical guitar to techno, industrial and dubstep. The audience likes it that I’m naturally an in your face guitar player to groove to. But when it comes down to it I still have an infinite amount to learn about the guitar and I’ll always study guitar players new to me. I’ll never stop learning.
LO: Is there a difference to the response to what you do in NY as opposed to LA?
BD: Yes and no. No because I get the same response from an L.A. audience and a NYC audience. Yes because NYC clubs like what I do much more than L.A. clubs. By that I mean I get way more shows in NYC than I got in L.A. I just think a lot of L. A. club owners smoke too much weed which clouds their judgement. LOL
LO: Haha! Thank you for the lovely chat Brennan! Will be watching you closely!
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Exclusive: Brennan Dylan Streaming "Spit Fire" Remix
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Last week, guitarist Brennan Dylan released his sophomore album, Broken Glass, another collection of...Last week, guitarist Brennan Dylan released his sophomore album, Broken Glass, another collection of songs that serve to bridge the gap between traditional shred guitar and electronic music.
Brennan recently sent over a new mix of the track "Spit Fire" from Broken Glass, and we jumped on the chance to bring you this metaled-up take on the album cut. Scroll down to hear the new mix of "Spit Fire" in the SoundCloud player below.
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Yngwie Malmsteen - Baroque and Roll performed by Brennan Dylan
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I played the song twice because I shot video from 2 angles. Much of the song has both tracks running...I played the song twice because I shot video from 2 angles. Much of the song has both tracks running simultaneously which makes for a thicker sound.
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Brennan Dylan, “Burning” Jun 6, 2012 3:43 PM by Will Durkin
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Artists: Brennan Dylan
Related Artists: Iphaze, EXAMINE, Sebrok & Tassilo, Markantonio, Grovskop...Artists: Brennan Dylan
Related Artists: Iphaze, EXAMINE, Sebrok & Tassilo, Markantonio, Grovskopa, Christian Wünsch
Tags: Electronic, guitar, House, metal, Solo
One night in 2007 while out at a Montreal club, guitar virtuoso Brennan Dylan had a revelation. He had come expecting to see Tommy Lee and DJ Aero but instead found himself at a Deadmau5 concert. As the progressive house DJ’s thunderous set reverberated throughout the club, Dylan felt a surge of inspiration.
Comfortable with a wide variety of guitar styles, Brennan Dylan decide that he wanted to integrate electronic music into his act. He has since developed a style that is one part metal-style guitar work (his style has often been compared to Randy Rhoads) and one part electronic dance music.
Check out his heavy hitting new single “Burning.” With a thumping beat, dubstep instrumental effects and Dylan’s righteous riffing, it is a hard-hitting, genre-blending, face-melter of a track!
For a live demonstration of Dylan’s skills, check him out playing at the 20th Annual LA Music Awards:
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Spotlight: Brennan Dylan
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LA Guitar Wizard Crashes the Rave
WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN: Fretboard shredding with a beat you can ...LA Guitar Wizard Crashes the Rave
WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN: Fretboard shredding with a beat you can wobble to.
GENRE: Dubstep/Guitar Rock
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA
WEBSITE: www.sonicbids.com/BrennanDylan
“When I’m playing live, I’m not thinking about anything but just having fun. I’m totally gone.”
Brennan Dylan, a guitar virtuoso and DIY artist from Los Angeles, has effectively bridged the gap between rock and electronic music to create a new and inventive sound. Inspired by classic rock such as AC/DC and Van Halen, Dylan weaves complex guitar riffs with synths influenced by Deadmau5 and Skrillex. This month, Performer had the chance to speak with Dylan about his creative process and performing live.
Dylan’s interest in music began at an early age when he started playing three times a week at a local club, improvising jazz, rock and blues music. Dylan later attended Berklee where he studied Joe Stump, Paganini and Yngwie Malmsteen. With the work of the great musicians in mind and a heavy neoclassical influence, Dylan began composing his own unique style of music.
The creative process for Dylan usually varies from song to song. “I’ll come up with a guitar riff and then build an electronic track around that or sometimes I’ll be playing a synth part and come up with a melody…whatever comes first,” he says, “I let it just naturally come to me and play it.” According to Dylan, the guitar riff in his standout track “Lock Jaw” was first developed before he added in the dubstep. “It all just worked,” recalls Dylan, “I’ll have the idea in my head already done but then I gotta get it all on the computer and program all the drums and the synths. That takes longer but it’s fun.”
And Dylan does it all himself – from the runs on his Gary Kramer guitar named Animal to the beats he generates – everything is recorded using a MacBook Pro. Dylan’s true passion, however, is in performing. “[Performing live] is a lot of fun. I love it. It’s probably like the best feeling in the world when [audience members] say, ‘You did such a good job, I really liked your music,’ or ‘How’d you do that?’”
Dylan has certainly caught the attention of Big Machine Media in New York with whom he is currently working. This February, fans of Dylan’s music can expect many shows as he tours the U.S. and Europe. But Dylan hasn’t let this all go to his head. “I’m just a guitar player,” he tells Performer. “When I’m playing live, I’m not thinking about anything but just having fun – I’m totally like, gone. I just kind of go and get it done.”
photos by Daniel Siboni
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411 Music Interview: Guitarist Brennan Dylan
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411 Music chats it up with solo guitarist Brennan Dylan about his unique sound, which is based on ...
411 Music chats it up with solo guitarist Brennan Dylan about his unique sound, which is based on the mix of shred guitar and electronic beats, and how live audiences respond to his performances.
Rock and electronic music have co-existed and mingled with each other for a long time, and it's a partnership that doesn't seem to have any downtime scheduled for the near future. What's interesting, though, is the lack of solo instrumentalists utilizing electronic beats in their music. Most of them use other musicians, or just shred mindlessly by themselves. Guitarist Brennan Dylan is heading up an innovative style, mixing the virtuosity of electric guitar with the thumping of dub-step and techno music. It's a combination that seems off-putting at first, but it's one that has potential for a big reaction. I had the chance to talk to Dylan about how this meshing came together and his new album, Broken Glass.
What drew you to want to pick up a guitar?
When I was 14, just the sound of electric guitar going through an amp, that raw rock sound, bands like Sum 41 and Blink-182...when I heard those guys, I was like, ‘Oh, that's cool,' so I wanted to do that. Then it grew and progressed into bands like AC/DC and Iron Maiden, and onto Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen. I hear that and that was what I wanted to do. When I heard "Thunderstruck," and saw some of their clips playing live in Europe and there's 100,000 or 200,000 people going crazy, it was like, ‘Wow.' I was really blown away from what I was used to, which was playing saxophone in a jazz band. When I saw that and heard everything, I really wanted to do this. It just kind of happened, the transition from playing saxophone to guitar.
Did you learn how to play the guitar on your own? Did you have any tutors?
I had tutors and lessons. I just picked it up and played around with chords and stuff, but then, when I was 14, I studied rock for a year and learned a bunch of Iron Maiden licks and AC/DC and Van Halen. When I was 15, I went on to classical guitar and learned how to play with your fingers, picking every note with each finger, like Mozart and Bach. I did that for a year, but also for three years in high school, I went to a bar and played jazz and blues improv three times a week. You go up there and you don't know any of the songs, and you're playing with new guys all the time. These guys were in their 40's, so I learned a lot doing that. Playing saxophone in bands throughout middle school, that really helped, so when I went on stage to play guitar with a band, it wasn't like it was foreign. It just felt natural. After that, I went to Berklee College of Music, and studied there for two years.
What did you learn from your time at Berklee that helped shape you as a guitarist?
They have different guitar labs and courses. I took so many different styles of music. Slide blues, jazz, Joe Stump, guys like that, with neo-classical. That's where I got a lot of fast, precision, but you also have to be accurate. You can't just shred and be sloppy. Everything's got to be clean, in the pocket and tight. I took a Jeff Beck lab with this guy Julien Kasper and how to use the whammy bar. Those two guys I got the most out of, but especially Joe Stump. He's a Yngwie Malmsteen kind of guy, but he has his own style. I would go over to his house a lot, and he would teach me different things. I learned a lot from that guy; he's really good. Berklee boosted everything I learned from high school and took it to another level. When you get out of school, and they give you so many tools, it's up to you to do what you want with them.
What made you want to start your own instrumental solo project?
Ever since I was 15, I had an eMac, and I recorded demos in Garage Band. I always wanted to play with a band - I still do - but what really got the whole solo act now with the dance music/ electronic music /dub-step, was these other guys doing it all by themselves and being solo a
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Interview with young guitar prodigy Brennan Dylan
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Canadian born Brennan Dylan has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Being hailed as a young g...Canadian born Brennan Dylan has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Being hailed as a young guitar prodigy, the talented musician graduated from Berklee College of Music and went on to win the prestigious “Rock Guitarist of the Year” award at the LA Music Awards in 2010. Combining the smooth sounds of classical guitar with fast paced synth tracks, Dylan creates a most original style of music which might be best described as dance/electronic/rock and roll. Though preparing to release a brand new album, Broken Glass, on April 17th, the insightful, intelligent, and gifted artist took time to answer some of my questions. Read on to see what Dylan has to say about musical differences between Canada and the US, song inspiration, and his admiration of Mozart.
Have you ever been through Denver?
No, I have not been yet but am looking forward to performing in The Mile High City. I have a cousin and a good friend who both go to school there. Both love my music and have generated some fans for me by selling some of my CD's to their friends.
How does the music scene differ between Canada and the States?
My experience with the Canadian music scene is geographically limited. By that I mean I played a lot of shows in Ottawa when I was in High School. After graduation I moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. Then I moved to Los Angeles and now I'm living in NYC. So I think the best way to answer that very good question is to describe my experiences in each market I've lived in and see what I conclude because I really haven't thought about it, but should have.
When I was in Ottawa I performed improv blues, jazz and rock guitar at a local club. I hung out there two to three times a week, performing with local musicians, local bands, and touring acts. I performed a lot of my own material but mainly I'd land on stage to play something I'd never heard before. You see, I didn't start listening to rock until I picked up a guitar at age fourteen. Prior to that I was performing swing, jazz and classical in Stage Bands. I played sax. That club experience not only exposed me to a lot of performing opportunities with different scenarios but also introduced me to the music of a lot of different musicians. Blink 182 and Sum 41 was the first rock I listened to and performed. Then my first guitar teacher expanded my scope by introducing me to AC/DC, Van Halen, Iron Maiden and Yngwie Malmsteen. But by being a regular at The Rainbow (the Ottawa club where I hung out) I was exposed to Buddy Holly, Howlin' Wolf, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Eric Johnson, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, The Ventures, Dick Dale, and George Thorogood just to name a few. It was rare for me to play the same song twice. The first time I ever played Cream's version of "Crossroads" was also my last. The place was a revolving door.
Right after High School I moved to Boston. And because I went there to study my time was not really my own. When I was at Berklee I studied a ton of guitar styles. My first summer there I studied slide, funk, classical, electronic, neoclassical, hard rock and blues. So I didn't have much time to perform in clubs because I was so busy learning new material to perform in class every week. I did play some club shows there but they were few and far between. It was probably the most frustrating time of my life because I was learning from many of the best but unable to perform outside of class because of the work load.
So if I compare the Ottawa scene to Boston's I'd have to say they are very similar. Ottawa has a great blues and jazz scene as does Boston. Both cities also have a big Top 40 scene which cover bands dominate. In Ottawa I was an improv guitarist so I thrived. But before I went to Boston I started fusing rock and neoclassical guitar to electronic music, releasing Paris at the Hilton, my first rock/electronic demo. That demo was well received by CKCU - FM (Carlton University Radio). They played some of my previous work as well. But when I hit Boston with Paris at the Hilton it bombed. People and friends came to the few shows I did play there but I couldn't get air play on any station in town, not even on Berklee Radio. So I'd have to say that the Ottawa/Southern Ontario market is more open to adventure than Boston's.
It was just the opposite when I hit L.A. I got gigs right out of the gate, performing around the strip and SoCal. I got a guitar sponsorship with Gary Kramer Guitar and am still sponsored by them. Then I hooked up with a club promoter and started playing the L.A. club scene. It worked out at first but the guy was just too crazy for me so that was it. The Los Angeles scene is a very open scene if you are on the edge, which I was. To get into the electronic music scene there in a big way was next to impossible for me. I couldn't get an audience with anyone that could help no matter what I brought to the table which was: a lot of positive music reviews for Bullet Ride (my last CD) and some good airplay, Rock Guitarist of the Year, internet TV exposure, getting on The 2011 WMC Compilation CD and getting played in European clubs. So after finishing Broken Glass, I moved to NYC where the scene is much more open.
I landed in New York on New Year's Day. Less than three months later I connected with an agency called Moodswing 360 who had me play a show at Surrender Nightclub in Las Vegas. That was after playing three shows around NYC in February and staying in a hotel for most of January while I tried to find an apartment. NYC has a very active and open scene and is nothing I've ever experienced before.
Broken Glass is set for release on April 17th. What was your goal with this record?
I had only one goal when I started writing and recording Broken Glass and that was to record a CD that highlighted my guitar playing. I wanted to control every aspect of my new work from start to finish, particularly the guitar parts because of my experience at a studio in July 2010 where the first producer I'd ever worked with refused to listen to one thing I ever said other than, "I'm getting a drink of water."
Are there any songs on the album that you were uneasy about putting on there, maybe because they are different than your normal sound or forced you to push your musical limits?
No, not really because each track is me. I've studied and performed many guitar styles and music genres so I let out what wants to come out. For example, "Bitten" was the last track I wrote for Broken Glass. I wasn't planning on laying blues guitar over "Black Dog Rain" the ambient techno and dubstep electronic track I wrote as a backing track. In fact, that track was supposed to be electro house. So much for that idea. So when it came time to record guitar over "Black Dog Rain", blues was what came naturally. I don't over think things.
"War Parade", the first single off the new record, dropped on March 20th. Talk a bit about the song- the origins, the meanings, and the message it conveys.
I wrote an electronic track called "Bullet Ride" which seems to me to be music fitting for an Eastern European thriller. "War Parade" is that track with guitar laid on top.
In July 2010, I recorded ten songs at a studio in The Valley in one hundred and ten degree heat. It was the first time I'd ever worked with a producer (not the last). Instead of writing an electronic track then laying down the guitar like I always do, the producer wanted me record the five electronic tracks first then move to the five guitar tracks. "War Parade" was the sixth track I recorded and was recorded in extreme heat under a lot of pressure from the producer. Basically I was at war and it came out in my playing and what I created. Remember, I lay down what is inside of me. I'm not an editor. I don't think that the producer was trying to get something in particular from me.
What's the strangest thing that's ever inspired you to write a song?
I've been composing since I was ten. I don't think about what I'm going to write because I write intuitively like I play. The way it works for me is I'll come up with a riff or melody while I'm practicing. They just show up. I'll record the riff or melody then expand it later if I'm preparing for a show or I'll complete it right away if I feel like it and have the time. I just came out of the studio and am more interested in performing right now, so the new stuff gets recorded and saved for later. I'm not the type of writer who has an experience, thinks about it then goes to work expanding it intellectually. So one inspiration is no stranger than the next for me.
What else do you have planned for 2012?
As I mentioned I've started to do some things with Moodswing 360 out of NYC. This whole thing just came out of the blue. We are currently exploring each other or as Ricky Goldstein (the guy I'm working with) says, "We are dating first before we get serious." But a few of the things we have talked about are collaborating with other musicians, session work, sponsorships, and shows.
If you could have anyone in the world as the #1 fan of your music, who would it be?
Mozart
Continue reading on Examiner.com Interview with young guitar prodigy Brennan Dylan - Denver Music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/music-in-denver/interview-with-young-guitar-prodigy-brennan-dylan#ixzz1r4jETBEQ
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Interview Feature: Brennan Dylan delving into dubstep
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Thursday, 12 April 2012
Interview Feature: Brennan Dylan delving into dubtep
He has been writi...Thursday, 12 April 2012
Interview Feature: Brennan Dylan delving into dubtep
He has been writing music since he was ten, picked up a guitar at the tender age of fourteen and began receiving airplay from radio stations at sixteen years old. Any other music artist with those sort of credentials would be forgiven for being slightly arrogant and pompous – but the modesty of the gently spoken Brennan Dylan is somewhat refreshing. “I would describe myself as a hard worker, very dedicated and I love what I do. I have to play guitar every day and if I don’t I just go crazy, it’s something that I just love to do y’know”. The element of hard work and graft is evident just talking to Brennan, his passion for music and especially playing the guitar is mind blowing, however there is a certain amount skill involved not just to play an instrument, but to take it to a new level and there are very few people who can get to this level, Jimi Hendrix, Slash, and Eric Clapton are a few who have reached the pinnacle and made it possible for others to succeed in their footsteps. “What I do to practice usually to practice is to first warm up then I play some classical and a few scales or read some sheet music. From there once I’m warmed up I would usually go on to playing other stuff. It is fun but I find after a couple of hours it starts to get a bit boring, it’s kind of like a workout really. Also if I’m playing a gig that night I don’t tend to play [guitar] at all that day, I’ll just warm up for an hour or so and then I’ll leave it until I play the show. If I’m not playing show though I can play all day with different scales and practice all my songs. It is quite a lot to do but it is a lot of fun”.
Although the technical ability and skill is thanks to all his hard work constantly playing guitar, what baffled me most about Brennan was how young he started receiving recognition and success for his work. I was curious about just how Brennan caught the music bug so early on in his life. “When I was ten I used to watch the Simpsons and you would see Lisa playing the saxophone and when I heard that for the first time I was like blown away. The sound was just so cool, I just felt I had to do it y’know. So I went and got my parents to rent a saxophone for me and ever since then I was playing up until I was fourteen. I think that’s what really helped me with the guitar because I learned how to read music at such a young age and I’d go and play in stage bands, so somehow everything just worked, y’know?”.
An early age viewing of the Simpsons meant Brennan’s parents bore the brunt of his artistry at that young age. Nonetheless the transition from saxophone to guitar for Brennan was an effortless one, as the young songsmith had already learned to read music from playing the saxophone and as his interests matured a new instrument entered his life. “Well, when I was fourteen I started to listen to rock music. Before then it was mostly jazz, classical and big band music really. Then I really started to get into bands like Blink 182 and Sum 41 and I thought it would be fun to try this. So my dad had an old guitar lying around in the basement so I just picked it up and tried it when I was about fourteen. So I put the saxophone down because all I wanted to do was play rock music. Saying that though, it was around that time when I used to write a lot of classical songs and I would go to bars about three times a week when I was in high school to these inprov gigs which played jazz, blues and rock. So what I would do is just get up on stage, not knowing any of the songs and just play them by ear. A lot of this came from playing the saxophone because I was doing a lot of melody [on the guitar] and playing in a band at that age just felt kind of natural”.
With Brennan being an electronic artist it was quite hard for me to see where he fitted into the scene, because the majority of electronic music uses sampling,
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Interview: Brennan Dylan
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Who’s Brennan Dylan?
Really good question. That’s something I have never been asked before. Good ...Who’s Brennan Dylan?
Really good question. That’s something I have never been asked before. Good thing I’m not on national TV trying to come up with an answer. I’d probably make Porky Pig look like a smooth operator. Let’s see…… first I’d have to say that I’m an artist and have considered myself to be an artist since I was a kid. I think music a lot of the time and compose songs or rearrange one’s I’ve heard in my head. Also I consider myself to be a guitar player. I express myself through my guitar. It is my voice. I am completely comfortable and at home when Animal (that’s my guitar’s name) is lit and rippin’ no matter how many people are in front of me. So in a nut shell I’m an artist who expresses himself with a guitar.
How you got started in the music scene?
I started swimming when I was 2 or 3 and it was a big part of my life until I was 14. Swimming is directly responsible for introducing me to music. After swimming practice I’d come home and eat a snack as I watched The Simpsons. I really liked the sound of Lisa’s sax. So one day I asked my parents if they’d get me one. My Dad thought the guitar would be a better fit for me but 2 weeks later my Mum took me to a music store and I walked out with a sax in my hands. I was 10 and played jazz, swing and classical music in stage bands until I was 16. When I was 14 I picked up the guitar and that was it. The sax became something I played while the guitar was something I loved. At that time our stage band teacher took a few members to a blues club to perform. We played the typical jazz tunes then she let a few of us improv while she played blues. I also brought my guitar along so got to play 3 of my own songs. That was my initial brush with the music scene. Then over that summer I went to a rock band camp which was a real eye opener for me because it introduced to rock. I started taking rock guitar lessons and studied bands like AC/DC, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Motely Crue and Van Halen as well as Malmsteen. About 6 months later my parents started taking me to a blues club 2-3 times a week. I performed blues, rock and jazz improv guitar with local and touring acts as well as with local musicians. That 3 year stint really taught me a lot about music and performing live with other musicians and entrenched me in the music scene.
What are your music influences?
Two of my major influences are the sax and swing. The sax because it taught me to play melodies with single notes instead of chords so it was easy for me to bring that ability to my guitar right away. I like swing because it is so up beat and I think it has a big influence on my writing. I have studied a lot of guitar players and continue to do so on a regular basis. But I think the ones who have influenced me the most are Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Stump. Jeff Beck, Mick Mars (Motley Crue), Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen.
What’s your method at the time of writing a song?
My method is simply this. I come up with a guitar riff or melody and record it. Then when I want to write a song I listen to what I’ve recorded and think about it for a bit. Then I write it in my head. I know exactly what the song will sound like before it is recorded. Then I just put it all together track by track. It’s a building process for me much more than a creative one. The creative process just happens and I have to put it all together.
Musically speaking, what it meant to you to be accepted in Berklee and study there?
I was offered my first record deal on June 6, 2006 or 666. My Dad accidentally started a fire on our deck which raged as were skimmed over some of the details. After high school my choices were to run up and down the West Coast in a beater of a van playing as many shows as I possibly could promote my CD while pursuing a music career or to go to a good music school, preferably one that focused on guitar and pursue my musically aspirations. Well, we put the fire out, turned down the record deal and I moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. Being accepted to Berklee meant that I could focus on becoming a better guitar player and reach my performance and creative goals faster than if I lived in a van for a few years and tried to grow myself musically while touring.
Studying
Studying at Berklee meant long hours because the courses are very demanding. That and I really wanted to excel so spent hours practicing guitar. I studied Performance Guitar which was amazing. Once the academics were out of the way I’d either practice the guitar courses I was taking, write and record tracks for class or improv to electronic music as well as write and record my own music. One summer I studied 7 different styles of music. Being exposed to an array of music styles allowed me to really zero in on my own style by gravitating to the genres that really interested me. All through high school I studied classical guitar and incorporated what I learned into my rock and electronic compositions. So when I hit Berklee I thought I pretty much knew what styles and artists I wanted to study. Was I naïve. The more variety I was exposed to the better player I became so I ate it up. Then I took a Jeff Beck class which was a real eye opener. I spent a year just learning how to use the whammy bar. I also focused on neoclassical with Joe Stump studying his compositions, Paganini, The Scorpions and a few others. I practiced so much that I bent the neck on 2 guitars while I was there.
Broken Glass. How was the recording and writing process? What makes this record different to your past record? How you came out with the title? Any release date yet in mind?
Broken Glass was released April 17/12. For years I have tried to break into the rave/electronic music scene and the title Broken Glass is me breaking my way in. I know whenever I perform people just stand there and watch me rip with my guitar to heavy techno, industrial and dubstep. They really like what I do. But the club scene is really different from the metal and hard rock scene. Whenever I performed at the Whisky, the booking agent Celina Denkins would have me play between acts. So I would perform 5-7 sets a night. The first night I performed there, an A&R guy was at the show and he just went crazy. He came up to me 3 times excited about what I was doing. That scenario happened ever time I performed there and I played the Whisky a lot. But no one really knew where to place me because I am hard rock, metal and neoclassical guitar fused to heavy electronic music. Celina always paired me with the metal crowd and they are the ones who supported me. Also I got a stalker at my first Whisky show. The ravers like what I do and so do the club owners and promoters but most clubs are not set up for a guy like me. Rock clubs are. So in essence Broken Glass was written, performed and recorded with cracking the glass ceiling into the club scene in mind but…………..no such luck. What makes this recording different is just that. Before when I wrote I just wrote and recorded. This CD had a purpose and it explained a lot to me once it was released by explaining my market. Funny about life……………..sometimes you focus on one thing but end up with another. As for the writing and recording process, it’s always the same. I come up with a riff, write the song in my head then lay it down track by track.
What has been the funniest moment you have been or took part while touring?
I have never toured. I’ve played 400 or so shows so I’ll tell you about the craziest one I have ever played. And I mean crazy. But no names. I was in Hermosa Beach opening for a well-known 80's dance band. My set was to finish at 10 pm but there was a really insane woman in the audience who didn’t want to hear wild guitar and thundering electronic music while she and her friends talked about their week and had supper on a Friday night. So she decided to shut me down. I tried everything to win her over including shredding with one hand while I drank a bottle of water and talked to a friend. But I got nothing. She ran around the club looking for the manager for about 15 minutes but he was hiding. The woman was on a mission and wouldn’t give up. She bugged the sound guy, all the bar tenders and waiters, the hostess and even the headliner. Finally she found the manager, tore about 5 pounds of flesh off his back and then went to work on him. I was gone about 35 minutes into my show. I didn’t get paid either. There were a few surfers in the audience who really liked my show and left when I did.
Are there any more plans for the future we should be aware of?
I’m working on a number of things but nothing is etched in stone yet.
Where can we find you in Internetland?
The easiest thing to do is just Google ‘Brennan Dylan’ and I’ll come up. Or more will appear if you Google ‘Brennan Dylan – Broken Glass’. But these are the sites I frequent:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BrennanDylan
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BrennanDylan
Tunecore: http://www.tunecore.com/music/brennandylan
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/BrennanDylanOfficial
Tumblr: http://www.brennandylan.tumblr.com
Sonicbids: http://www.sonicbids.com/brennan-dylan
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/brennan-dylan
Brennan Dylan: http://www.brennandylan.com (in the process of being built)
Our Stage: http://www.ourstage.com/epk/brennandylan
Do you feel you are moving in the right direction?
Yes, most definitely. When ever I perform (except in Hermosa Beach) I’m really well received. I’ve performed on the same bills as Michael Angelo Batio, Deathriders and Gorillas. I received great compliments from them as well as many others. The fans really like what I’m doing too. But I think the main reason I believe I’m going in the right direction is because of people like you who write about me and/or interview me. Indie artists need the press on their side and fortunately I have that. You mentioned before the interview that you really like my music. That is worth a lot coming from you and I really appreciate the compliment and being interviewed by Vents Magazine. Thank you.
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The Next Generation Of Music Stars Featuring Benny Marchant, Simon Oscroft Of Midnight Youth, Adam Tyler, Brennan Dylan, XELLE, And Capell
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Brennan Dylan-While sewing the seams between electronic music and intricate, precise guitar technic... Brennan Dylan-While sewing the seams between electronic music and intricate, precise guitar technicality, Brennan Dylan is set to take the guitar world by storm with his sophomore release, Broken Glass releasing on April 17th. Some consider Brennan’s guitar playing to be a combination of Randy Rhoades meets Jeff Beck, but on this record its more Yngwie Malmsteen meets SBTRKT. Brennan combines infectious electronic beats with guitar solos that truly reflect the more than six hours each day that Brennan spends perfecting his craft. Here’s what people have been saying about Brennan:
“Brennan Dylan, a guitar virtuoso and DIY artist from Los Angeles, has effectively bridged the gap between rock and electronic music to create a new and inventive sound. Inspired by classic rock such as AC/DC and Van Halen, Dylan weaves complex guitar riffs with synths influenced by Deadmau5 and Skrillex.” -Performer Magazine
“Dylan demonstrates his ability to cross genres and ignore musical boundaries. From studying swing and classical (as well as playing the saxophone) to studying Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Motley Crue; you get an idea of just how vast Dylan’s repertoire is.” –MusicEmissions.com
“Make no bones about it Brennan is a very capable Electronica composer. The musical textures are compelling and full of variety. I see Brennan as a budding Beck or Trent Reznor. I give Dylan high marks for taking this on as a musical visionary and for trying to merge some amazing genres.” –IndieMusicDigest.com
“Brennan successfully merges his thrilling fret work with a tapestry of techno/industrial music equal to anything playing in a German or French rave club. Brennan is not only brilliant, but convincing.” –Dangerdog.com
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Episode 153: Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Al Pitrelli
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Also we introduce you to guitarist Brennan Dylan whose release Broken Glass combines elements of shr...Also we introduce you to guitarist Brennan Dylan whose release Broken Glass combines elements of shred guitar with dance beats for a really great listening experience.
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Rock/Neoclassical Guitarist Brennan Dylan And His Animal
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While sewing the seams between electronic music and intricate, precise guitar technicality, Brennan ...While sewing the seams between electronic music and intricate, precise guitar technicality, Brennan Dylan is set to take the guitar world by storm with his sophomore release, Broken Glass. Some consider Dylan’s guitar playing to be a combination of Randy Rhoades meets Jeff Beck, but on this record its more Yngwie Malmsteen meets SBTRKT. Dylan combines infectious electronic beats with guitar solos that truly reflect the more than six hours each day that he spends perfecting his craft.
Animal, the guitar I use for both recording and performance is a custom made version of the Illusionist Deluxe by Gary Kramer Guitar. The solid mahogany bodied instrument with fine tuned maple neck was built by my sponsor to be played hard. The guitar was built to withstand my hard hitting, aggressive style. The paint is the same cream color found on many early Fender guitars but has been antiqued to give it a seasoned look. I had a kill-switch installed because I kept wearing out the pickup toggle on my other guitars as I flipped it back and forth for effect. Animal has two Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups and a Gotoh tremelo which is strung together with 10 gauge D'Addario strings, the only strings I use.
Since I practice and record in my apartment, I have to be respectful of my neighbors so I try to keep it down. Instead of running my guitar through an amp, which can be tricky to get the sound I want at low volume, I use an AXE FX2 by Fractal Audio Systems. It is an amp processor which consistently gives me an authentic sound and tone, whether the volume is turned to 1 or cranked to 10. It has an unbelievable selection of virtual amps and cabinets, both vintage and modern, so I can custom create the amp sound I'm looking for by combining various amps and cabinets. Generally, I practice, perform and record with an Orange Rockerverb virtual amp run through a virtual Orange cabinet or a Marshall vintage Plexi virtual amp run through a vintage Marshall virtual cabinet.
The AXE FX2 is packed with effects. I took an effects class at Berklee College of Music and bought a bunch of pedals but ended up selling them all. I decided a few years ago to focus on getting the sounds I wanted from my guitar. I use some distortion and a bit of delay, that's it. But there are a million unique sounds you can create with this processor. I just like to keep it simple while using something that is incredibly reliable.
Rock/Neoclassical Guitarist Brennan Dylan And His AnimalTo power my amp processor and give Animal some throat, I use an ART SLA2, a 200 watt studio power amp by Applied Research and Technology. The amp has power to spare. It also has an unbelievable cooling system and bolts nicely into one space of my SKB shockmount rig rack, along with my AXE FX2 and Furman M-8Dx power conditioner.
For my live performances I bring a Traktor Kontrol S4 by Native Instruments and a pair of Pioneer HDJ-1000 headphones to keep Animal, my SKD rig rack and Krank cabinet, company. I want my shows to sound exactly as my music does on my CD's. The Traktor Kontrol S4 is a DJ system for the professional which is as simple as it is complex, meaning the DJ decides which it will be. For me it is both, allowing me the freedom to focus on my technical guitar work and at the same time giving me the freedom to interact with it completely, using my Pioneer HDJ-1000 headphones. Its a killer system.
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Brennan Dylan - Broken Glass
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Get your pens ready because Brennan Dylan is worth taking notes on. Born in Canada, Brennan began pl...Get your pens ready because Brennan Dylan is worth taking notes on. Born in Canada, Brennan began playing and recording music at the age of ten. Fast-forward a decade or so and he has re-located to both Los Angeles and now New York City, graduated from Berklee College of Music and was the 2010 recipient of the LA Music Awards’ “Rock Guitarist of the Year” award.
Brennan’s guitar playing has been described as “ripped hard rock guitar welded to heavy electronic dance”. His unique method of combining the classical influences of guitar virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Stump and accomplished violinist, Paganini with addictive techno dance grooves is quickly garnering attention. Here’s what people are saying about Brennan Dylan:
“Rarely have I ever come across an instrumental release that stressed groove over mood and Bullet Ride has got to be the only instrumental release that has what it takes to get that party started.” -Rockwired.com
“His formula: impressive guitar chops laid on top of four-on-the-floor techno tracks.” –Music Connection Magazine
“Brennan Dylan, a guitar virtuoso and DIY artist from Los Angeles, has effectively bridged the gap between rock and electronic music to create a new and inventive sound. Inspired by classic rock such as AC/DC and Van Halen, Dylan weaves complex guitar riffs with synths influenced by Deadmau5 and Skrillex.” - Performer Mag
“He is a guitar player with a ton of talent, two tons of ability and enough energy to power a 5,000 seat auditorium.” – The Guitar Buzz
Citing eclectic influences such as Daft Punk, Deadmau5 and Eddie Van Halen, Brennan’s new record, Broken Glass, was recorded and produced entirely by Brennan himself. The record is due for release on April 17th.
For more information and to stay up-to-date with Brennan Dylan visit these links:
http://www.myspace.com/brennan.dylan
http://www.twitter.com/brennandylan
http://www.facebook.com/brennandylan
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PRODIGY GUITARTIST TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ‘BROKEN GLASS
[+ Show ]
BERKLEE PRODIGY GUITARTIST BRENNAN DYLAN SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ‘BROKEN GLASS’
Get your pens re...BERKLEE PRODIGY GUITARTIST BRENNAN DYLAN SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ‘BROKEN GLASS’
Get your pens ready because Brennan Dylan is worth taking notes on. Born in Canada, Brennan began playing and recording music at the age of ten. Fast-forward a decade or so and he has re-located to both Los Angeles and now New York City, graduated from Berklee College of Music and was the 2010 recipient of the LA Music Awards’ “Rock Guitarist of the Year” award.
Brennan’s guitar playing has been described as “ripped hard rock guitar welded to heavy electronic dance”. His unique method of combining the classical influences of guitar virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Stump and accomplished violinist, Paganini with addictive techno dance grooves is quickly garnering attention. Here’s what people are saying about Brennan Dylan:
“Rarely have I ever come across an instrumental release that stressed groove over mood and Bullet Ride has got to be the only instrumental release that has what it takes to get that party started.” -Rockwired.com
“His formula: impressive guitar chops laid on top of four-on-the-floor techno tracks.” –Music Connection Magazine
“Brennan Dylan, a guitar virtuoso and DIY artist from Los Angeles, has effectively bridged the gap between rock and electronic music to create a new and inventive sound. Inspired by classic rock such as AC/DC and Van Halen, Dylan weaves complex guitar riffs with synths influenced by Deadmau5 and Skrillex.” – Performer Mag
“He is a guitar player with a ton of talent, two tons of ability and enough energy to power a 5,000 seat auditorium.” – The Guitar Buzz
Citing eclectic influences such as Daft Punk, Deadmau5 and Eddie Van Halen, Brennan’s new record, Broken Glass, was recorded and produced entirely by Brennan himself. The record is due for release on April 17th.
For more information and to stay up-to-date with Brennan Dylan visit these links:
http://www.myspace.com/brennan.dylan
http://www.twitter.com/brennandylan
http://www.facebook.com/brennandylan
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Brennan Dylan at Surrender presented by Moodswing360
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Brennan Dylan performing original song Shattered live at Surrender at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas pu...Brennan Dylan performing original song Shattered live at Surrender at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas put on by Moodswing360 and Diageo...
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NEW MUSIC INFERNO W/ THE YOUNG PRESIDENTS & BRENNAN DYLAN
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BRENNAN DYLAN - WORLD CLASS ROCK/NEOCLASSICAL GUITARIST RECORDING W/ ORIGINAL TECHNO/ELECTRONIC...CH...BRENNAN DYLAN - WORLD CLASS ROCK/NEOCLASSICAL GUITARIST RECORDING W/ ORIGINAL TECHNO/ELECTRONIC...CHECK OUT HIS NEW SONG "DERAILED" RIGHT NOW OUT ON ITUNES...MORE INFO INCLUDING MUSIC & SHOW DATES AVAILABLE @ www.facebook.com/BrennanDylan
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Check out Brennan Dylan’s cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s “Chelsea Smile.”
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Check out Brennan Dylan’s cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s “Chelsea Smile.” Brennan is a young guitar...Check out Brennan Dylan’s cover of Bring Me The Horizon’s “Chelsea Smile.” Brennan is a young guitar prodigy from New York City. For more information, check him out here!
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Brennan Dylan song "Derailed" to be released March 20th
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Guitar prodigy and Berklee graduate Brennan Dylan's album Broken Glass is set for a 2012 release an... Guitar prodigy and Berklee graduate Brennan Dylan's album Broken Glass is set for a 2012 release and the fist single "Derailed" will be on March 20th. Currently based out of New York City, Brennan spent a good amount of time in Los Angeles, and was the 2012 recipient of the LA Music Awards “Rock Guitarist of the Year” award. He is strongly influenced by the playing of Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Stump, but his sound combines impressive technical guitar abilities with catchy electronic dance beats. For more info on Brennan follow him on Facebook and Twitter and also check out his site at www.myspace.com/brennan.dylan
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Brennan Dylan - Bitten live at Surrender
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Brennan Dylan performing original song Bitten at Surrender in Las Vegas. Put on by Moodswing360 and ...Brennan Dylan performing original song Bitten at Surrender in Las Vegas. Put on by Moodswing360 and Diageo
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Brennan Dylan Interview!
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Infectious Magazine chats with Brennan Dylan about his first ventures in music, Berklee College of M...Infectious Magazine chats with Brennan Dylan about his first ventures in music, Berklee College of Music, and omens.
Infectious Magazine: Hey Brennan, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. How are you?
Brennan Dylan: Hey, I’m pretty good. I’m just getting ready to play my first show in Las Vegas so I’m really amped about it. I’ll be performing on March 13 at 10 pm at Surrender Nightclub
IM: You actually started off playing Sax and switched to guitar, correct? What caused you to make the switch?
Brennan Dylan: Yeah, I started playing sax when I was 10. I studied jazz, swing and classical and played in Stage Bands into High School. But when I was 14 I picked up guitar. The guys that were renovating our house were nosing around the basement and found my father’s guitar. In about 1980 he saw a Miles Davis concert in Vancouver. He was amazed at how easy the guitar player in the band made it look so bought a used, one piece solid mahogany axe and started taking lessons. That lasted for about 6 months. He quite because he has 10 thumb syndrome and just put it away. Anyway, the workers took it out of the case and started to mess around with it. When they left for the day I picked it up and it just worked for me. So I cleaned up the case, which had about an inch of dust on it and put it under my bed. I had just started to listen to Blink 182 and Sum 41. Their music suited guitar so it was on.
IM: How did you first get into playing music?
Brennan Dylan: That’s a really good question. I joined a swim team and after each practice I’d relax watching The Simpsons. I really liked the sound that Lucy got out of her sax. I told my parents that I wanted to get a sax and start taking lessons. My father suggested guitar but I said no. Two weeks later my parents rented a sax for me and I was in a school band. A few months later I got a used Yamaha, which I loved. It was best I started with the sax and not guitar because the sax taught me to play melodies with individual notes instead of chords. I brought that to my guitar playing right away.
IM: You spoke with your first AR rep when you were pretty young. Although you didn’t end up taking it, how do you feel about having to deal with so much pressure and responsibility at such a young age? Do you think many young artists get taken advantage of?
Brennan Dylan: Here’s one for you. I was offered a record deal on June 6, 2006 or 666. We had this great flagstone patio with built in BBQ pit, which we had used the night before. My father cleaned up the garden that afternoon putting the dried branches and leaves in paper yard waste bags. He cleaned out the BBQ pit putting the burned wood and soot in a bag with dried branches thinking the coals were cold as ice. Then he put about 5 or 6 filled bags on our deck and came inside. About half an hour later a lady came to our front door and asked, “Do you know your deck is on fire?” The only thing that got destroyed was the deck.
I wanted that record deal so badly because I knew what I wanted to do since I was 14. I didn’t think of the pressure or responsibility. I only thought rock star and no more school. It’s a good thing I didn’t accept because I wasn’t ready musically. My dad and I had a conference call with another AR Rep who we’d known for about a year and had become friends with. We are still friends today. He told me that I was going to have a long career and that there was no rush. That I should study music at a school like Berklee before signing on the dotted line.
As far as young artists getting taken advantage of. I don’t really know.
IM: What advice do you have for other artists?
Brennan Dylan: Every act and/or artist is different. The only advice I’d give is listen to your instincts.
IM: You recently spoke of talking to a man who had a large presence in the dance scene in U.S. and Europe and how it influenced you to take your music in a direction you hadn’t yet considered. Him aside, what other people/events have influenced you and your music to be at the point you are today?
Brennan Dylan: The first was an event; seeing a Tommy Lee and DJ Aero with deadmau5 show in Montreal in August 2007. That show introduced me to the dance scene and I immediately saw a place for guitar with the music that was blasting throughout the club. So I switched from writing/recording rock to creating rock and neoclassical guitar fused to electronic music the very next day. The second was Larry Baione, Chairman of the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music. I thought it would be a good idea to try recording some jazz for a change. Larry told me that my jazz work was good but that I should stick with what I was doing, what was inside of me and what my passion was. That was fusing rock and neoclassical guitar to electronic music. Larry encouraged that from day one.
IM: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Brennan Dylan: You’re welcome and thank you for the interview. No, I can’t think of anything to add. Those were really good questions.
Keep up to date with all of Brennan Dylan by ‘liking’ him on Facebook.
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Brennan Dylan Videos
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Brennan Dylan performing ar Surrender Nightclub in Las Vegas at event sponsored by Diageo and presen...Brennan Dylan performing ar Surrender Nightclub in Las Vegas at event sponsored by Diageo and presented by Moodswing360
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Interview with Brennan Dylan: Guitar Sensation
[+ Show ]
My dad really liked the song and asked me when I wrote it. My answer really surprised him." He adds,...My dad really liked the song and asked me when I wrote it. My answer really surprised him." He adds, "the inspiration for 'War Parade' came to me on a wet dark November day in Boston in the form of 'Bullet Ride to Berlin,' music which seemed at least... Full Article at Suite 101
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Brennan Dylan Interview!
[+ Show ]
Infectious Magazine chats with Brennan Dylan about his first ventures in music, Berklee College of M...Infectious Magazine chats with Brennan Dylan about his first ventures in music, Berklee College of Music, and omens.
Infectious Magazine: Hey Brennan, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. How are you?
Brennan Dylan: Hey, I’m pretty good. I’m just getting ready to play my first show in Las Vegas so I’m really amped about it. I’ll be performing on March 13 at 10 pm at Surrender Nightclub
IM: You actually started off playing Sax and switched to guitar, correct? What caused you to make the switch?
Brennan Dylan: Yeah, I started playing sax when I was 10. I studied jazz, swing and classical and played in Stage Bands into High School. But when I was 14 I picked up guitar. The guys that were renovating our house were nosing around the basement and found my father’s guitar. In about 1980 he saw a Miles Davis concert in Vancouver. He was amazed at how easy the guitar player in the band made it look so bought a used, one piece solid mahogany axe and started taking lessons. That lasted for about 6 months. He quite because he has 10 thumb syndrome and just put it away. Anyway, the workers took it out of the case and started to mess around with it. When they left for the day I picked it up and it just worked for me. So I cleaned up the case, which had about an inch of dust on it and put it under my bed. I had just started to listen to Blink 182 and Sum 41. Their music suited guitar so it was on.
IM: How did you first get into playing music?
Brennan Dylan: That’s a really good question. I joined a swim team and after each practice I’d relax watching The Simpsons. I really liked the sound that Lucy got out of her sax. I told my parents that I wanted to get a sax and start taking lessons. My father suggested guitar but I said no. Two weeks later my parents rented a sax for me and I was in a school band. A few months later I got a used Yamaha, which I loved. It was best I started with the sax and not guitar because the sax taught me to play melodies with individual notes instead of chords. I brought that to my guitar playing right away.
IM: You spoke with your first A&R rep when you were pretty young. Although you didn’t end up taking it, how do you feel about having to deal with so much pressure and responsibility at such a young age? Do you think many young artists get taken advantage of?
Brennan Dylan: Here’s one for you. I was offered a record deal on June 6, 2006 or 666. We had this great flagstone patio with built in BBQ pit, which we had used the night before. My father cleaned up the garden that afternoon putting the dried branches and leaves in paper yard waste bags. He cleaned out the BBQ pit putting the burned wood and soot in a bag with dried branches thinking the coals were cold as ice. Then he put about 5 or 6 filled bags on our deck and came inside. About half an hour later a lady came to our front door and asked, “Do you know your deck is on fire?” The only thing that got destroyed was the deck.
I wanted that record deal so badly because I knew what I wanted to do since I was 14. I didn’t think of the pressure or responsibility. I only thought rock star and no more school. It’s a good thing I didn’t accept because I wasn’t ready musically. My dad and I had a conference call with another A&R Rep who we’d known for about a year and had become friends with. We are still friends today. He told me that I was going to have a long career and that there was no rush. That I should study music at a school like Berklee before signing on the dotted line.
As far as young artists getting taken advantage of. I don’t really know.
IM: What advice do you have for other artists?
Brennan Dylan: Every act and/or artist is different. The only advice I’d give is listen to your instincts.
IM: You recently spoke of talking to a man who had a large presence in the dance scene in U.S. and Europe and how it influenced you to take your music in a direction you hadn’t yet considered. Him aside, what other people/events have influenced you and your music to be at the point you are today?
Brennan Dylan: The first was an event; seeing a Tommy Lee and DJ Aero with deadmau5 show in Montreal in August 2007. That show introduced me to the dance scene and I immediately saw a place for guitar with the music that was blasting throughout the club. So I switched from writing/recording rock to creating rock and neoclassical guitar fused to electronic music the very next day. The second was Larry Baione, Chairman of the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music. I thought it would be a good idea to try recording some jazz for a change. Larry told me that my jazz work was good but that I should stick with what I was doing, what was inside of me and what my passion was. That was fusing rock and neoclassical guitar to electronic music. Larry encouraged that from day one.
IM: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Brennan Dylan: You’re welcome and thank you for the interview. No, I can’t think of anything to add. Those were really good questions.
Keep up to date with all of Brennan Dylan by ‘liking’ him on Facebook.
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Interview with Brennan Dylan: Guitar Sensation
[+ Show ]
Interview with Brennan Dylan: Guitar Sensation
* Mar 7, 2012
* Markos Papadatos
Sui...Interview with Brennan Dylan: Guitar Sensation
* Mar 7, 2012
* Markos Papadatos
Suite101 interview with guitar player Brennan Dylan, where he talks about "War Parade," the single from his forthcoming CD "Broken Glass."
Suite101 chats with guitar sensation Brennan Dylan about his new record Broken Glass and single "War Parade."
Brennan Talks Berklee College of Music
"This was a very important chapter of my life. Without Berklee College of Music I would not be where I am today, musically or intellectually. I learned to unleash the inner beast that is in me in an organized and structured fashion. Berklee taught me to converse in the language of music by making sense of all that I had learned musically since I was 10 then stretching that and pushing the envelope to become who I am and I think I will become," he says.
He continues, "For starters I despise school. I mean with a passion. Not because I don't like learning but because I don't like the way most schools deliver their message. Berklee isn't like that. The classes are ultra small so there is absolutely nowhere to hide. And if one teacher can't deliver the message and lets face it everyone learns differently, then the school finds one for you who can. Also, if I didn't get it but thought I did, the teacher would let me know over and over until I did. There was no escape ever. But that is what I went there for. I lived across the street from the guitar building and practiced all the time."
Brennan Talks About Winning 2010 LA Music Awards' "Rock Guitarist of the Year"
"I was in the car on my way home after biking along the beach at Santa Monica when I got a phone call telling me the news. Wow, talk about a euphoric moment. It meant that all the hours of study and practice had not gone unnoticed and was like being appreciated for being a guitar player by a sea of people all at once. It meant recognition by the media which gave my ego a boost but also it was humbling because I know no matter how well I play that there will always be more to learn and room for improvement. Learning my craft will never end and it made me step it up a notch. I guess it was kind of like an athlete being cheered on by the crowd, a good shot of adrenaline," he says.
Brennan Talks New Single "War Parade"
"Usually when I write a song, I start with a riff or melody that comes to me when I'm playing the guitar (sometimes when I'm on the keyboard). That riff or melody is expanded and organized into a song in my head then roughly laid down (recorded) to a beat. 'War Parade' started out as an electronic track called 'Bullet Ride to Berlin' and was written during my last semester at Berklee."
"My parents happened to be in Boston for a visit when I wrote 'Bullet Ride to Berlin.' My dad was in the other room when he stopped whatever it was he was doing and listened in shocked silence to the electronic tones that poured from there. With this particular song I just recorded each track of the music that was in my head. I did it for about 30 minutes, recording lets say about 20 individual tracks. My father said nothing but thought I was nuts because if you listen to say one particular guitar track of a song by itself it will sound like gibberish when segregated from the rest of the song. When I'd recorded all of the tracks I saved them and pressed play. My dad really liked the song and asked me when I wrote it. My answer really surprised him."
He adds, "the inspiration for 'War Parade' came to me on a wet dark November day in Boston in the form of 'Bullet Ride to Berlin,' music which seemed at least to me, fitting for a thriller shot on a train ripping through the Eastern European countryside. Fast forward to July, 2010. I'm in a studio in the Valley, it is 110 degrees and I'm cranking out a song a day. 'War Parade' is my sixth song."
Brennan Talks Performing in New York City
"It was a lot of fun, but difficult. I love performing but it was difficult because I moved from L.A. to NYC on New Year's Day, then spent three weeks in a hotel while I looked for an apartment. When I finally moved in I had to set up my studio and get some furniture because I came here with my gear and clothes. Now usually I practice every day for anywhere from two to six hours depending on what I'm working toward. When I finally got my studio set up I had less than a week to get it together which I did. My playing wasn't to my liking but I had fun anyway. The three clubs I performed in introduced me to the New York scene, and its awesome."
Brennan Talks About "Broken Glass" Album
"Broken Glass is all about breaking the glass walls down that exist between rock, metal, neoclassical, blues and electronic music. It is about trying to open the doors to the electronic music scene for artists like myself by fusing digital and analog or electronic and guitar. For the most part, electronic music is instrumental but for some reason is not seen as such."
He notes that Broken Glass is a twelve-song CD that will be released in April.
"'29 Palms' opens the album and was meant to be a bit of a decoy in that it is classical and surf guitar," he says. "It flows nicely into Spit Fire because the second track has a surf with edge intro that slams hard into hard rock and metal on top of ambient dubstep with a war cry guitar melody. That breaks into the up and downs of Point Break which is named after Point Break the surf movie."
"'Bitten' is the last song I wrote and recorded for the CD. It has a definite blues edge but seems to roll right into 'Point Break.' When I listen to my playing from July of 2010 to that of a year later, I have progressed as a guitar player and artist. That is important to me. 'Shattered' follows which is back to the harder and more aggressive side of my playing and probably where I'm most comfortable, and then there is the title track."
"'Derailed' just seems to follow naturally while 'Twelve' is about only one thing melody. I wrote it in the summer of 2007 while in Boston checking out Berklee. It is the last song I wrote of its kind before seeing Tommy Lee and DJ Aero with deadmau5 in Montreal, the show which opened my eyes to the electronic music scene."
Check out Brennan Dylan on Facebook and Twitter.
Read more at Suite101: Interview with Brennan Dylan: Guitar Sensation | Suite101.com http://markospapadatos.suite101.com/interview-with-brennan-dylan-guitar-sensation-a404318#ixzz1oS0qYH00
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Monthly Archives: February 2012
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Rock/Blues Guitar laid ?n top ?f Dubstep, Synth ?nd Techno Composed, Produced, Engineered ?nd Record...Rock/Blues Guitar laid ?n top ?f Dubstep, Synth ?nd Techno Composed, Produced, Engineered ?nd Recorded b? Brennan Dylan Copyright 2011 Brennan Dylan All Rights Reserved starting th? CD……..BROKEN GLASS
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Bitten
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Rock/Blues Guitar laid on top of Dubstep, Synth and Techno Composed, Produced, Engineered and Record...Rock/Blues Guitar laid on top of Dubstep, Synth and Techno Composed, Produced, Engineered and Recorded by Brennan Dylan Copyright 2011 Brennan Dylan All Rights Reserved from the CD……..BROKEN GLASS
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Brennan Dylan - Bullet Ride (Self-Released)
[+ Show ]
Ever go to a club that has different rooms playing totally different music in each room? Award-winni...Ever go to a club that has different rooms playing totally different music in each room? Award-winning six-string maestro Brennan Dylan apparently has, as he fuses hard electronica beats with bursts of metal virtuoso guitar on his debut endeavor BULLET RIDE. This well-versed musician’s discovery is far from groundbreaking, but his disc merges the two armed with clever compositional methods that gives equal reverence to both genres. This 10-track all instrumental affair contains a head rattling array of techno beats bound to keep the dance floor moving (“Racing Laguna”) while a discernible hard rock edge makes its presence known thanks to Dylan’s inventive approach and undeniable chops (“Derailed”). At times wandering through dark wave and industrial soundscapes (“Bullet Ride”) while at others coming off like the perfect background music for a television or movie chase scene (“Delirious Factor”), Brennan Dylan has struck a cohesive balance of styles and sounds for ravers and rockers alike to adhere to. www.myspace.com/brennandylan
-Mike SOS
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Music Reviews: May 2011 Brennan Dylan "Bullet Ride"
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Brennan Dylan,"Bullet Ride" (Self-released)
Ever go to a club that has different rooms playing tota...Brennan Dylan,"Bullet Ride" (Self-released)
Ever go to a club that has different rooms playing totally different music in each room? Award-winning six-string maestro Brennan Dylan apparently has, as he fuses hard electronica beats with bursts of metal virtuoso guitar on his debut endeavor BULLET RIDE. This well-versed musician’s discovery is far from groundbreaking, but his disc merges the two armed with clever compositional methods that gives equal reverence to both genres. This 10-track all instrumental affair contains a head rattling array of techno beats bound to keep the dance floor moving (“Racing Laguna”) while a discernible hard rock edge makes its presence known thanks to Dylan’s inventive approach and undeniable chops (“Derailed”). At times wandering through dark wave and industrial soundscapes (“Bullet Ride”) while at others coming off like the perfect background music for a television or movie chase scene (“Delirious Factor”), Brennan Dylan has struck a cohesive balance of styles and sounds for ravers and rockers alike to adhere to.
www.myspace.com/brennandylan
Rating: 3/5
Review by Mike SOS
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BRENNAN DYLAN'S BULLET RIDE
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Expect the unexpected with Dylan: Brennan's Bullet Ride. The CD's back cover shows Mr. Brennan strik...Expect the unexpected with Dylan: Brennan's Bullet Ride. The CD's back cover shows Mr. Brennan striking a pose with guitar, his trusty musical weapon of choice. But don't expect another guitar virtuoso merely burning up the fret board with his magical widdling. Well, there is that: Brennan has wits and licks to both impress and stymie any neo-classical guitar whiz.
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Brennan Dylan '10
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Guitarist Brennan Dylan of Westchester, CA was named rock guitarist of the year at the 20th Annual L...Guitarist Brennan Dylan of Westchester, CA was named rock guitarist of the year at the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards. Dylan also released his latest CD, Bullet Ride. Visit: www.myspace.com/brennan.dylan
Berklee Today Spring 2011
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One of my favorite young shredders!!
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One of my favorite young shredders!! Listen to these 2 tracks....Then buy the album on iTunes....Awe...One of my favorite young shredders!! Listen to these 2 tracks....Then buy the album on iTunes....Awesome!
This dude can really play. I happened to pick him up as a Twitter follower, and was I surprised! Check out his Myspace page, and listen to a few of his vids......He is REALLY going places..
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Brennan Dylan - BULLET RIDE
[+ Show ]
The bit of industrial and electronic music that comes issuing forth at the beginning of "Bullet Ride...The bit of industrial and electronic music that comes issuing forth at the beginning of "Bullet Ride" primes listeners for what is to come. Fast, slow, intense, and more meandering sections all mesh to create a microcosm of the genre.
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Brennan Dylan Interview at Aj and dbs
[+ Show ]
Brennan Dylan Interview at Aj&dbs
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Brennan Dylan, Los A... Brennan Dylan Interview at Aj&dbs
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 1:09 AM
Brennan Dylan, Los Angeles, California
Q. How did the project come into existence?
Man, this is going to be a long answer because it unfolded in a round about way. In May/10, I went to Las Vegas intent on making some connections that would help me break into the Vegas club and event scene. I had one contact there which I got from a Berklee friend. The contact assured me that he could help me get gigs, so after speaking to him several times I jumped in the car and drove to Sin City.
I'd never been there before and expected things would flow smoothly. I was told to bring my gear because he knew a lot of people who owned clubs and could get me shows very easily. Yeah right. Now Vegas is a place where everything goes. I got in late Saturday night and met my contact at a high end restaurant. The guy packed away the groceries and drinks like no one I'd ever seen before. His plan was to take me around to meet people and get shows every day for a week so naturally I hit the hay really happy. That and he didn't stick me with the tab.
So I called him the next morning as directed but he was busy. Sunday went by. I called on Monday but he was busy again. When we were having dinner on Saturday he didn't shut up about this great opportunity for me to play guitar in a band he knew about. He knew a club owner very well who had a kid with a band that needed a guitar player. He wanted me to be that band's guitarist and that is why he wanted me to go to Vegas. Not to get me gigs but to sucker me into playing with a pack of hacks. So I wrote that guy off and went around myself.
I tried every place in town but cracking Vegas for me was like cracking Fort Knox. Finally, after 5 days of banging my head on doors I walked into the Palm Studios and met the person who runs the place, Zoe Thall. She gave me some great advice. Before going to Vegas I recorded a 3 song demo called "Escaping to Vegas". According to Zoe, the mix was rough but the guitar and riffs were killer. She told me that in order to play Vegas I needed a professionally recorded, mixed and mastered CD that could stop a freight train. "Escaping to Vegas" wasn't that CD. So I jumped in my car and drove back to L.A., escaping from Vegas but happy I had learned a few things and met Zoe.
About a week later a manager from NYC contacted me wanting to represent me, she liked my music but said I needed a better quality CD. She put me in touch with a recording studio in Los Angeles and I moved forward with them. I wrote 7 songs in a few days, practiced them and practiced the guitar getting ready to hit the studio on July 15/10. I completed recording the CD in 2 weeks and had 1000 copies of BULLET RIDE in my hand on August 27. That is how BULLET RIDE came into being, it really sprung out of Vegas.
Q. Who are the members of the band if any and please tell us about it?
I am the only band member and write all of the music, play the guitar, synth and keyboards. I fuse ripping rock guitar to techno. When I perform I run my guitar through an Axe FX driven by a 200 watt SLA power amp into a 4 speaker Krank cabinet. I use an Axe FX because it gives me the ability to dial up any amplifier I want generating the sound I want to create. I use a Krank cabinet because it kicks out a heavy sound and is indestructible. I mix techno/electronica sets using 2 Pioneer CDJ 400 turntables and a Pioneer DJM 400 and rip guitar to that.
Q. How would you describe your sound/genre?
My sound is analogue meets digital. It is pure metal/rock/neo-classical shred guitar with powerful riffs and melodies without any pedals or processing fused to 4-on-the-floor techno/hard dance/electronica. It is propulsive, up beat music for adrenalin junkies.
Q. What formal training or previous experience do any of the members have?
Wow, this a question. I started playing sax when I was 10. I studied classical, jazz and swing, performing in Stage Bands. When I was 14 I picked up a guitar for the first time and never put it down. I studied rock for 1 year then changed to classical study. When I was 15 my parents took me to the Rainbow Bistro, a blues club in Ottawa, Ontario. I performed blues/rock/jazz improv guitar at that club for 3 years, 2-3 times a week when I was in High School as well as continuing with classical guitar. After High School I studied Performance Guitar at Berklee College of Music.
I started composing when I was 10 and recording and copyrighting my composing when I was 14. I studied jazz, blues, rock, metal, funk, classical, neo-classical etc at Berklee. I have always studied different music styles either through tutors or on my own and continue to do so. Learning different aspects of the guitar is my passion.
Q. Are you working w/ a producer on your upcoming album?
I don't have any plans to record new material at the moment. Currently, I'm focused on my guitar skills and developing my stage show.
Q. Who would you say has been the biggest influence on the bands sound or that you have used as inspiration for your music?
The biggest influences on my sound are deadmau5 and Daft Punk on the digital side. On the analogue side it would be Malmsteen, Mick Mars and Zakk Wylde.
Q.What advice would you give to others starting out?
Be true to yourself, we all know intuitively what our talents are. Believe in yourself and never let anyone or thing, including your parents, stop you from living your dream. Practice every day. When your friends are partying in High School, practice. Stay away from drugs.........they are dream killers.
Q. Where can people go to learn more about you and hear your music?
You can learn more about me at
www.sonicbids.com/BrennanDylan
www.myspace.com/brennan.dylan
. To buy my music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bullet-ride/id389406582
Q. If you could play anywhere in the world or with anyone you wanted where and who would it be with?
I would like to perform at SXSW 2011 and WMC 2011. As far as performing with someone famous, I'd like to rip with Motely Crue. This summer I'd like to be touring Europe.
Q. What has been your greatest experience so far either individually or as a whole?
My greatest experience so far has been being awarded Rock Guitarist of the year at the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards.
Q. Do you have any upcoming events or news you would like to tell our readers about?
Yes, I'll be able to announce news that I have been chosen to compose music for film/TV/ad/games by a Los Angeles production house shortly.
Q. Where do you see yourselves or hope to be in about 5 years?
Hopefully, I will be a well established guitar player, touring the world, getting lots of session work and with my music in film/TV/Ad/games.
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The Blazing Sound of Brennan Dylan
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ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS:
THE HAUNTiNG SOUND OF iNTENDED CREATiON
AND HiS ELECTRiFYiNG DE...ROCKWiRED RADiO PROFiLES PRESENTS:
THE HAUNTiNG SOUND OF iNTENDED CREATiON
AND HiS ELECTRiFYiNG DEBUT CD 'BULLET RiDE'
DECEMBER 15, 2010 - The "rock instrumental" album is a dying art but guitarist and musical prodigy BRENNAN DYLAN is keeping the art alive with his debut instrumental album BULLET RIDE. It is easy to understand the hesitation from a listener with more of a pop rock leaning to embrace the idea of an album that shows off guitar theatrics in favor of your typical pop format but I've got a feeling that BRENNAN may be that instrumentalist that could break through to a pop crowd. Rather than producing an album filled with endless guitar solos, BRENNAN adds electronic hooks and loops to the project making BULLET RIDE a decidedly dancier affair. Rarely have I ever come across an instrumental release that stressed groove over mood and BULLET RIDE has got to be the only instrumental release around that has what it takes to get that proverbial party started.
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meet the amped up star behind "Bullet Ride"
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Brennan Dylan
Submitted by admin on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 12:02.
* Richie Frieman
* Todays Fea...Brennan Dylan
Submitted by admin on Wed, 12/08/2010 - 12:02.
* Richie Frieman
* Todays Feature
YES – something to add to the gym mix! Brennan Dylan – an electro-guitarist that has built up a reputation on both sides of the country (earning Rock Guitarist of the Year honors at the 20TH Annual Los Angeles Music Awards AND studying Performance Guitar at Berklee College of Music) bringing the kind of sound that turns on the “animal mode” (as we like to call it) – a mesh of metal and rock-techno. But don’t think for a second that the guy isn’t a well-round artist just because he specializes in pulse-pounding. In Boston, Dylan studied all the genres: classical, swing, surf, rock 'n roll, jazz, neo-classical, metal, rock, techno, electronica, funk, blues, dance… everything!
Lucky for my lifting playlist, Brennan’s debut album, “Bullet Ride”, focuses on the stuff that gets my blood moving. He says “Fans can expect heavy synth driven techno on tracks 6 - 10. On tracks 1 - 5 the guitar is very propulsive and aggressive. My fans are guitar freaks, adrenaline junkies, gamers, ravers, rockers, metal heads and people who like to get revved. I'd say that my fans can expect ‘Bullet Ride’ to get them jacked and revved as much or more than what downing 3 cans of Red Bull does.” Boom – that’s what I’m looking for. Whether you’re looking for a boost or not, check out “Bullet Ride”. And keep an eye out for Brennan Dylan shows – he’ll be on the road supporting the record hard. There’s a lot more to get into, so keep going for all the answers to the XXQ’s.
XXQs: Brennan Dylan
PEV: How would you describe your sound in today’s music scene?
Brennan Dylan (BD): I would describe my sound as hard rock converted neo-classical guitar welded to heavy synth techno. It's music for adrenaline junkies. It packs a punch, revving it's listeners and is what downing a case of Red Bull would sound like if Red Bull could play the guitar.
PEV: What kind of music where you into growing up? Was anyone your main influence?
BD: I started playing the sax when I was 10. I swam competitively and after practice I'd relax watching the Simpsons. I really loved the sound of the sax when Lucy played, so begged my parents to get me one. First, they rented one for me and arranged for private lessons. After a few months I got a used Yamaha alto sax, joined a stage band and played swing, classical and jazz. That is all I listened to. I didn't like rock because what I heard on the radio was very simple.
When I was 14 I picked up a guitar for the first time in my life. It felt like lightning in a bottle that I had the power to release. Wow, it was magic. Naturally the sax hit the bricks. I took rock lessons (AC/DC. Van Halen, Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Joe Satranini, Rhandy Rhoads, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Motely Crue, Zakk Wyld) for 1 year then switched to classical study and focused on incorporating what I was learning classically into my rock compositions and performances.
When I was 15 my parents took me to a blues club 2-3 time a week to perform rock/blues/jazz improv guitar. I did that for 3 years (Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pantera, the Ramones, Dick Dale, rock 'n roll, you name it... Pink Floyd, The Doors etc). When I was 18 I saw DJ Aero and Tommy Lee with deaudmau5. That was it. I began fusing heavy rock guitar to electronica (deadmau5, daft punk etc). After High School I studied Performance Guitar at Berklee College of Music. While in Boston I studied many genres and many styles within each genre. The Allman Brothers to Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck to The Scorpions. So in a sentence I listened to classical, swing, surf, rock 'n roll, jazz, neo-classical, metal, rock, techno, electronica, funk, blues, dance, etc.
My main influences are Classical: Paganini, Mozart, Bach Swing: Benny Goodman and other big bands 80's rock guitarists: Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wyld, Eddie Van Halen, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx because he hits the bass hard, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Stump, Jeff Beck, Dimebag Darrell Surf: Dick Dale Electronica: deadmau5, Daft Punk, Skrillex
PEV: Do you like performing out? Or is it a necessary evil?
BD: Performing is what I live for. I have been performing since I was 10. In May of this year I wrote and recorded a demo, Escaping to Vegas, which I obviously took to Vegas. Then, in June I prepared to go into the studio on July 15. I wrote a bunch of songs and practiced guitar for a month before recording. I recorded the CD, BULLET RIDE, in 2 weeks then argued with the studio for 2 weeks to get sort of what I wanted, did a photo shoot for the cover, had the CD glass mastered and pressed and picked up 1000 copies on Aug 27. Then I promoted it for 2 months. During that whole period, I didn't perform once and I was miserable. Performing live is what its all about, interacting with the crowd, making sure I'm delivering more than what they came to see and that they are as excited as I am.
PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage?
BD: Before I go on stage I get anxious, not nervous. I am like a caged beast trying to escape. When I walk onto that stage I'm at peace, in my element, in the zone. It usually takes a minute or 2 get my sound adjusted the way I want, even with a sound check before hand so I can have my guitar sound correctly meshed with the techno. If the club or venue doesn't give me monitors, which happens a lot, I have to zap myself into the zone and feel it. Whatever, but then its on.
PEV: What was the underlining inspiration for your music? Where do get your best ideas for songs?
BD: I think a lot of songwriters believe writing is a process, something that takes time and effort. I don't. It usually takes me about 30 minutes to write and record a song. My ideas just come, I don't approach writing like an engineer approaches building a bridge, instead I let the creativity that is inside of me flow.
PEV: What can fans expect from your upcoming debut, “Bullet Ride”?
BD: Bullet Ride consists of 2 segments. Tracks 1 - 5 are guitar over techno. Tracks 6 - 10 are techno. When I went into the studio I first recorded 5 techno tracks with the idea of laying guitar over them and ending up with an EP. However, the A&R guy in charge of the project liked what I created so much he wanted me to release them as well. Each techno track might have taken about 30 minutes to write and record outside the studio but once inside it was a different story. Sometimes it took the producer hours to find the drum beat I wanted. Once the main theme was in place I played the synth and keyboards. When the 5 techno tracks were completed I laid guitar over each track. I spent 5 days, 5 - 6 hours/day shredding in 100 degree heat without air conditioning. On day 2 my fingers were cut because I hadn't played guitar for about 2 weeks. So I got some white surgical tape and let her fly. So what the fans can expect is heavy synth driven techno on tracks 6 - 10. On tracks 1 - 5 the guitar is very propulsive and aggressive. My fans are guitar freaks, adrenaline junkies, gamers, ravers, rockers, metal heads and people who like to get revved. I'd say that my fans can expect Bullet Ride to get them jacked and revved as much or more than what downing 3 cans of Red Bull does.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about Brennan Dylan?
BD: I am constantly studying and practicing new and more technical guitar techniques in order to continually progress as a guitar player. I never sit still, instead I push myself everyday to be a better guitarist. Also, I hate spiders.
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?
BD: Yes, when I was 14 after I'd been playing guitar for a few months, I knew that music would be my life.
PEV: When Saturday Night Live calls and wants you as their musical guest. Who is your dream host?
BD: Billy Gibbons or Slash.
PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
BD: In my spare time I like to go to clubs with my friends. I also like to ride my bike on the beach.
PEV: So, what is next for Brennan Dylan?
BD: Playing shows and touring. I'm working on touring the U.S. starting in Texas. This summer I look to be in Europe and the UK.
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Review by James McQuiston
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Brennan Dylan – Bullet Ride (CD)
Posted by James McQuiston on November 29th, 2010
The bit of in...Brennan Dylan – Bullet Ride (CD)
Posted by James McQuiston on November 29th, 2010
The bit of industrial and electronic music that comes issuing forth at the beginning of “Bullet Ride” primes listeners for what is to come. Fast, slow, intense, and more meandering sections all mesh to create a microcosm of the genre. While an instrumental concoction of Dylan, “War Parade” is nevertheless a track that has tremendous narrative qualities. Deftly integrating synthesizers, guitars, and drums into one coherent expression, Dylan gives listeners a reason to continue with “Bullet Ride”. “Bullet Ride” continues with ”Strobe Dancer”, a track that is important not only because it continues with some of the trends that originally opened the disc, but showcases Dylan’s tremendously diverse and intricate takes on the genre.
With a hard, driving beat and guitars and synths that play in between each thumb, this track will remind fans of a Stabbing Westward just as it will Autechre or even “Pretty Hate Machine”-era Nine Inch Nails. “Point Break” bats cleanup, and it begins with a much more in your faced and brash guitar line. This is matched well with a similarly minimalist side that fluctuates in intensity, something that comes forth much more strongly in the disc’s titular track. Different from the other cuts on “Bullet Ride”, the track has a more pensive and careful feel to it.
This slightly more slinky track provides listeners further momentum as they continue on with the album; where many artists are more than content to simply coast through the last half of an album, Dylan’s continually experimenting self makes sure that late-disc tracks like “Slammin’” or “I Am Me” sparkle. Without a voice present to break the flow between these different elements, Dylan is able to show exactly how each constituent element works, and what it adds to the track (and the album). “Bullet Ride” is tremendously compelling and acts as a blueprint which subsequent artists in the electronic and industrial genres should adopt. I would personally like to see where exactly Dylan plans to go from here; with killer talent to spare, any future releases should be illuminating.
Top Tracks: War Parade, Racing Laguna
Rating: 8.3/10
Brennan Dylan – Bullet Ride / 2010 Self / 10 Tracks / www.cdbaby.com/cd/brennandylan /
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Rock Guitarist of the Year
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Brennan Dylan being interviewed by Hollywood Broker TV at the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, ...Brennan Dylan being interviewed by Hollywood Broker TV at the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, November 18/10 at the Paramount Theater.
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CD Review: Jump Aboard 'Bullet Ride'
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CD Review: Jump Aboard 'Bullet Ride'
Nov 27, 2010 Melissa Kucirek
Los Angeles Music Award Winner...CD Review: Jump Aboard 'Bullet Ride'
Nov 27, 2010 Melissa Kucirek
Los Angeles Music Award Winner for Best Rock Guitarist, Brennan Dylan, thrills listeners on fused electronica and rock CD 'Bullet Ride.'
Instrumentalist and Canadian raised Brennan Dylan has many things going for him in the 10-track CD Bullet Ride. First, the guy can play guitar like Neil Zaza, Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Second, his music combines the raw, 80s rock anthem guitar loved by so many with the spirit and moxie of a surfer. And, third, did this writer mention the guy can play?
Immediately into track one, "War Parade," the opening riff hits the listener in the gut like the offset of the theme song to Miami Vice. Throughout all the tracks, Dylan introduces listeners to each song in a solid flow of emotion and unequal sounds. The words that will come to mind are speed, adrenaline and all-out assault on normal music.
Takes The Listener Behind the Wheel
"Racing Laguna" (track three) has this sense of beach to it - the rock and electronica woven into a wave of energy. The riffs and changes take the listener behind the wheel of Atari's Poll Position. Truly, it does feel as if the listener is racing alongside the sandy beaches, the warm sun stretched out for miles. What a fun song, and certainly a standout on the entire album.
Another killer track and heart-pumping change up is track five, "Derailed." It is as if Stevie Nick's "Edge of Seventeen" began cavorting with Van Halen's "Jump" and the Saw-series score. The title track (number 6) begins in that same techno beat found in track one's "War Parade." "Bullet Ride" is much more computerized than "Racing Laguna" or "Derailed" but still enjoyable and danceable.
High-Impact Instrumental Music
"Dark Night Raver" is simply rave. This has the least amount of guitar riffs. This song as track two, "Strobe Dancer" are missing that characteristic rock found in the other tracks. This writer would have enjoyed more guitar work in these two songs. When listening to these and "Slammin" and the final track, "I Am Me" comparisons to work out songs and high-impact instrumental works keep a coming. These songs are so unique and so easy to feel the sweat coming through the speakers.
Get Aboard Bullet Ride
Overall, give this CD a solid A. Listeners will keep their attention throughout all 10 tracks. There are no repeats, no lows on this high energy race. It is truly like riding a twisting and turning bullet - it goes through the listener's gut and soul and hits hard. Gamers will love this as it is like a personal battle soundtrack. Get aboard Brennan Dylan's Bullet Ride.
Read more at Suite101: CD Review: Jump Aboard 'Bullet Ride' http://www.suite101.com/content/cd-review-jump-aboard-bullet-ride-a313865#ixzz16VVvb6uB
Copyright Melissa Kucirek. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
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Brennan Dylan - BULLET RIDE
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Recently named Rock Guitarist of the Year at the 20th annual LA Music Awards, Brennan Dylan (no rela...Recently named Rock Guitarist of the Year at the 20th annual LA Music Awards, Brennan Dylan (no relation to Bob, for those wondering) releases his EP Bullet Ride. I have a problem calling it an EP, though--it has ten songs on it. A short full-length album is probably more appropriate; tons of artists get away with releasing ten-song albums these days. At any rate, Dylan demonstrates his ability to cross genres and ignore musical boundaries. From studying swing and classical (as well as playing the saxophone) to studying Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Motley Crue; you get an idea of just how vast Dylan's repertoire is.
This is an instrumental record, but make no mistake, there is still a voice on here--and a strong one at that. Dylan makes the electric guitar sing over a bed of buzzing synthesizer sounds and club-style drum programming, creating a tough-as-nails hybrid of industrial electronic music rooted in a strong rock heritage. Every song has a high enough energy level to be the backdrop for a movie car chase scene (think The Fast and the Furious with guns blazing).
This is not an album to skim through. A lot of the electronic elements will be consistent, but there are so many guitar changes in each song, it's obvious where Dylan's passion rests. That said, the general composition of each piece is impressive in its own right. In fact, he is confident enough in his other musical sensibilities to leave the guitar out all together in tracks like "DarkNight Raver". And then on other songs like "Slammin'", it's hard to distinguish whether or not you're listening to some heavy processed synths or extreme guitar distortion--all part of the effect Dylan was trying to achieve, I suppose. For the mesmerizing guitar playing alone, "Strobe Dancer" is my favorite out of the bunch.
Bullet Ride is not for everyone; electric guitar enthusiasts should flock, as well as fans of electronic rock music that has heavy techno influences. But whether you're into techno-rock or not, the record showcases one young man's sheer talent and ability on the guitar. His shredding and riffing makes the listener forget there aren't any vocals on the album (they would have just gotten in the way, anyhow). Whether he opts to compose for TV and film, produce for other bands, or remain a solo and/or collaborative artist, session player, or all of the above, Brennan Dylan has a long and bright future ahead of him. Bullet Ride is proof of that.
About writer: http://www.musicemissions.com/users/Carlito
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Brennan Dylan, Bullet Ride November 25, 2010 by Skope Staff
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Rock and electronica collide like never before on Brennan Dylan’s exciting new album Bullet Ride. T...Rock and electronica collide like never before on Brennan Dylan’s exciting new album Bullet Ride. This debut instrumental album from Dylan gives you the best of both worlds from rock guitar to dance-heavy beats. I remember hearing in the 70s that you either were a rocker or a disco junkie; could not be both. Jumping ahead a few decades, Brennan Dylan laughs at this crazy notion and says “I Will Survive” just fine with my guitar and “Boogie Shoes”.
It’s safe to say that Brennan is a pretty damn good guitar player because he recently won Rock Guitarist of the Year at the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards. His love for that famous stringed instrument and rock & roll music is definitely noticed on the new record. Brennan Dylan fills up with rocked out guitar licks, but saves room for some fresh dance moves.
Electro and house producer deadmau5 of Canada is a major influence toward Brennan’s approach to music making. When Dylan visited a Montreal club one night and witnessed deadmau5 in action, that convinced the artist what he needed to do right then and there. An album that would get the crowd hyped by way of a killer musical combo was exactly the answer! Bullet Ride is born!
All ten tracks on the record are so hip & cool. It rocks and grooves as Dylan plays a mean guitar while supplying some filthy, nasty beats. Songs like “Racing Laguna” make your head bob from north to south and you’re gonna get down whether you like it or not! The title track and “DarkNight Raver” give you more of a hypnotic feel that seems like a perfect fit at one of those crazy rave parties. The following track “Slammin’” is exactly that with a phenomenal sound being made here. This is one of my favorite numbers on the disc because it displays this relationship between rock and techno/dance perfectly. Plus, this song moves & flows like there’s no tomorrow making it an instant smash!
Brennan Dylan proves that a guitar, rock and electronica can get along just fine on Bullet Ride. My only suggestion would be to maybe add some lyrics sporadically throughout this set. I think this would blow peoples’ minds even more so by hearing random lines mixed in with the electro-rock. I sense a craze happening now at clubs everywhere and Brennan Dylan will be the bullet heading straight to the top of the rockin’ disco ball! Get ready for the ride!
By Jimmy Rae (jrae@skopemag.com)
Rating: 4 out of 5
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Sidebeat Music Interview
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Video interview for Sidebeat Music on November 10, 2010 at Actors Entertainment Studio in Los Angele...Video interview for Sidebeat Music on November 10, 2010 at Actors Entertainment Studio in Los Angeles, CA. Brennan Dylan talks with Mary Jo Gruber about his musical influences, course of study and his being awarded Rock Guitarist of the Year at the 20th annual Los Angeles Music Awards.
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Brennan Dylan - BULLET RIDE CD
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As most of TheGuitarBuzz.com readers know, I am 100% passionate about the guitar.
I have a personal...As most of TheGuitarBuzz.com readers know, I am 100% passionate about the guitar.
I have a personal preference to the Jazz & Blues genres…even though I grew up in the 70's with some pretty stiff Rock and Roll bands that will never lose their spot on my iPod.
The other thing most regular BUZZ readers know is that I recognize and appreciate guitar playing TALENT and ABILITY, regardless of genre.
Enter Brennan Dylan. Brennan’s musical style would best be described as “Original techno-electro driven by melodic synth with heavy hitting beats powered by ripped technical guitar and riveting guitar riffs”. He is a guitar player with a ton of talent, two tons of ability and enough energy to power a 5,000 seat auditorium.
A few months ago, Brennan stumbled across TheGuitarBuzz.com web site. He liked what he read and could feel the passion about guitar playing in my writing. After swapping a few emails, he sent me a copy of his new CD, “Bullet Ride” to listen to.
In his email, he shared how his High School music teacher told him that…(get this)…”The Guitar IS NOT an Instrument”. Over the years, Brennan took those words as a personal challenge.
Bullet Ride is Brennan’s first EP and it fully demonstrates his amazing artistic ability. Credit Brennan for the guitar, Keyboards and Synthesizers!
Brennan Dylan - Bullet Ride CD
(From CD Baby) When Brennan Dylan was 10, he began studying saxophone, playing swing in stage bands into High School. At 14 he discovered an old guitar in his basement, which lead to his sax being completely ignored. He studied rock, practicing to Van Halen, AC/DC, Malmsteen, Megadeth, Motely Crue, Iron Maiden, LA Guns and others.
A year later he switched to classical study, incorporating what he learned into his rock compositions. The young artist began performing at school, talent shows and clubs when he was 14. At 15, he began a 3 year odyssey performing rock/blues/jazz improv at a club 2 – 3 times a week. Always pushing the envelop, Dylan settled for nothing less than his own style and interpretation of what ever was on deck, relentlessly pursuing his dream as he adapted to whoever he was on stage with.
In 2007 Brennan saw Deadmau5 with Tommy Lee and DJ Aero, a show that was a pivotal frame in his life. For the next 3 years, he was totally consumed with fusing guitar to hard house, techno and electronica.
Brennan Dylan - Bullet Ride CD Back Cover
The driven guitarist said good-bye to his friends, packed a suitcase and headed to Boston to study Performance Guitar at Berklee College of Music.
Berklee provided the perfect environment to study and learn his craft and took him to Los Angeles. He is uniquely original, playing from inside. He is comfortable reading notation and tablature, playing by ear and showcasing his improvisational skills, creating as he lives in the midst of L.A.’s siren driven fame, while ignoring its castaways’ ignited chaos.
Brennan proves that the guitar IS an instrument!
[Listen to the Hard Hitting Track: "Point Break"]
instrument!
[Listen to the Hard Hitting Track: "Point Break"]
You can follow Brennan on his MySpace site by CLICKING HERE.
Brennan’s music is available on iTunes and Amazon.
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New Music Critique
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MUSIC CONNECTION, new music critiques October 2010
news stand issue
These crafty guitar-based in...MUSIC CONNECTION, new music critiques October 2010
news stand issue
These crafty guitar-based instrumental themes might have some listeners reaching for a roll of quarters, as Dylan's expertise is in propulsive arcade-game soundtrack music. His formula: impressive guitar chops laid on top of four-on-the-floor techno tracks. "War Parade," "Bullet Ride" and "Point Break" each have film/TV/net-junkie/hacker music written all over them. There's no question Dylan should pursue film/TV opportunities, but artist be warned: if someone asks you, "Wonder what this sounds like in 5.1," you better be ready.
Production........................6
Lyrics...............................X
Music...............................7
Vocals..............................X
Musicianship.....................8
SCORE: 7.0
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/brennan.dylan/blog#ixzz11yZFvxhS
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Brennan Dylan - BULLET RIDE
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Posted by Admin on May 7th, 2010
Recently named Rock Guitarist ?f th? Year ?t th? 20th annual LA ...Posted by Admin on May 7th, 2010
Recently named Rock Guitarist ?f th? Year ?t th? 20th annual LA Music Awards, Brennan Dylan (n? relation t? Bob, f?r those wondering) releases h?? EP Bullet Ride. I h??? a problem calling ?t ?n EP, though–?t h?? ten songs ?n ?t. A small full-length album ?? probably more appropriate; tons ?f artists g?t away w?th releasing ten-song albums th??? days. At ?n? rate, Dylan demonstrates h?? ability t? cross genres ?nd snub musical boundaries. Fr?m studying swing ?nd classical (?? well ?? playing th? saxophone) t? studying Iron Maiden, Megadeth ?nd Motley Crue; ??? g?t ?n th??ght ?f ???t h?w vast Dylan’s repertoire ??.
Th?? ?? ?n instrumental record, b?t m?k? n? mistake, th?r? ?? still a accent ?n here–?nd a strong one ?t th?t. Dylan m?k?? th? thrilling guitar sing over a bed ?f buzzing synthesizer sounds ?nd club-style drum programming, m?k?ng a tough-??-nails fusion ?f industrial electronic music rooted ?n a strong rock heritage. E??r? song h?? a high enough energy level t? b? th? backdrop f?r a ?h?w car chase scene (reflect Th? Q???k ?nd th? Furious w?th guns blazing).
Th?? ?? n?t ?n album t? skim through. A lot ?f th? electronic elements w?ll b? regular, b?t th?r? ?r? ?? many guitar changes ?n each song, ?t’s obvious wh?r? Dylan’s passion rests. Th?t ???d, th? general composition ?f each ??t ?? impressive ?n ?t? ?wn r?ght. In fact, h? ?? confident enough ?n h?? ?th?r musical sensibilities t? leave th? guitar out ?ll together ?n tracks l?k? "DarkNight Raver". And th?n ?n ?th?r songs l?k? "Slammin’", ?t’s hard t? distinguish whether ?r n?t ???'re listening t? ??m? heavy processed synths ?r extreme guitar distortion–?ll ??rt ?f th? effect Dylan w?? trying t? achieve, I suppose. F?r th? mesmerizing guitar playing alone, "Strobe Dancer" ?? m? pet out ?f th? bunch.
Bullet Ride ?? n?t f?r everyone; thrilling guitar enthusiasts ?h??ld flock, ?? well ?? fans ?f electronic rock music th?t h?? heavy techno influences. B?t whether ???'re ?nt? techno-rock ?r n?t, th? record showcases one young man’s sheer talent ?nd ability ?n th? guitar. H?? shredding ?nd riffing m?k?? th? listener forget th?r? aren’t ?n? words ?n th? album (th?? w??ld h??? ???t gotten ?n th? way, anyhow). Whether h? opts t? compose f?r TV ?nd film, produce f?r ?th?r bands, ?r remain a solo ?nd/?r collaborative artist, session player, ?r ?ll ?f th? above, Brennan Dylan h?? a long ?nd sharp prospect ahead ?f h?m. Bullet Ride ?? proof ?f th?t.
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CD REVIEW: Brennan Dylan - Bullet Ride By: Cyrus Rhodes
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Artist: Brennan Dylan
CD: Bullet Ride
Label: Independent Artist
Website: http://musicconnect...Artist: Brennan Dylan
CD: Bullet Ride
Label: Independent Artist
Website: http://musicconnection.com/amp/BrennanDylan
Genre: Hard Rock, Electronica, Industrial, Trance
Sounds Like: Beck, NIN, Ministry, Prodigy
Technical Grade: 8/10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 7/10
Commercial Value: 6/10
Overall Talent Level: 9/10
Songwriting Skills: 8/10
Performance Skill: 7/10
Best Songs Bullet Ride, Delirious Factor.
Weakness: Over the top guitar delivery, lopsided catalogue, marketability
CD REVIEW:
LA area musician & composer Brennan Dylan releases his latest CD entitled Bullet Ride in 2010 & fulfills his 3 year odyssey to fuse Rock & Electronica within the confines of one sonic space.
The CD blasts off with ‘War Parade” an ambient intro piece that serves up industrial-type rhythms, with pulsating moog bass painted against a colorful canvass of music & sound that comes at you from every which direction. Also present are sizzling solo guitar pyrotechnics & power chords that hit you right between the eyes. Track 2 “Strobe Dancer” presents a kaleidoscope of sound featuring dynamic rhythms, & vivid walls of melody that that flow & ebb its way through dynamic fruition. Track 3 “Racing Laguna” shifts gears a bit with pulsating rock vibe, against mesmerizing keyboard & synthesizer accents with hypnotic industrial chops from Dylan. As the CD slowly unfolds I can hear classic elements of Electronica, Ambient, Trance, Chill-out or dub music, yet with a Hard Rock aftertaste. Influences I suspect are Trent Reznon (NIN), Crystal Method, Prodigy & perhaps a dash of Ministry. You will also notice lush layers musical instrumentation layered everywhere from low end beats & rhythms, to pulsating moog & bass segments, to soaring solo guitars, power chords, synthesizer & keyboard accents, to a few juicy low end bass grooves layered along the way. The music itself is extremely unique combining hard rock with Electronica, Trance & Industrial elements. The sounddscapes are interesting, infectious, & hypnotic. The vocals & harmonies are well placed & flow & ebb extremely well given the dynamic scope of the music. The CD has some truly impressive moments on it showcasing an impressive sampling & songwriting craft. From hard hitting Point Break” & Delirious Factor” to dynamic “Derailed” to my personal favorite “Bullet Ride” to hypnotic “Slammin” this CD has something for just about everyone. It’s definitely a dynamic & progressive musical statement that offers a lot of musical variety & vivid sound imagery. The CD ends with “I Am Me” a perfect finale statement.
This CD Is rather extreme & lopsided – as this first 5 songs there are solo guitar licks everywhere, & the last 5 songs nowhere to be found. It’s fair to say that 90% of the solo guitar work on the first half of the CD is way to over the top, dated sounding & excessive in it’s delivery. Technically speaking many of the riffs, scales, solos, melodic runs, arpeggios whatever are somewhat sloppy in their execution. Also someone please steal this dude’s whammy bar. Sometimes it’s the notes you don’t play that make you the musician you as. Dylan elects to splash a solo guitar riff, or power chord everywhere on the first 5 tracks .The first 5 songs sounds more like a guitar freak show rather than a polished musical production. This Eddie Van Halen meet Nine Inch Nails approach is a bit risky. Dylan is headed in the right direction with this idea – but he misses the mark & needs to find more balance between the 2 genera’s. If Dylan was more conservative with his guitar playing, with a more marketable sounding guitar tone & playing style this CD would be off the hook. Track 7 “DarkNight Raver” & Track 2 “Strobe D” Sound somewhat identical. I fully realize this is a subjective art form but at the end of the day all of the above effects the CD’s marketability. If this review seems a bit lopsided it merely reflects the extremes presented on Bullet Ride.
Overall Bullet Ride from Brennan Dylan has some truly impressive moments on it. Overall it’s a very dynamic & interesting catalogue of music. The music is highly original with amazing musical depth, rich sonic layering, & Industrial-type beats & sampling from Brennan. Track 6 through 10 are amazing! Make no bones about it Brennan is a very capable Electronica composer. The musical textures & compelling, & full of variety. I see Brennan as a budding Beck or Trent Reznor. I give Dylan high marks for taking this on as a musical visionary for trying to merge some amazing genres. He should give it another go & be more conservative & marketable with his guitar playing. If he can do this it will no doubt be an amazing musical experience. Either way it’s safe to say his best material is more than likely yet to come
Cyrus Rhodes
supersonic
