Interview: Dielun
Dielun, a singer from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, has released a 5 track Christmas EP titled, 'Songs for my Daughter at Christmas'. Louder Than The Music chatted with him to find out more!
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
My name is Dylan, pronounced Die-Lun (lun as in sun) I generally introduce myself like that as most people read the name as Dillan. I grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, on a Christian campus called Caribbean Union College. My dad worked in a broom factory and my mum was a cashier at the local supermarket on the campus. It was a great community very musical and that’s where my musical journey began. I remember singing in church for the first time when I was 5, it was the Psalty kids song, Make Me a Servant. Still a favourite of mine today.
My brother and I joined the kids choir and as music seemed to ooze from the veins of the campus we flowed with it. Singing in various groups and choirs, even school choirs (my primary and high school were all on the same campus). The music was heavily influenced by the American gospel and Christian music scene. I grew up listening to Evie, Steve Green and Sandi Patty records. In fact, I hadn’t heard any non-Christian music until about the age of 12 when a friend lent me an Ace of Base cassette (remember them?).
We left the campus around that time and I started singing solos in church as my dad studied theology, and I think our journeys into ministry were in parallel at that time. I then started doing background vocals for brother/sister duo Ceejay and Luckey touring Trinidad at 14.
Opened for CeCe Winans and Kirk Franklin as soloist in the Lovelink International Chorale and was the lead in several musical theatre and theatrical productions (Jesus Christ Superstar and An Inspector Calls). I also directed and wrote a jazz musical out of university called Swing Out Live.
I started writing music at 16 and just carried on with it. I moved to the UK in 2007 and continued my ministry.
In 2009 I entered the Gospel Rock competition and was able to perform in front of Rev. Dr. Ron Kenoly who had incredible feedback about my voice and ministry. That feedback really encouraged me to step up, so I reached out to Justin Johnson a Nashville producer who was living in the UK at the time and also a guest judge on the competition and he produced my first EP, which was written by me and featured by LTTM, thank you so much for supporting me.
I toured the UK with Gospel Rock promoting the EP until I became ill in 2012 and stopped everything music related, till 2020.
Tell us about your new EP 'Songs for my daughter at Christmas' and what the inspiration behind it was?
I love Christmas! More importantly I love Christmas Carols! My debut single was, The First Noel which is on the EP as well. I’d been hearing the call and feeling the pull back into music for a number of years, but I didn’t want to heed it. However, in 2020 I started recording music again just for myself, as part of that I recorded several Carols. I chose my most favourite Carols to record. I sent a couple of the recordings to my brother and when he heard the recordings he encouraged me to release them. That was in 2021. In summer of this year my daughter heard the songs and instantly loved them. I re-recorded them and thought it would a fitting dedication to her as she was the inspiration behind the gentle vocals, more of a chilled, ambient lullaby.
The EP consists of 5 songs, Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel, River, The First Noel, Oh Holy Night and What Child is This?
I wanted to celebrate Christmas with Skylar in mind. She’s never heard any of my music, as she was born in a time when I wasn’t/couldn’t do music. So to share this with her is more special.
It is available everywhere music is streamed. I would also love to hear what the readers who have listened to it think.
Which is your favourite track on the EP and why?
Oooh, this is a hard question. I love them all and listen to them all the time. Hmmm, if I had to choose one... I would probably say, hmmm. I’d have to choose 2! Definitely, Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel and What Child is This? for very different reasons. Emmanuel is hauntingly beautiful I love the synthy sounds and the ambience we captured on it, it’s incredibly ‘reverby’ but it adds to the beauty of it. I also love the arrangement of What Child is This? with the mix of Carol of the Bells as a pre-hook. The background vocals are incredible in my opinion.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
I want to take people on a journey with my delivery and interpretation of the songs I sing. I sing and write from a deeply spiritual place, it’s hard to describe, but I want to be able to share that with everyone. I’ve always said I want to be a positive voice in the music industry and this time round that’s exactly what I intend to deliver.
With this EP, I want people to experience the relaxed side of Christmas, with contemplation of reason for the celebrations while experiencing it with family, friends and loved ones.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
My style is a mix of smooth Pop/Gospel/Ballady vocals wrapped up in the message of Love.
My gospel influences are Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, BeBe and CeCe Winans. Other vocal influences include, Luther Vandross, India.Aire, Brandy to name a few.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
Wow, these questions, haha. Hmmmm if I could only choose 1 then it would be Diane Warren, since the first time I heard Brandy’s, Have You Ever, I’ve wanted to work with Diane. Her writing is incredible.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
That’s changed over the years. Right now, success to me is creating and releasing music that inspires and moves me and if that creation touches 1 person, then I would have succeeded. Take the EP for example, if no one but me streamed it I would be happy with that, because I’m so proud of what releasing it means to me and also I’m extremely proud with what I’ve managed to create from my bedroom while suffering through a very difficult time.
What is your favourite album of all time?
My favourite album of all time has got to be, Kirk Franklin’s 1NC.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
I listen frequencies more than mainstream music, so it would have to be 432Hz which works well for calming (as the heat would be unbearable on the island), and also for reflection on the magnificent beauty of the creation all around me, which inspires gratitude.
What does the next year hold for you?
Well, in January I’m starring as Aladdin in a Pantomime - my first ever.
In May I’ll be the musical director for the Little Mermaid the musical.
Lots of song writing, working on developing my voice and craft even more. Lots of collaborating with singers and writers, I’m reaching out to as many as I can.
So more music and more creativity!
