Digital Cover: Dylan Sinclair
Photographer: Justin Aranha / @aranhahahaha
Creative Direction: What I Like Studio / @whatilike.studio
Styling: Summer Ruddock-Ellis / @summer_ruddock_ellis
Grooming: Sierra Elliott / @sierrajelliott
Toronto’s newest shining star Dylan Sinclair has continually been making headway in the R&B scene; with his alternative style generating an ever-growing fanbase and support from his city.
On his recent EP, No Longer In The Suburbs, he continues to refine his sound and grow his audience. The project not only represents his physical departure from the suburbs to the city, but also the dangers of this life-altering transition. Dylan expands more on the project, by saying “No Longer in the Suburbs really represents the search for that stimulation, that faster life or those experiences that when you're old, you get to look back on them and be like, yeah, I did that and with people that I love.” Illustrated through brilliant lyricism and a luscious voice, Dylan Sinclair brings a refreshing energy to a genre that needs modernity.
Previous works like his gospel-inspired project, Proverb, led him to be nominated for the Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of The Year at the 2021 JUNO Awards. This accolade, amongst others, is only the threshold of Dylan’s success. We had the chance to talk to the Canadian talent as he discussed his recent release, his upbringing, and what’s to come in the foreseeable future.
Photographer: Justin Aranha / @aranhahahaha
It's been about two months now since the release of your EP, No Longer In The Suburbs. How are you feeling about it now looking back at it?
I feel very good, to be honest. Just to put out a project is just like a release. It's like putting out a book, or a movie, it's your life's hard work. Then to be able to share it for people to embrace it with open arms. Just ready to listen to whatever I have to say, to enjoy the music, and for them to really appreciate it for what it is. A lot of my listeners hear the things that I intended for them to hear. They hear the moments in the songs that I wanted them to hear so I just feel very in sync with all the people that are following.
Your music videos and visualizers are very clean cut, intimate, and even at times have a dark tone. What is the process like when coming up with your visuals?
I got my guys, What I Like Studio, they help creatively direct a lot of my visualizers. Then on my music video side, I have my guys at Fang, who just really work with me to bring out the best result. I like watching a lot of music videos. I like to see things when I create. It's just having the people that know the technicalities of visuals and everything to help bring it to life. I just always believe the visuals have to reflect the music. My focus is just on bringing the music to life and then going to these guys with my story and the energy that I feel it brings. I might bring them a few references. Like with “Open” I definitely referenced heavy on my like Pharrell tip and like old school R&B music.
Let's say 10 years from now when people look back at your discography, what do you want them to say about No Longer In The Suburbs?
I just want them to see me and who I am is just a kid, trying to figure shit out. I'm trying to navigate my relationships, I'm trying to navigate my career. I'm just someone who cares that the music I would hope reflects that. That's why my music, as much as it's very musical, I do care about my lyrics a lot and the stories that are told. As long as people can go back to that and kind of feel, or like grow up to kind of understand where I am now. Hopefully, they can just understand the narrative of everything. Wherever I end up in 10 years I hope I'm still doing music on a bigger scale, but I want them to be able to look back at this and be like this kid cares, this is what he believes in.
I saw some clips of you performing at the international jazz festival in Montreal on July 7. What would you say was the highlight of that day?
There were a few highlights honestly, I'm just still getting used to this live stuff. From those guys singing the hook of “Home” back to me was crazy. There was this one girl who was like “I used to have nightmares and I started listening to your music before I went to sleep at night.
Those nightmares just went away really.” I was like that's pretty wild because I’ve had connections with music. In high school, for me it was Daniel Caesar’s “Freudian” and “Blonde” by Frank Ocean. That got me through a lot of hard days and hard nights. For someone to come up to me and tell me that they connect with my music on that level, that's literally why I do this.
You’ve noted how the environment you are in affects your music. Do you have a new destination in mind for your next project?
Funny enough, probably gonna go back to the suburbs and create out there. I've gotten what I love out of the city, but it's just a little distracting right now for what I'm trying to do. So I just want to go back into the suburbs and lock in and really see what I've learned from these past two years of being in the city. Between that and being in L.A. just because I really like to understand that side of the music industry, it's Hollywood, it's always been incredible.
Photographer: Justin Aranha / @aranhahahaha
People who comment on the state of R&B now always say that the reason for the lack of quality of artists is that they’re not raised in the church anymore. How do you think your relationship with the church helped you as a singer?
The best singers come from the church. I'm sorry, that's just a fact, any of the best vocalists. There's always the few that somehow didn't come from the church, but most of the vocalists I know sang in the choir. Because music is such an important part of a church service, like praise and worship. That's almost when I feel closest to God. My parents have almost trained me from my childhood to be a performer in the church and to just sing my heart out for God. To this day, when I go on stage sometimes I get a little nervous, but I’m like nah just remember what you did at church. Close your eyes for a second and just remember what this song is about, remember what this is for, who is this for, what are you doing this for. That always helps me, as a performer, and as a singer. To put on a show is not even about putting on a show. It's about locking into emotions that are attached to the song.
Where do you think your career would be right now if you didn’t take that leap of faith and decide to stay at Ryerson University?
That never would've happened. I'm too attached to this music thing right now, I literally couldn't see it going any other way. I was very academic, to be honest, but It wasn't fulfilling.
It wasn't enough for me. I didn't feel like there was any fulfillment in it. I wasn't really impacting anything. I felt being raised in the church, you're told to use your talents for the greater good. Well, God's blessed me with this voice and with this connection to music that a lot of people don't have. So how can I share that with the world? I just jumped into it. I had to, and I had the people around me to really help me get it started and God is good for that. I believe that this is what I'm here to do at least for now. That's why I couldn't properly answer your question.
You have done a lot for an artist your age from obvious things like the Juno awards and the monthly listeners. What do you feel is your next step?
I don't even wanna say too much on the next steps, but I'm very locked in now. It's my moment to take what I've learned and my experience so far within this industry and talk about it. They've been EPS and it's time for an album.
Do you feel ready?
I'm ready. I'm an album lover. In high school, it was just always about albums for me. It was good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, Freudian, Blonde, channel ORANGE and 2014 Forest Hills Drive. I'm gonna have a lot of fun making this. Beyond that, I won't say more, but I'm building a world for people like myself to live in; as you know I'm built on love. I know what I believe in more now and the direction that I go in terms of living my own life. I wanna open that up to people through my music. I feel like that's kind of the next step. What that looks like people will see, but for now, that's all I could say on that.
Photographer: Justin Aranha / @aranhahahaha
I’m gonna say a location and you tell me a song you think of from back then:
The Mod Club(Axis) in Toronto
“The Morning'' by The Weeknd. I just think The Weeknd just blessed that venue. You have to pass through The Mod Club to really be something in Toronto.
Thornhill, Ontario
Freudian. So I'm gonna say “Best Part” was like my joint.
Los Angeles
Honestly, when I'm in LA I'm still creating my own world. So it's a lot of my demos and stuff. Um, let's say “Lifetime”.
Immanuel Church in North York
“His Eye Is On The Sparrow” there's a version that I did on YouTube. I think it was the Lauryn Hill version, the one from Sister Act.
Books you recommend?
There's a few. The Four Agreements or Ask and It Is Given. Definitely helped shape my mentality and my mindset to carry me through what I consider to be, you know, just like a tough, tough industry to navigate as an artist.
Who is an artist you feel does not get enough praise?
My homie Rowena Fysx is the most talented. She got me into singing. I always sang in church, but when I heard her voice, I was like, oh, I'm not like the best singer out here. My ego was too big at the time to understand that some people really sing out here. She has an amazing voice and her understanding of music is incredible.
A song you recommend from her?
“Apologies.” It's like my favorite music to listen to, at least when I'm in Toronto, it's perfect.