A Dirty Dozen with DXRLING – October 2019

According to a recent press release: “Dark Pop artist DXRLING has released the official music video for her effervescent new single, “Summertime.” Directed by Ron Underwood and Randall Mathias, “Summertime” is off of DXRLING’s upcoming, debut EP, which was produced by Sahaj Ticotin (Motley Crue, Starset, Sevendust).” We get Dxrling to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only the diehard fans might find?

Our latest release is called “Summertime.” It’s the most upbeat and lighthearted song on the EP, and it only made sense that we released it when we did because there were only a couple months of Summer left and it would have been a little weird to release it, say, during Christmas time haha. I think the biggest hidden gem of this song is that final phrase of the chorus “don’t ever let them know”, because it’s ambiguous, but to us it has a deeper meaning. We want to have fun, and enjoy life every day EVEN if “they” are trying to hold us down.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My dad got me into music hands down. He had a music studio at our house with every instrument imaginable, and he was always in there playing something. He’d always upset the neighbors playing drums at like 2 am. Haha. My dad died of a heroin overdose when I was nine and since then I’ve had a fire inside of me to make music. It’s like his passion lives on through me. There was never an exact moment I decided I wanted to be a musician, it all just happened very naturally and I couldn’t imagine life without music.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Oh man. Okay well all of the legends were playing since the day I was born. During my most impressionable years, my brain was infiltrated by David Bowie, Queen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lenny Kravitz, Jimi Hendrix, etc. But naturally I also loved Britney Spears, NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, Back Street Boys… My parents hated that I loved the pop stars so much but I couldn’t help it. So, my music taste is weird. And people never expect that I make pop music.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

My five main musical influences are Bright Eyes, Taylor Swift, Mayday Parade, P!NK, and Lana Del Rey.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I would want to collaborate with Taylor Swift and have Dr. Dre produce it… That song would turn out FIRE. Imagine the quality of the song from production to lyrics to emotion! Oh my god.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

My music is mainstream pop with lyrics that actually tell a story. I’m not a typical pop star, I’m gritty and I can’t pretend to be bubblegum – I’m covered in tattoos and piercings haha. I can’t really pinpoint a cringy comparison someone has made about another artist and I but I will say its such a pet peeve when people say “UGH WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE POP MUSIC”. It’s irritating that people have to be close minded in that sense. Like yes, I may look like a sad emo girl but I have a Britney Spears loving child trapped inside of me. Just let it happen. Lol.

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The best thing about being a musician is when someone listens to your song and then tells you that it helped them get through a hard time or that it saved their life. Hands down. It’s so rewarding and pretty incredible that art has that power. And I’m grateful that I get to be a vessel for it.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is the first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a sing-along?

When the band is hanging out together, we usually order takeout. Lol. But I LOVE cooking when i have the time. We also don’t drink but Randy is an amazing dessert and virgin cocktail connoisseur. We both love jamming together and he’ll bust out the acoustic bass while I jam and sing on guitar. It’s always a magical time. 🙂

9. When is the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I didn’t think it would be possible for me to get start struck anymore but the last time I was starstruck was when I saw Lenny Kravitz in concert. I was in the nosebleed section but I was still all starry eyed like a little kid. He’s just so hot and there’s a really captivating presence about him.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

If I was not a musician, I’d love to be a psychologist or a professional food network show host, where I just travel the world and eat food. Haha. Still holding on for that dream, maybe someday. Hahaha.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a do over, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I can’t really pinpoint an exact situation especially because I feel that every moment has lead me to the amazing life I’m living now… but if I would change anything I would probably have started working as hard as I do now a lot sooner. Maybe took more music classes and maybe even finished my major in music in college. I spent so much of my late teens and early adulthood trying to find myself and getting myself into a lot of questionable situations, when I really could have benefited by just being sober and focusing on my art.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for anyone record in history, which would you choose and what does that record mean to you?

If I could go back and be a part of any recording session I would probably want to sit in with the Beatles on literally anything they wrote. “A Little Help from My Friends” or “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” or maybe “Let it Be”. I can only imagine the magic that must have flooded that room during the creation of those songs.

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Category: Interviews