Drawing from a range of inspirations, Dallas D creates music that covers a multitude of genres and sounds.
Artists have been blending genres for decades now, making music that mixes so many different styles that it’s impossible to stick them with labels. It’s a beautiful thing.
Geelong-based artist Dallas D doesn’t hold back. His tracks span a smorgasbord of musical styles, switching genres and drawing from influences as varied as Roy Orbison, Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, Joey Cape, The Cure, and The Prodigy.
With songs that just keep getting better and better, Dallas D has been busy developing his style, creating without boundaries while keeping his richly textured voice at the heart of his songs. We sit down with Dallas to talk influences, his upcoming album and gaming projects.
Hey Dallas, thanks for chatting to Forte! First up can you introduce yourself to our readers and talk us through your music?
Yeah sure! Thanks so much for having me! I’m DALLAS D, singer-songwriter, musician and producer from Lara. My music is unique and often hard to categorise. I like to create songs with a blend of Hip Hop, electronica and rock music mashed up with a variety of different type of vocals, dabbing into punk, rock and heavy metal Screamo!
Congrats on your latest release ‘It’s So Perfect’, released earlier this year. Can you tell us how this came together?
Thank you! I wrote most of the song ‘It’s so perfect’ while I was at a beach in Portarlington. I was taking in the lovely scenery but at the same time, I noticed someone had left rubbish piled up on the sand. I thought, our planet is so perfect & it’s inconsiderate humans who destroy its beauty. That fired me up and gave me the idea to write the song. So it’s about our perfect positioned planet in the solar system vs the destruction that humans create. I wrote most of the lyrics I wanted in the song and then wrote the music on my electronic keyboard and worked in the melody to suit.
What’s your usual process making music? Or does it change every time?
Well since I’ve taught myself how to record my vocals and produce all my music from home, a whole new world has opened up for me & the process can vary. Most of the time my songs start with the music. I’ll get on my electronic keyboard and create a melody or beat & expand the sound from there until the music is near complete. I’ll immerse myself in the music & create the lyrics & melody that I feel belong in the song. I then add layers I feel is needed to complete the song. I have written songs with the lyrics first & then evolved the music around it as well. It just depends on how I’m feeling on the day. If I feel I need to write about something specific, then I’ll write the idea down and make the song from there.
Do personal experiences drive most of the music you create?
A lot of the time it has! Especially many of the songs that I have released already and the many songs soon to be released. My song ‘Stand by’ was a song I wrote during the time I was struggling with the people in my life and the changes I needed to take for myself to be happy. Take a shot was a message not only for the world to hear, but a song to remind me to take a shot on my dreams. 11:11 was a song about the love I feel towards my fiancé. So as much as I do seek inspiration from the outside world, a lot of my songs have a personal meaning that I hope others can relate to.
We believe a debut album could be happening soon. Can you tell us a bit about that? Will it be new music, music already released etc.?
Yes!!! I’m super excited about it! It’s a collection of songs mostly new unreleased music that has helped shaped my whole musical journey so far. I’ve put a lot of heart into these songs and look forward to sharing them with the world. It’s been a whole lot of fun creating the album and I hope people can relate to the songs.
What/who are some of your main musical influences for your sound?
For my sound, I don’t like to be influenced by anyone… I like to create my own sound. Although growing up I was shown a lot of Elvis, Roy Orbison and 60’s rock n roll by my parents and I embraced it. Then I started seeking music for myself and I found a love for punk rock and rap music. From Blink 182 to Cypress Hill to Andrew Wk, Dropkick Murphys, Linkin Park, Bone thugs n harmony & Eminem. Later on, I started listening to Hatebreed, Disturbed and Avenged Sevenfold. I love so many different styles of music. I like Lisa Mitchell, Regina Spektor and Chvrches… So mash all that together and that’s what I love to listen to, whether it influences what I create today, I don’t know, you tell me…
You’re based in Geelong. How have you found the music scene for your particular genre?
To be honest, I don’t think the scene has yet fully embraced my genre. A lot of of my fans do come from the U.S and overseas but I do hope that my music starts getting more exposure from Geelong and the surrounding areas!
We’ve noticed you’ve dabbled in making music for gaming streamers. How did you get into that?
I love gaming! I have been a gamer since the days of the Atari and Commodore 64. So to make music for games has been always a dream of mine. When I have made some songs, I imagine that I’m playing a game! Hence some songs about war and battles! I have a friend that streams his games and I said I can make a song to embrace what you do. So that’s where my song Puckish Rogue and ‘head shot’ comes into play. I would love to see a song I created in a game one day, that would be a dream come true!
We know plans are a little hard to make right now, but what’s in store for the future? Where do you want to take your music?
To keep making music. Period. I create music because I love it! If it takes me somewhere then I’m grateful for that, but overall I will continue making music for myself and for the people that want to listen to it!
Lastly, how have you been keeping yourself busy in isolation?
It’s been quite easy for me. I have been making a heap of new tracks for future albums and I am creating my own website at the moment, so isolation has allowed me time to do that! You always do what you can with the time given to you & I have applied that in this time of isolation.
Check Dallas D out on Spotify.
