DILAN SKIES, the British-Indian singer, songwriter, and producer, has released his highly anticipated new single ‘Leave It All Behind’. Known for his gentle voice and knack for using music to convey gripping tales, he establishes a strong emotional bond with his listeners. His dedication to shattering stereotypes and crafting a timeless but innovative musical experience doesn’t waver as he develops as an artist.
We talk to DILAN SKIES about the release and much more…
Your new single, “Leave It All Behind,” has just dropped. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this song and what message you want listeners to take away from it?
The inspiration behind the song is quite special. It’s about an amazing woman who I was fortunate to be with, who was carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders. The song captures her journey of finding solace and strength through the safe space we built together—one filled with encouragement and patience. It’s a situation I am still incredibly proud of because I can only say so many words of encouragement, but she is the one who had to really believe in herself and put the work in. And in the end, she was able to smile so freely and reach a place of such strength where she didn’t care about her problems and was able to leave it all behind. The song acts as a tribute to her resilience and growth and a celebration of how she is now flourishing and making sure she gets what she wants from life by finally putting herself first, just as she deserves. I hope people can connect to the hook “She don’t dance but she tries with me, feels a fool but that’s my baby”, I think as humans we should always try to create that safe space where we can forget about the things that make our lives feel heavy.
You’ve drawn inspiration from a wide range of artists, from Craig David to Justin Timberlake. How have these influences shaped your unique sound, especially as you blend Pop and R&B?
I think Craig David has been integral to my sound because of how he was able to create his own sound. I always loved how his songs all had to be listened to at least three times, once to appreciate how smoothly he used his voice, another to appreciate his storytelling which allowed you to visualise his songs and another to simply enjoy the rhythm in his tracks. I really enjoy Justin Timberlake’s music too because you can hear the growth and maturity in his sound as his career developed. This really made me think about how I wanted my sound to develop and I hope in my next singles you start to hear new elements that really push the boundaries.
Growing up immersed in both Bollywood and Punjabi music, how do you incorporate those cultural elements into your music today?
Growing up around Indian music, particularly from Bollywood films, definitely shaped me as quite the romantic. Without understanding all the lyrics, I was able to still connect to the feelings of the song. This has made me a lot more conscious about how I evoke emotion in my tracks.
You’ve mentioned that you realized your talent at 15 and took a leap of faith by submitting a demo. How did that pivotal moment change your perspective on your music career?
Having people around me tell me that I could sing and seeing their reactions really made me feel whole. I never felt like I was good at anything until I found music. However, I didn’t share my songwriting with people since it showed a vulnerable side to me. Being a teenager is already an awkward phase, this was amplified when I was singing in front of my peers. As a result, I chose to work on my songwriting alone and just submitted demos to see what would happen. To my disbelief, I had won a competition run by fellow artist, one half of Cape Lions, Edgar Sandoval Jr, through recording on my phone’s microphone. Being chosen as a winner given the circumstances made me really believe in myself and I then purchased my first pieces of recording equipment. I really needed someone with experience in the industry to believe in me.
Your debut single, “Not Over You,” marked the beginning of your journey in 2020. How has your sound evolved since then, and how do you feel your upcoming debut album reflects that growth?
My sound has definitely evolved as I’ve become a lot more confident with my music. At first, I just wanted my songs to sound good so I didn’t experiment so much and stayed within a box. The beats were not tailor-made for me as I didn’t know my sound so I felt like I was maybe just imitating what I heard on the radio as opposed to being myself. However, I now feel so much more confident with trying out different things and comfortable presenting myself.
With your album slated for release in 2025, can you give us a sneak peek into the themes and stories you’ll be exploring? What can fans expect from this project?
Of course, the theme of my album is love and heartbreak. Love in terms of romance, belief in myself and others and simply just allowing someone to be seen. And heartbreak is just in terms of heartbreak haha. Fans can expect me to push the boundaries as I grow more confident as a singer and songwriter but also as myself. There are tracks where I am rapping, tracks which are deeply personal and tracks you definitely wouldn’t have expected me to be creating after my first few releases. There is definitely something for everyone.
Your music feels nostalgic while still having a modern twist. How do you strike that balance between honoring your influences and creating something fresh and contemporary?
I actually get this a lot. People tell me my tracks sound like songs from the early 2000s but I never really intend for this to be the case. I think as with everything, you unknowingly pick up traits from the things/people you like. But at the same time, you also pick up bad habits like trying to add a vibrato/riff on every line.
You’ve collaborated with close friends on tracks like “Make It Whistle.” How important is collaboration in your creative process, and how do these relationships influence your music?
Collaboration is integral. As I mentioned earlier, artists tend to pick up traits from other artists they like. So when I collaborate, they bring their own sound but also a whole different range of influences to the song which I may never have been exposed to. It really helps make tracks feel more special as everyone is bringing their own journey and learnings to the track.
The pandemic was a time of reflection for many artists. How did it impact your songwriting and production process, and how has it shaped the music you’re releasing now?
There was nothing to do so this time allowed me to really think about what I wanted to do with my music. It gave me a lot of time to try and fail but most importantly learn and improve my craft. I picked up new skills such as being able to produce my own music but I feel like I was also able to just grow in confidence with my songwriting. My notes app and voice memos really suffered at this time.
What do you hope listeners experience when they hear your music, especially as you prepare to release new singles and your debut album? How do you want to connect with your audience emotionally?
I hope they feel that they are hearing something new and unique. When I first started I stayed within the box of this teen-bop sound because I hadn’t lived enough life to tell real stories but I also didn’t have the confidence to push the boundaries with my music. I used to hope that listeners connected with my lyricism, stories and melodies…but now I feel there is a lot of truth in the songs that I am writing and so I feel the words I sing. I hope they can connect to that authenticity and vulnerability. Although love and heartbreak a universal experiences, this is all coming from my own perspective. The music is now a lot more honest.
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