Rising Stars: Meet Dustin Case of San Pedro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Case.

Hi Dustin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My parents instilled a love for music in me at a young age. My dad was in a rock band that shaped some of my earliest memories. I snuck around their gear at parties, drawn to the mystery of the instruments. My mom was literally always singing. She and my dad would duet while driving. My dad would quiz us on songs, asking who was playing or the name of the song.

I took chorus in elementary and junior high. A lot of guys said that class was for girls, so I lied and said I got stuck there, I took it for easy credit, or to talk to the girls. I loved the teacher’s passion for song, music history, and understanding what moves people.

As a teen, I found Hip Hop culture fun and acceptable. It captured me. We’d write, record, freestyle-battle, and call in to rap on radio shows like Roll Call on Power 106. In my 20s, I became influenced by the idea that rap was for kids and fell out of that scene.

My buddy Sonny pulled me into the rock world by asking me to sing for his band. I initially told him no because I rapped and didn’t know how to sing. He replied, “Man, f*ck all that. Come sing”. We had a short run that ended with a bang, being kicked out of a biker bar for performing music that was too aggressive.

I started school for vocal lessons. To get a music degree, you have to study classical and perform for credit. That led to a couple of years singing tenor for the Pacific Shores Philharmonic. I also sang for the rock band De La Crank at that time.

I landed in Punk with my current band, Breakaway State. My teen years were Oldies, Punk, Grunge, and Rap. Punk is nice; you can incorporate all that. The community is also much more welcoming and supportive than most people would think.

Consistency helped me to become a recognized voice in the local music scene, opening doors. Most recently, I’ve stepped into the Vice President role on the board for So. Cal. Pointe Break Summer Music Festival.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Got a few hours? Haha… The short version: generational addiction; my brother and I joining a gang, and mental challenges stemming from those conditions. We attract who we are, so there have been some tough relationships with others and myself…

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hopping around genres can confuse people, but it’s given me a lot of experience to draw from. What sets me apart is that experience and serious vocal conditioning.
I’m known for hitting tenor notes and having pretty good breath control. I can scream for a long time. Waiting for The Avengers to call me on that one.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mother and father, for my appreciation of music and worldview that started with them.

Sonny Ray Enfinger, for convincing me to sing for his Rock band. This changed my trajectory in music.

Dr. Burns Taft, composer/conductor of Pacific Shores Philharmonic. He saw something that I didn’t see in myself and gave me a crazy, unique perspective of the world.

Ken Creighton, San Pedro Honorary Mayor and town hero. He helped me get back in front of microphones and continues to be a backbone in my local network.

My ex-wife Tracy. Despite our differences, she supported my passion for music. It’s easy for any man or woman to have insecurities about dating a musician. She did really well there and even helped make a lot of merch.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dustincase.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustincase
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreakawayStateOfficial
• Other: https://breakawaystate.com

Image Credits
Arturo Garcia-Ayala
Dani Dodge