Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Citron.
Dylan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m not really sure the story is particularly glamorous! I started writing music in high school on the piano. When I left for college, I started recording the earliest bedbug songs on my guitar in my freshman-year dorm room. Through some stroke of randomness, the first record I released through an online cassette label (ztapes) surpassed any expectations and escaped my immediate social circle. I sold out of two different pressings despite not having played many shows in my life. Since then, I’ve just kinda kept it going!
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?
Music was never anything more than a hobby for me. The lifestyle of touring and recording in a studio and the pressure of staying relevant/selling merch would be a bit too onerous for me. That being said, I definitely have some regrets, passing up some bigger opportunities to tour with bands I love because of where my priorities lied.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m probably known for how cruddy my recordings sound. Not in a bad way – but I always loved the character of cheaper tools, so most of my synths, recorders, and mics were purchased on Boston Craigslist. Despite that, I am really proud of how intentional my sound has been throughout my time as a songwriter. I’m also pretty proud of all of the support I’ve received over the years from friends and fans. I’ve been blessed with a pretty small but mighty fanbase, mostly online, mostly teenagers, who have sent me many very sweet emails.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Everyone’s obsessed with pontificating about the music industry. Is independent music dead? Is it vibrant? Did Tik Tok kill it, or save it? Is Spotify the antichrist? I’m not really sure. What I do know is that no matter what the “music industry” is doing, young people and weirdos will be making cool art. Will they be able to make a living off it? I don’t know. I can’t! Will that prevent them from making cool art? Probably not.
Contact Info:
- Website: linkedin.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bedbugofficial/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bedbugOFFICIAL
Image Credits
Emily Pacini
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