We recently had the chance to connect with Dylan Gorenberg and have shared our conversation below.
Dylan, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Funny enough, even though I consider myself a full-time musician, most of my day-to-day is actually organization and email. Ironically, I feel more like a project manager than anything else! I’m also a college professor, so a lot of my time is spent planning curriculum, answering student emails, and handling classroom management. It’s a balance between the creative and administrative sides of the work
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a full-time musician and college professor with a strong focus on both performance and education. My work is a bit of a balancing act between the creative side of performing, recording, and arranging, and the organizational side, like developing curriculum. I think what makes my approach unique is that I try to bring real-world, practical experience into the classroom, bridging the gap between academic study and the actual music industry. Right now, I’m especially excited about building the new music technology program for the college I teach at, Golden West College, and helping prepare the next generation of musicians for an evolving field.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I think the part of me that tries to do everything myself has served its purpose and needs to be released. Early on, being hands-on with every detail helped me learn and stay accountable, but now the need to manage every detail can hold me back from collaborating, delegating, and trusting others’ expertise. Especially since there is no “I” in team, particularly when it comes to music. Music is a collaborative art form, and letting go of that tendency is something I’m actively working on so I can focus more on the big picture and grow as both an artist and educator. My main focus these days has also been on community and spending time with the people around me that I care about, making sure I’m present and connected beyond just my work.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Dozens! There have been so many moments where I felt like giving up, whether it was from creative burnout, the uncertainty of the music industry, or just trying to juggle too many responsibilities at once. What’s kept me going is remembering why I started in the first place, leaning on the people around me, and allowing myself to take breaks and reset when I need to.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
As a musician, there’s this pressure to always have a front up, because it can feel like everyday life is an interview. It’s hard to drop that and be fully real. I’m actively working on letting my true self show, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Worrying about matching socks
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dylangorenberg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylan.gorenberg/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-gorenberg/
Image Credits
Kathy Kielar Photography
