Life & Work with Dylan Thomas of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Thomas.

Hi Dylan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley at a great time where KROQ was the soundtrack of my childhood. I discovered punk and roots reggae music, made friends with other kids who played instruments, and that inspired me to pick up the bass in order to play in as many bands as possible. We all went to LAUSD schools with great music education programs and I was extremely fortunate to take private lessons which expanded and shaped my palette further.
Those kids are still my best friends and we have been sharing music, playing in bands, and supporting each other for like 25 years. I’ve honestly just tried to keep that ethos moving forward in my life and allow it to expand. Connect by sharing art I find interesting, Collaborate creatively, Encourage others who walk a similar path. I say all that in recognizing the City of Los Angeles and the relationships I have cultivated through music, starting with those early friendships, are my throughline to today. Along that line I kind of arrived at where I am today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No road is ever just smooth. We arrive at stretches where it’s smooth but roads are rough, winding, slippery, or blocked and can require a detour. I have had all that in my journey as a musician. Some of the struggles are leaving college, creative collaborations breaking up, jobs ending and not having another one lined up, a pandemic, or balancing creative fulfillment with financial security. For me, the latter has been a journey for me to navigate. Music has always filled this internal void and then transitioning into a career sets an external value upon what you create and do. Luckily, I have had great mentors who have helped me gain clarity on the external value piece, but navigating the internal value in and of itself has been a journey. Meditation has been a key to that process.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I consider myself a session musician. My primary instrument is the electric and upright bass guitar; however I also play guitar and piano. My work spans touring with artists domestically and internationally, recording sessions, musical theater productions, and a wide range of live events. I am currently focusing on recording sessions and production in order to develop my own creative projects.
I truly enjoy working with musicians and in projects that vary in style: from Pop, Soul, Reggae, Folk, or Cumbia whatever. For me a session musician requires being adaptable for any gig. It recalls my eagerness to join any project as an adolescent, where I was willing to broaden my musicality through learning from others, and become capable of wearing many hats, which is part of the excitement.
A highlight in my career was playing a sold out show at Red Rocks accompanied by the Colorado Symphony in 2024, but I think I am most proud of my time teaching guitar at the Boys and Girls Club in Watts through the Fender Play Foundation. Seeing the excitement of my students while learning John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” truly inspired me to recognize the joy in learning music and the importance of arts education. I hope to do more outreach in the future.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
There is so much I love about LA, but to narrow it down, I would say the Latino community. I love the way the culture is interwoven into the city. People share their food, language, music, traditions, and a deep sense of family and community. To me, these cultural experiences are a huge part of what makes Los Angeles special and l believe that needs to be protected. Fuck ICE
There is this weird overt corporatization where small family owned businesses can’t survive and neighborhoods are being taken over. We can’t seem to preserve meaningful historical buildings and landmarks which give the city its character. I think we can do a better job of at preserving our history which gives the city character and growing in a sustainable way that does not overtly displace people, business, and communities.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylanthomas.11?utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs85uGxJTIg