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

Hi Dylan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been enamored with art, entertainment, and culture for about as long as I can remember. The interest grew throughout my life but I never thought it would evolve into an actual pursuit. When I was 22 I was in a season of change and it was time to make some big decisions. My options were re-apply to grad school, go into the workforce, or take a big swing and chase your dreams (something I was mostly considering as a joke). While I was mulling things over I got in a fairly gnarly car accident (hit by a tractor trailer while stopped on the interstate). This was my second fairly bad accident in three years. I walked away from both without more than a scratch or two.

I woke up the next day with a second totaled car (I had only had this one 6 months or so) and a brand new perspective on life. I spent two decades doing things “right” and my life almost came to a premature, unceremonious, end. I did not want to spend the next two decades this way. I pivoted. I wanted the rest of my life to be focused on things that are good (for the world and myself) and things that aligned with my passions.

For the past seven years I’ve been blessed to be able to do just that. I’ve made music in a few different genres. I’ve put together some pretty engaging concert experiences. I’ve met some pretty fantastic people. I’ve recently started trying my hand at stand up comedy. It’s not all roses, trust me. But in this moment I’m choosing to be thankful.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t describe this as a smooth road. When I started on this path I had an iPhone, an acoustic guitar, and a notebook (and a freshly totaled car). I had recently moved back home after college so I didn’t have a lot of connections or even friends, certainly none in the entertainment industry. I was truly starting from scratch.

In addition to a lack of resources, I started my pursuit in a post music streaming and social media fame landscape. One thing I’ve struggled with is simply getting in front of people. In recent years, a lot of platforms have been structured to give people whatever is most popular or relevant to the specific person. I try my best to create fresh or innovative. I like what I make, however, my work doesn’t carry the air of immediate relevancy for any given person. Furthermore, I have never won any popularity contest ever in my life. Navigating this landscape has been a sizable uphill battle for me.

I’ve hit some potholes locally as well. I’ll spare you the minutia. Simply put, Roanoke VA is a segregated and insular city. There are pockets of people/communities without a large degree of overlap. I don’t say this as some “sick burn.” I like it here. If I truly didn’t I would leave. My experience is this, I have been the same guy singing the same songs in the same place for seven years with lots of positive reviews from various people groups, and mostly stagnant, objective, growth. I do not blame my city as the sole reason for this. There’s too much to dig into to get to the bottom of things here and now. But I do feel as if gaining traction locally/regionally has been a struggle.

It’s not all bad though. On my journey I have made some great friends. I’ve received a lot a resources “behind the scenes.” The city is/has been changing every year. There is a growing wide scale interest in the arts here.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At my most pretentious I refer to myself as a charismatic philosopher. In a very broad sense, my work is some amalgamation of my thoughts on various aspects of existence delivered in an indirect manner. Mostly I’m known for my music and I would probably describe that as my specialty. I certainly spend the bulk of my creative time towards that end.

I hesitate to call myself “known.” I’m trying to turn my Achilles heel, being a lack of specificity, into the lynchpin of my success. A slow going process that makes notoriety difficult (a struggle brought on by myself). But it’s turned into what I most proud of. People just kind of know me as “dope” or “a good time.” Even when contained to the realm of music, I’ve rubbed shoulders with folk artists, rappers, and rock bands.

The thing that sets me apart, in my opinion, is my sense of self. I know my strengths/weaknesses, priorities, goals, etc. Knowing who I am and allowing all of my work to be filtered through me means whatever I do is always laced with my idiosyncrasies and personhood.

How do you define success?
Differently, depending on the topic and the way it’s framed. For example, if I write a song with the intent of getting people moving/dancing and they’re stationary when I play/perform it, I’ve failed. At least when looking through that specific lens. But that’s a mighty specific lens.

If we’re talking about large scale success, or “making it,” things stay pretty simple with me. I just want stability. In the most ideal version of my life, I’m skating through a few different artistic mediums. So my view of success is working on projects that I’m passionate about and being able to have a home and buy groceries and go to the dentist and stuff. If that’s all I achieve I’ll consider it a great success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dylansprism.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylansprism/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dylansprism/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/-MltmKIRysM?si=8OLKd6g2uWIsofSh
• Other: https://dylandent.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Will Drew Tay Whiteside