Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dylan Hadley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dylan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I first knew I wanted to pursue music when I was in the 2nd grade. This is pretty embarrassing but in my 2nd grade classroom I would just sit there all day and try and beat box. It was driving my teacher and my fellow classmates crazy. My teacher told my parents that I needed to start doing something with music, hoping I would stop beat boxing.

I started taking piano lessons at a community music center and quickly realized drums seemed more fun. I started taking drum lessons and it’s been drums for me ever since. I do wish I had kept on with piano though, such an important and fundamental instrument.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My names Dylan Hadley, i’m a 26 year old musician from San Francisco. I started playing music at an after school program where I went on to meet my now band mate Cole Berliner and we have a band together called Sharpie Smile (FKA Kamikaze Palm Tree).

I went to Oakland School for the Arts and was in the Jazz program for drums. I spent a lot of time doing ear training which has been one of my favorite tools i’ve picked up in music. My favorite part was transcribing jazz solos that were on piano or saxophone and translating them to drums, so I could play drums more melodically and bringing different forms of space to my playing.

I’ve gone on to become a touring musician nearly full time, playing as a session drummer for Cate Le Bon, A Savage (Andrew Savage of Parquet Courts) and White Fence. I do recording work as well here in Los Angeles and beginning to produce as well which is definitely becoming a passion of mine. I would definitely love to do more producing and recording work this upcoming year.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Not trusting my gut, I think women are taught to second guess themselves so often it becomes second nature to not trust yourself. I’m still working on it, but a way I started practicing unlearning that has been surrounding myself with people that i trust and want me to express myself in the purest form. Say what my inclination is and go with it and try things out. This has really created a pathway for me to trust my process more and its helping me make work i’m really proud of and feel satisfied with. It kind of kills you to look back on something you could have put more into because you weren’t sure of yourself.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is being able to share and learn things with other musicians and artists. It creates such a specific and cool relationship to bring knowledge and care to these relationships and experience a new things with each others craft. Also when someone likes and supports what your doing and is willing to sit and go deeper with what you’ve created is so special and fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @dylanghadley

Image Credits
They asked if I could just credit him with his IG handle which is @fuckedfilm