We were joined by Dylan Dunlap, a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who writes in a cinematic blend of pop and folk. His passion for the arts is undeniable, flowing through his music in a uniquely authentic way.

From an extremely young age, Dunlap was surrounded by music, picking up ProTools at only 11 years old to help his father with film scores. While this fostered his love for music, it also inspired a journey of self-discovery that he still continues to explore in his music today. After sharing his experience as a teenager at Berklee College of Music, where Dunlap attended for a short time to study music therapy, a connection in his music became clear. In addition to his musical goals, Dylan Dunlap is committed to mental health advocacy and personal growth.

His new single “Serotonin” navigates mental health in an authentic way, an aspect of Dunlap’s perspective that was really important for him to achieve within his artistry.

“The only I’ll be able to practice authenticity is if I genuinely accept the being that I am and the music I create. I’ve just been unapologetically myself… Instead of trying to be the biggest optimist in the world, I’ll just try to be a realist and talk about things in a more realistic, vulnerable approach…”

“Serotonin” sparked a conversation that Dylan Dunlap strived to continue, inspiring him to create his new series on the Clubhouse app called “Serotonin Sundays”. This weekly series invites a group of small artists and mental health organizations to discuss what mental health means to them and their music, “pulling the curtain back” on the stigmas that surround diagnoses and having vulnerable conversations.

One of the most interesting, non-musical things we learned about Dylan is his absolute passion for film. He’s seen every single movie that has premiered in theaters since he was 17, and when we asked Dunlap about his goals for 2021, he referenced this hobby as something he wanted to recommit to. Honestly, we all need to take a page out of his book. After talking with Dylan Dunlap, it’s clear that he really understands the importance of life outside of work, and the way these stories and different art forms he consumes can inspire his music. That’s not an easy concept to embrace in the modern world of brushing off burn-out as a normal part of the grind.

Check out the full episode of “Music You’re Missing” with Dylan Dunlap on our Spotify, and lose yourself in his tunes on our Spotify playlist!