Dylan Seid Interview

Interview with Dylan Seid

By Eric Cullen

Dylan Seid is one of those rare musical talents that seems to turn anything he touches into pure joy. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dylan about fifteen years, dating back to the time when he recorded his album Clown Alley with Glen. In those days, as part of the Mermaid family of recording stars, he would join Glen and me and a handful of other acoustic musicians on little mini tours of the Sonoma County coffee houses. Dylan, more than any of us, had the gift of drawing audiences toward him. We would be playing to a half-filled house, but then as soon as Dylan hit the stage, the place would suddenly fill up, people rushing in to hear this wonderful voice emanating from the speakers. His songs truly captured the pulse of the times, the mid 90's when we were young and hopeful.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Dylan for Anywheresville, and catch up on the past, ask him a bit about his new band, Dylan’s Dharma, and find out what he’s up to these days....

EC: Tell me how you got started playing music. How old were you? Did you take lessons, or did you have a friend or relative who taught you to play?

DS:I started playing music when I was fifteen. No one knew but a few friends. I kept it a secret from the world. I got a lesson from my dad’s friend John Lapado, he taught me "Peggy Sue" and "Wild Thing."

 

EC: How did you come into songwriting? What is the first song you wrote?

DS: I wrote songs right when I started playing guitar. I always had trouble remembering other people’s songs so I would just play mine. The first set of songs I wrote was actually a group of them. They were about girls I never knew and about a guy that wanted to be a rockstar. 

EC: Tell me about your new band, Dylan's Dharma. How long have you been playing together? How did you meet? Are you playing out regularly? 
DS: I love the band that I'm in now. It consists of friends and family and our producer King Hopeton. We play on a regular basis and are building momentum for a small tour. The album that we are making right now is going to be an epic album. Me and the band our finally feeling comfortable in the studio and the songs are showing the strength we have been dreaming of. 

EC: Clown Alley, was one of my favorite albums Glen and I released on Mermaid Records in the '90's. It has such a perfect combination of interesting folk and that particular 90's anger. Bob Dylan meets Pearl Jam?!?!? Anyway, do you still perform any of those songs? How do you like the new CD version (thanks to Glen)? Can you teach me to play "Velvet Cat"?
DS: I still play some of my old songs at shows. Mystery is one that was on Clown Alley. I am still hoping to have my producer bring back some of my old songs and give them some new light. I still have to come up with three rock songs for the new album. I'm going to show him "Velvet Cat" see if it makes the cut. I miss that song, meow. Eric, come to Chico and we can meow that song together. I loved being with you guys on Mermaid Records. The fun was when we went on tour to all those coffee shops. I only regret one thing. The time Glen gave me backstage passes to Sublime that was playing across the street at the Phoenix Theater. You guys gave me tickets and a girl from France but I had to run home to my girlfriend. That ended up being the last Sublime show. [note: true story, but how were we to know Brad would die the next day? P.S., Dylan, I remember Glen offering you the tickets, but not the girl from France!]

EC: How's the music scene in Chico these days? It used to be pretty wide open, meaning lots of places to play, lots of parties, and always a ready audience of college students willing to listen to a wide range of music.

DS: The music scene in Chico is nice. It consists of a group of people that love dancing and loving one another. We just got a gig to play at the Butte environmental committee benefit. I love this town. We’re still trying to bring Babylon down in peaceful ways.

EC: What bands or artists are you listening to? Do you get out to see live music much?

DS: I love Mother Hips, Arcade Fire, and of course Bob Marley. Bob Marley always brings me up and makes me feel safe. I just saw Mother Hips do their 20th anniversary gig, it was so amazing to see that band perform for a packed house. It seems like yesterday I was running down the road following some music that ended up being Mother Hips, ran around the party saying these guys are going to be rock stars and almost got kicked out for being too manic

EC: How's married life? I see by your facebook page that you're a daddy now. How's that going for you?

DS: Married life is good. My wife and my twin boys Hendrix and Halen are the true love of my life. I can’t get enough of my boys. I just want to squeeze them all day. The only thing that occupies me other than family and music is gardening. I love to garden, get my hands in the dirt and watch things grow. I love to eat and smoke what mother earth gives us.

EC: Do you have any long term vision for your music? 
What do you see yourself doing musically five years from now?

DS: I am really happy having a producer help me like King Hopeton. He is helping our band get the songs out the way we dream of.. The new material is really making music fun. I am getting a voice that I’m proud of.. I have been linked up to some people in the music industry that liked our first album. I feel like the next album will be epic. I’m just going to keep making music with my friends. It’s what we are. I love my little life. Thanks Glenn and Eric for keeping the music alive keep. Blazin the fire and much love from your brother Dylan.

 

DS:I started playing music when I was fifteen. No one knew but a few friends. I kept it a secret from the world. I got a lesson from my dad’s friend John Lapado, he taught me "Peggy Sue" and "Wild Thing."