Dylan describes it as being stuck in a pop star’s body. She couldn’t have said it better. It is no surprise that an abundance of opportunities have already come her way because she knows who she is and what she wants to accomplish.
Dylan is a real name ofNatasha Woods. The musician has risen quickly since then. She has more than one million monthly listens on the streaming service, has toured in support of Ed Sheeran, and was recently named by Fender as part of its Next 2022 artist-development programme, which highlights global artists “expanding the world of guitar”.
The 22-year-old artist tells us why she is so devoted to the brand and how she discovered the guitar.
I was scared of the guitar when I started. She didn’t use it to write because she was afraid that she wasn’t good enough. I learned three great riffs to help me get over that fear. As a child, they were so inspiring. That side of me is inescapable. I am using a guitar in everything and not afraid of just using four.
In her Player Plus Session, Dylan showcases some of her most successful tracks to date, including the pop-punk-inspired Someone Else and charismatic You’re Not Harry Styles, as well as detailing her love of Fender as a whole.
Dylan says that she uses the online Player Plus Series from Fender to find her ideal sound. The sound of a humbucker is revolutionary for me because it sounds like all of the people I was influenced by as a child. The guitar is light and easy to play, it sounds fat, and it isn’t going to break my shoulder.
Dylan discovered the humbucker a few weeks ago. Dylan has been playing a single-coil Stratocaster for most of her career. She says that her devotion to the Strat is due to itsVersatility and sleek appearance.
She says that she likes the sound of her music at the moment and that the Strat is easy to use. I also enjoy Teles a lot. I might make that switch one day, but for now I am doing what I am doing. You can achieve a lot of different sounds with it.
Dylan’s expression is not just through sound. She paints her guitars with her mind in mind.
I am a guitar obsessed person. She says she should be a better guitar player. I used to buy broken guitars at car boot sales when I was excited to have a guitar collection. I began to paint them. It doesn’t mean that my guitars are different.
Her mother is an artist. Dylan says she finds moments of clarity and reflection when she paints her guitars.
I don’t stop. She says that her downtime is when she can write by herself. I like painting guitars because it gives me a chance to focus on whether or not the guitars look good. I used to paint whatever I felt like at the time, but now I think about it a bit more.
Dylan has received praise from one of the biggest brands in music. She made a name for herself by sharing the stage with Ed.
She says it has been the best thing she has done. The first show we did was frightening. Ed taught me to roll with the punches and not get caught up in the small things. I’ve learned how to speak to a crowd that isn’t your demographic. Edspeaks to everyone. He can impact anyone with his music.
Dylan is putting her learnings into practice for an upcoming release but don’t expect a full-length.
There is not time for an album. I am not currently in my career. There is a mix tape coming out. She says she is in love with the project.
There is room for me to have more vulnerable moments and songs that push the boundaries of my sonics. Fans may be surprised by her sound. Dylan says there will be a lot of experimentation. You need to be brave in this industry. You never go anywhere if you don’t take risks.
Dylan almost seems trapped in a juxtaposition, both unable to comprehend her success and eager to prove that she hasn’t reached her full potential.
The Player Plus sessions are mental because they are aboutender. She says it is allowing her to build the artistry that she wants to build. I don’t hold my pick the right way, but I have no shame about it. Everyone is going to ask who they are. I’m having fun.
There is no rush to get to a certain point in my life. I only want to make an album when people understand me and will listen to it from start to finish. It should be appreciated.
The player plus session is out now. You can watch the session on the channel.