Dylan Beresford

Photo Credit: @aidoxprim

Artist on the Rise

When did you first get into music?

I think my earliest memory of really getting into music had to be when American Idiot by Green Day came out. I just thought those guys were so cool, and wanted to be like Mike Dirnt, so I bought a bass, and the rest is wonderful history.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

I’ve always been in and out of bands; I thought being a career musician would be amazing but I knew it would be a difficult trail. My high school pop punk band put out a really (and I mean really) rough EP out, and that was that. This is part of the reason why I am so excited to release this single, and then the following EP I am working on. I really put my all into this project and I am so excited to see how it turns out.

How has your music evolved since you first began creating music?

This is a great question, because I found the evolution I personally had very interesting. I grew up on pop punk and alternative rock, and had always wanted to play in pop punk bands. When I started writing for Tomorrow Might Be Better, it had a different atmosphere. I appreciate what pop punk did for me, but with post rock I feel like I can put much more feeling into the music, and be more freeform and creative than what I had ever been able to do with pop punk.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

If I had to pick, it would be passion. Music has been one of my most loyal companions. It has helped me through some incredibly dark places, and I know how powerful it can be. I have passion in what I write, especially because I know I might be able to help someone get through something difficult with the help of my music.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

I think I have a few special ingredients. One is the fact that I am a recovering heroin addict and alcoholic, and I am very open about so others like me don’t feel alone. I want to provide some hope and let others who are struggling know recovery is possible. I will have 2 years in July! Another ingredient is the fact that I truly try to transcribe a feeling, a thought, a situation into music form without using any words. I think I do that pretty well, and that’s what my songs are built off of.

Photo Credit: @aidoxprim

What has been your biggest challenge as an artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

I think the biggest challenge I face, not just as an artist, but because of who I am is my recovery. I know that my sobriety comes first, in front of everything else, because without it, I would have nothing else. It has been a long, arduous journey, but I’ve made it this far and I plan on being able to say that same thing years from now, with just a bit more time. I’ve learned to manage my stress, my anxiety levels, to get a hold on my depression. Music is an incredible outlet to have, and I am grateful for that opportunity.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I would be onboard with no suffering necessary, but unfortunately that isn’t reality. I don’t think it’s necessary, but I do think that it adds a certain edge, an emotional and personal edge, to the pieces the artists compose. Certainly writing is a therapy, and I used it as such whenever I could, putting your most vulnerable, scared self, the part of you that you don’t like, into tangible and personal form, such as music or any other artistic venture. I think people can see that, they know that, and maybe even relate with that. I suffered, but I don’t see it negatively any more. Those rough things had to happen to help shape me and push me to be able to turn that suffering into beauty.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

Oof, that’s a tough question, because there are so many albums I relate to and could say have helped me through some rough times. I’m just gonna wing it:

1. Jimmy Eat World – Futures. It’s a stunning work of art. Jimmy Eat World has long been an influence, and I have a special emotional connection to their music, it means a lot to me. I actually play a Jim Adkins Signature Fender Telecaster in most of my recordings!

2. Explosions in the Sky – The Earth is Not a Dead Cold Place. This album really inspires me, and really influenced some of my work. Your Hand in Mine is really a song everyone needs to listen to once, because it just feels so good.

3. We Lost the Sea – Departure Songs. This is a recently found favorite of mine. They produce beautiful post rock that really tells a story. Their songs have intricate backstories, and it can truly give you chills, and make you feel like you’re experiencing the story too, firsthand.

4. Blink182 – Take Off Your Pants & Jacket. Must mention it because it encompassed my entire childhood, I grew up on Blink, was even in a cover band in high school. Bless Tom for following his heart and chasing aliens, it’s not the same anymore but it was truly a powerhouse of an album at the time, and will remain in my favorites.

5. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication. RHCP is an amazing band. They have an intense, and colored history. Anthony Kiedis is definitely somebody I look up to, having dealt with a lot of the same hardships that I went through over the past few years, namely addiction and the associated mental health issues that accompany it. Scar Tissue and Under the Bridge definitely hit hard, in a visceral yet beautiful way.

What is the best advice you have received?

Be yourself, stay genuine and honest. I’m not in the for the money or fame, trust me. I would’ve tried to be a SoundCloud rapper or make some nostalgic pop music, but that’s not the case. I am making the music for me, which in turn hopefully means I am making it for you. I hope to have the album, or song, that can be an emotional and musical crutch for someone that is experiencing pain or hardship. I hope to give hope, a familiar hand to help pull you through the difficulty and emerge on the other side, a little more wise, resilient, and with a feeling that it’s gonna be okay.

Tell us about your single release, Through it All, I Hope You’ll Wait for Me?

It’s our debut single. Well, my debut single, since it’s just me. I am incredibly excited, I believe it evokes some positive emotions, a bit sad but still a soft dreamy ride to hope and positivity. It’s my oldest song, and my first official release ever, so I am a little nervous about it. I will have a sweet mountainy music video starring my sister, because she so graciously offered. That will be released in two weeks or so, so stay tuned! Through it All, I Hope You’ll Wait for Me is the precursor and leading single to my upcoming EP.

What’s next for you?

Next, our EP will be getting ready to be released in the summer! It’s almost done. It’s going to be called You Should Stay Awhile, and it will be a compilation of 5 songs. I hope to take you on an emotional journey, and while it’s melancholy, it has rays of hope and joy that you can grab on to, which will take you to a place you’ve never been before, yet it feels all too familiar.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

As of May 7th, the single will be streaming across all platforms! You can search Tomorrow Might Be Better on any of the social media sites.

Photo Credit: @aidoxprim

Find our newly released single on Spotify at:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0xr44YHCm8USnzkcv3N08F?si=55a3253e0ce9414f

The best place to see it all is at: http://tomorrowmightbebetter.hearnow.com/

Photo Credits: @aidoxprim