Dylan Galvin releases a unique track ‘How to Write a Pop Song’

Dylan Galvin is a budding singer, songwriter, composer, and storyteller who is known for his eccentric and unique music. With a pinch of nostalgic rock, a lot of good storytelling, and music that’s fully capable of lingering in your head for quite some time, Galvin’s music is totally worthwhile. His music has a lot of unconventional and contemporary feel to it, but also has a heavy undertone of nostalgia and good old rock.

Dylan Galvin recently released a song called ‘How to Write a Pop Song’ which, as the name might suggest, is an out-of-the-box concept. It certainly feels like a fresh breeze and an effective respite from the usual conventional pop music.

The song is super refreshing and while the name might be suggestive that it’s like a musical manual for aspiring musicians, it is not that. The song is a clever take on the subject. Filled with satire, the lyrics actually have a lot of charm. But once you listen to the song, you realize that while the song is cleverly and brilliantly written, the music is what steals the show. You will end up enjoying this track quite a lot if you like to explore pop music because this one’s not your usual pop song.

With easy breezy soundscapes that flow effortlessly, it really doesn’t take a lot from you to end up liking this song.

Galvin has done an amazing job at making this song feel so lively and enjoyable with charming pop music. And while it is a pop song, nothing about it is so conventional. Of course, the lyrics are quite unique and so it the concept, but the music too feels refreshing and enjoyable.

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We interviewed the amazing artist and here are some of the insights from Dylan Galvin himself:

1. We know that many artists and aspiring songwriters look up to you for your songwriting and composing skills. But what made you come up with the title ‘How to Write a Pop Song’? Were you concerned that it might sound too obvious? Or is that exactly what you were aiming for, so that people can find some songwriting tips through a song?

For a long time I’ve held my tongue as an artist for fear of ruffling feathers. I tried to keep everything I write away from controversy altogether for fear of offending the pop culture zeigeist. Then I realized, pop culture has no problem being offensive (as long as it carefully measures that the benefits will outweigh the consequences), nor does it have the slightest inkling of concern for what independent artists do or say. It kind of shuffles those who arent popular enough into a little tidy closet in the basement as says “now you stay here and don’t come out until you have at least 100,000 followers”.

As an artist, I decided to just say what I want to say and let it have whatever effect it may. It’s not meant to be intentionally controversial, but if an artist is going to be honest, there will be times you will say things that might rub people the wrong way. If you never do, then you’re likely not an artist, but an entertainer.

It came out exactly as I wanted but only after I fearfully had adjusted the lyrics to something more about a relationship in an earlier version, for fear of being honest and someone not liking what I said. You can hear this in the acoustic version of this song on youtube, which has significantly different lyrics after the first verse. But I threw all that out the window and returned to the original idea of just lobbing a grenade at the triteness of mainstream top 40s before I went into the studio because sometimes, you just have to say what need to say. Top 40’s songs often feel like music-like product, just a quick money grab to pander and then dissolve into the atmosphere. Things weren’t that way 50 years ago.

I do want to clarify: How to Write a Pop Song is absolutely not real instructions, haha. This is a total satire and basically poking at the way that music is created and consumed – with a disproportionate focus on production and hook with very little concern with the story and content that’s being said. So my pop song is a sarcastic song about this. Its a song about songs. SONG-CEPTION.

2. You have a way with your words. Your lyrics are simple and yet hit the right chord with your listeners, thanks to the amazing music that complements them. What inspires you as a songwriter to write such deep and meaningful lyrics?

The bible says “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”. I believe that every person is created in the image of God and we have moral and spiritual obligations. One of those is considering what comes out of our mouth, since the mouth is simply the depository of the heart. What we say is important. My philosophy of songwriting is that all you’re doing is just presenting a message to people with music as the medium. The essence of a song is its lyric and no song is better than its lyrics. Strip away all the bells and whistles and what do you have? Is it still powerful without the noise? If not…then its probably not a very good song.

Millions of people listen to music every day. Each one is a unique soul, and individual with a life. If I will only spend 3 and a half minutes with that person during the course of their life before they die, I think that should make me consider what I say to them with a certain gravity and carefulness.

3. From your entire discography, what’s your favorite song? Why is that song your favorite?

My favorite song I’ve written is unreleased.

It’s called “The Human Condition”. The verse reads:

Off to find the answers

Weighing all the options

A book on esoterics

A speech by Richard Dawkins

Everyone says they have the answers to all the worlds problems

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But nobody seems to be able to solve them

Its a song about how the biggest problem mankind faces comes from within. It’s not something external you can blame on “those bad people over there”, its an internal problem, which is why after thousands of years of civilizations having countless times to figure things out, they cant. We always end up back at the same place. There are temporary times of peace, but ultimately our problems originate within us. And since most people won’t admit they are the problem before pointing out what others do wrong, we’ll stay that way. This is one of my more ambitious songs, but that’s what this one is about. I plan on releasing it in 2024.

4. What according to you is the recipe for creating music that transcends boundaries of language, country, and culture?

I think in terms of instrumentation, music can much more easily move without boundaries than language. Language has very distrinct boundaries and I’m not sure I do know how to do that. However, for those who do speak the same language but may have a different culture, there are certain elements of the human experience that are fairly universal. Writing honestly, sharing what is somewhat uncomfortable and presenting it as accurately as I can seems to find connective tissue in other people. Sharing whats scary lets others notice “hey, I also have experienced that, wow, I thought it was just me”.

5. Lastly, tell us a little about how your music journey has been so far?

My music journey has been extraordinarily difficult and delayed by about 10 years. I’ve finally realized the brevity of life and there’s a saying in one of my favorite movies “The Shawshank Redemption” – get busy living, or get busy dying. My music journey is Andy Dufresne crawling out of a stone prison in the middle of the night to hold up his hands and feel the rain. For the first time in my life, I’m putting out music regularly without massive gaps of silence. I want to make lots of music and share it with those who might listen. Whether we eat or drink, we should do all to the glory of God, so I want to number my days and be excellent at what I do and give as much of what I create to the people who have connected to my music in some way.

Listen to the song right here: