Jared Dylan, an emerging singer and songwriter from Montville, wanted to travel somewhere to amp up his creativity. He chose Ireland.
Dylan, 24, spent eight months in Ireland last year, immersing himself in what he calls the “motherland of songwriters.” During his stay, he toured with the rock band Aslan and co-produced records with Aslan’s Christy Dignam, singer/songwriter Paddy Casey and 1960s star Donovan.
For Dylan, the Irish sound (“guitar and voice and songs that mean something”) is the essence of what he tries to do as a musician. “What I love most is storytelling,” he says.
While in Ireland, Dylan also created Experiencing Music: Ireland, the first installment of a planned music documentary series. In the film, he speaks with songwriters like Stephanie Rainey, Bob Geldof and James Walsh about their inspirations. As the series continues, he hopes to do the same with songwriters from other corners of the world.
A graduate of the University of Miami’s prestigious Frost School of Music, Dylan boasts nearly 23,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, a large social-media following and a bunch of new fans in Ireland. He has an EP and several singles under his belt, including the 2015 summery-pop love song “Symphony.”
This year, Dylan will release an animated short film along with Consequence, the five-song soundtrack showcasing his raw and passionate vocals. “You follow me on my misadventures,” he explains.
Though Dylan has toured North America and the Emerald Isle, he’s always happy to return to his roots. “Growing up in New Jersey, you always have role models like Frank Sinatra and Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. They are definitely figures that pushed me to find my own image as a Jersey-based artist.”
Of course, we have to ask: Is this Dylan kin to music icon Bob Dylan?
“No relation,” he says with a smile. “But feel free to start that rumor if you want.”