More than Blues – Under 33 1/3 with Musician Dylan Doyle

Don’t call Dylan Doyle a “blues guitar prodigy”…even though he is.

Twenty-eight-year-old Dylan has been a prodigious part of the Hudson Valley music scene since he cut his debut album live at the late, great Tony Falco’s legendary Falcon nightclub at age nineteen. This was four years after he notched his first outing as a touring musician and a year before becoming the youngest person enshrined in the New York Blues Hall of Fame.

Although he was raised on the blues and roots music, Dylan is now showcasing a cross-genre brew—one which adds neo-soul, R&B, and jazz flavorings to his powerful electric guitar and vocal stylings.

Today, Doyle is one of the most ubiquitous guitar slingers in the Hudson Valley. He can be found performing at larger clubs, such as The Falcon, City Winery Hudson Valley, and Colony Woodstock, as well as more intimate spots like The Lemon Squeeze in New Paltz.  

With his fourth album, Another Shade of Blue, and the just-released single, “Endlessly,” his newly widened musical maturity is evident in a sprawling collection that will surely raise him another step on the ladder of fame.  

Read on to hear not only about his music, but his love of cooking, poetry, and stylish track suits!

INSIDE+OUT: You’re a native of North Carolina—what influence did this Southern upbringing have on your music?

Dylan Doyle: When I was really young, we would sit on the porch watching lightning storms over the tobacco field in front of the house and listen to Bob Dylan, Etta James, John Prine, and my dad playing some flat-picking folk classics. It’s a great memory and helped shape my love of music. 

When did you first become interested in music, in playing guitar and singing? And who were some of your earliest influences?

Dylan Doyle: I started playing mandolin when I was twelve. I was mainly trying to learn Irish traditional songs or Dropkick Murphy songs. There wasn’t anyone to play with, so I switched to guitar at thirteen and quickly went down the Blues and Hendrix path. After hearing “Voodoo Chile” after an early guitar lesson, I was off to the races. Singing? I never really wanted to do it and still don’t consider myself a singer. But I started at fourteen when I had to sing to get gigs. Necessity was what got me to use my voice.

When did you arrive in the Hudson Valley? And what role has this musician-rich local scene, and some of the local musicians who have mentored you, played in your development?

Dylan Doyle: This is where my mom grew up, and we moved here when I was around six or seven years old. As a kid, my parents kept me aware of the giants in the area, such as Levon Helm and Pete Seeger, and the rich history of the Woodstock area. We would catch shows at the Bardavon, UPAC, and local bars. 

As far as mentors, I was privileged to start studying under Rob Stoner (Bob Dylan and Robert Gordon’s bassist)  a couple of months into playing. He taught me my first scales and how to play a song. One of my first shows was opening for The Chris O’Leary Band at Live at the Falcon. That’s where I met Chris Vitarello, who taught me some of the most significant parts of my playing and deeper musical understanding. In the last couple of months, I’ve had the opportunity to share the stage with both Rob and Chris. 

You did your first tour at fifteen and recorded your first album at nineteen, a live disc waxed at Live at the Falcon. Has the life of a musician always been your goal?

Dylan Doyle: I think I always wanted to be some sort of artist, but at thirteen, it just clicked. Once I made my first money playing, I was all-in. It’s funny, before my Live At The Falcon album, I released three other full albums. But, over the years, I have found ways to hide them from the public (LOL). 

Your new single, “Endlessly,” is a preview of your forthcoming fourth album, Another Shade of Blue. It combines a variety of styles—old-school R&B, funk, and jazz. What can we expect from the new album, and was it a conscious goal to set out with something different from your earlier work?

Dylan Doyle: Thanks for that! I’m a fan of all kinds of music, and I finally feel like I’m finding ways to combine all my influences in a way that makes sense and sounds like me.

This new album captures, at least to my ears, the changes I’ve gone through as an artist over the last five years. In 2019, I started spending a lot of time in Manhattan, listening to jazz and R&B shows. Up until then, I had mostly played Americana music, but I started to try to deepen my vocabulary with the new neo-soul concepts and progressions. I started with the “blues prodigy” label, which I felt was unwarranted based on my abilities, and I never considered myself a blues musician. It’s taken years to separate myself from the “blues” labeling I never felt attached to.

“Endlessly” and the whole album were crafted around songs that have lyrics detailing my life and the emotions – heartache, loneliness, feeling lost, and, at times, the confusion of my early twenties. Musically, the album combines my Americana roots with the newer jazz influences. With the help of my producer, Manuel Quintana, we were able to connect the dots to make a collection of songs that are diverse but have a steady stream throughout them.

You’ve had the opportunity to play with some impressive legends, like Little Feat. What have been some of your best experiences playing with legends like these, and how have they helped guide your career?

Dylan Doyle: Yes, I’ve been very lucky to play with and hang with some giants. Musically, it’s always inspiring to stand next to a master and feel their presence on their instrument. A couple of months ago, I sat in with Jimmy Vivino and a stage full of heavy cats. The confidence and power of everyone, the meaning they imbued with every note and conviction, made me want to practice ten times harder when I got home! 

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from all the greats, though, is off stage – just be cool and kind. I have yet to meet a heavyweight musician who isn’t a good person. 

At age twenty, you were inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame, the youngest member at that point in time. Who are the blues players that move you the most?

Dylan Doyle: That was a super cool honor. Still is! But like I said before, I never really felt comfortable with the blues title, and I rarely find myself listening to or playing the blues anymore. That said, I’ll never forget the first time I heard Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark is the Night“ or saw Jonny Winter live at the Bearsville Theatre. Lately, I’ve been getting the chills from this old gospel album, Unforgettable Years by Thomas A Whitfield. It’s not blues by the metric of the 12-bar I-IV-V progression (music talk), but that’s as close to blues as I go these days.

You’re not only an impressive guitar slinger, but a soulful vocalist as well. What are some of the soul musicians who had a significant impact on you as a singer?

Dylan Doyle: Aye, thank you! I’m still getting comfortable with the idea of thinking of myself as a vocalist. When it comes to the delivery of the words, I, like anyone, look to the archetype, Bob Dylan. As far as melodies and how to sing, my favorites are Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and the greatest singer of all time, Aretha Franklin. In no way would I say I am anywhere, even in the same atmosphere as them, but maybe in my attempt at imitation, my own unique sound is starting to develop. 

Let’s talk “Desert Island” discs. If you could only bring three albums with you to listen to for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Dylan Doyle: That might be the easiest question so far!
First, without a doubt, Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind.
Second would be D’Angelo’s Voodoo.
And third, Tito Puente’s El Ray Bravo. Honestly, I don’t have to be on a desert island. This is just a typical Monday morning playlist for me! (LOL)

Let’s talk bucket lists. Who are some of the musicians, alive or who have passed, that you would most like to play with?

Dylan Doyle: I would love to be able to rip off some of John Mayer‘s licks in person. Same with Marcus King. But really, a bucket list thing is to get good enough to at least hang out at a jazz jam. I’m pretty bad at jazz, but I love those jam sessions in Manhattan and the ones in Paris even more. Someday, it would be nice to have the vocabulary to be able to hang without putting a wrench in the vibe. I think I can do it, but right now, I’m focused on this album.

What are some of your favorite local venues to play and to hear music? And who are some of the local bands that are a must-see?

Dylan Doyle: It’s crazy to live in such a rural area with so many venues and real-deal cats! My favorite places to play are also my favorite places to hang. Firstly, the Falcon, which has been like my college education. The Colony and Levon’s Barn are legendary venues for clear reasons. It never gets old hearing music in either of those places. If we’re talking more low-key, you can often find me at The Lemon Squeeze or Snug Harbor catching some homies throw down.  

And as far as local bands to catch, the Honky Tonk Wednesdays by Connor Kennedy are wild. I also love the new young guys, Roche Collins Band. Those guys totally kill. And I love catching Aubrey Haddard, The Big Takeover, and my buddies in What?.

You seem to be a true road warrior, playing frequently not only in the Hudson Valley but across the country. What are some of the upcoming gigs that you are most excited about?

Dylan Doyle: This year, we will be on the road for a total of four months. As I write this, I’m in Indiana, on the first of eleven Midwest shows. I love coming out here or going down south. After this run, I’m excited to get back to New York for a couple of release shows at Club Groove in Manhattan on September 12 and at The Falcon on September 13.

What is your favorite non-musical activity?

Dylan Doyle: I’m constantly trying to find the next best recipe in the kitchen. 

What is missing in the area that you wish we had?

Dylan Doyle: A cool late-night house/hip-hop club would be fantastic to see. There are pop-up shows, but no true hip-hop venues.

What local businesses do you rely on to be successful in your career and just to enjoy life?

Dylan Doyle: Rossi’s in Poughkeepsie. If I’m feeling down or just hungry, those sandwiches are straight from heaven. Additionally, the fantastic local radio stations we have, such as WKZE, Radio Woodstock, and Radio Kingston, often spin my tracks.

Who or what inspires you personally?

Dylan Doyle: Good food, a great vibe, a good hike, a nice cigar, or a pool with a view.

Tell us something about yourself that people might be surprised to know. 

Dylan Doyle: I’m an avid reader of history and poetry. I’m always in the middle of a few books.  

What is it about the Hudson Valley that makes it unique to live + work here? 

Dylan Doyle: There is a Hudson Valley sound and community. It’s got that East Coast thing, but we are out here in the country, so you get the roots sound as well. The people rock. And we’ve got the Wallkill River, which flows North. I think that’s part of it.

Photos courtesy of Dylan Doyle + Mickey Deneher + Brooklyn Zeh

Contributing writer Sal Cataldi is a musician, writer and former publicist living in Hudson Valley NY.

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