Dylan Stevens, the artist behind the moniker killdyl, has just unleashed ‘Hunting Season’, an eight-track EP that artfully explores the raw depths of anxiety and personal struggle. Hailing from New York State, killdyl's alternative soundscape blends dark, introspective lyrics with a diverse range of musical influences, from Bon Iver to Brazilian funk.
A deeply personal collection of songs, written during a tumultuous period, the EP reflects on the feeling of being hunted by one's own thoughts, a metaphor that resonates powerfully throughout the EP. From the haunting title track to the collaborative ‘Don't Leave’ featuring Lucy Loone, ‘Hunting Season’ is a testament to killdyl's vulnerability and artistic evolution.
To celebrate the release, killdyl kindly sat down with us to discuss the EP, his early experiments in his father's DIY studio, and his profound admiration for artists like Lorde.
Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today. Let’s bring things back to when you first started making music. Where did it all begin?
“I think the first song I actually recorded was when I was about sixteen, and it was a horrible song I made called ‘Prom Night’ in my dad's tiny DIY recording studio he had in his old house. My biggest inspiration to start singing was Lorde. I think ‘Prom Night’ was basically me just trying to see if I could literally just copy her style. Throughout my childhood, I was always daydreaming extravagant visions of myself as one of the many pop stars I worshipped, like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, P!nk, and Britney Spears.”
“I think it all started with being inspired by my love, and my ear, for music. My father plays the guitar, drums and keyboard, and I was raised around so much music. He was in a few indie bands as I grew up with some friends of his, and I'd go watch them play at small restaurants with my mom. He didn't sing, but I think my ear for music came from him for sure. Now, I am twenty-four and my inspirations have changed incredibly over the years. Lately, I find myself listening to a lot of foreign music. I am currently obsessed with Marina Satti, Rosa Balistreri, Fairuz, of course, Bad Bunny, and so many more.”
Can you tell us a bit about your latest release and what it means to you?
“’Hunting Season’ means so much to me. It is a collection of songs that were written in some of my most vulnerable states these past few years. I struggle with anxiety disorder, as well as OCD & ADHD. Mental health is something I will always advocate for and represent, as I spent years in the dark, completely unaware of my own brain. I think sometimes anxiety can make things feel like the whole world is out to get you. Social settings feel louder, the grocery store gets stuffier, and small things feel catastrophic.”
“As somebody who grew up in both rural New York State and Pennsylvania, the deer is special to me. I loved the comparison I made in my head of a deer being hunted, to a person like myself suffering with anxiety disorder, essentially being hunted by their own thoughts. It's also a double entendre for me, because the world in general today can feel like one big battlefield. I think anxiety is the driving force of maybe every single song I write, and that surely applies to this collection of songs.”
“Another special point about this release is that I was able to collaborate with Lucy Loone on ‘Don't Leave’. I wrote that song in 2021 after a terrible breakup, and it happens to actually be the same year that I discovered Lucy Loone's ‘Big Blood Mansion’ music video on YouTube. I became obsessed with her, and over the years, became a huge fan. I had the idea of just asking her one day to do a verse, and I had to choose this song. I will never forget the day I got her verse back while I was at a bar in Miami last year, and I nearly cried. It was a huge full-circle moment for me. Some of these songs are from 2020, and some are from 2023. It's pretty cool how it basically journals my early twenties.”
You’ve mentioned a few artists who inspired you early on in music. Are there any artists, moments, or experiences that influenced you when writing the EP?
“I was definitely influenced by many artists while writing this project. I'd say some of the most prominent were WILLOW, Bon Iver, Halsey, DeathbyRomy, and The Neighbourhood's older albums. It's hard to say any definitive moments because I was writing these songs for a few years. Frida Kahlo's painting, The Wounded Deer, was also a big inspiration for the concept of this record.”
What was your songwriting process for the EP? How did it all come together?
“My songwriting process varied for ‘Hunting Season’. I remember the day I wrote ‘Wake Up’, I was still working at my terrible pet store job, and I was off on the day of a pretty bad snowstorm. I was so nervous they'd call me in, because they were not at all understanding of my severe fear of driving thirty minutes in a blizzard. I was pacing my room until I finally decided I'd try and get something written, and I wrote ‘Wake Up’ in like fifteen minutes.”
“A song like ‘God Complex’ was a different story. That was written back in 2021, and made over like twice in 2022 before I finally recorded another tweaked version of it in 2023. I tend to write random lyrics down in my notes a lot, and then go back to them when I have a concept. This is unless I have something fresh to write about and write to let out the emotions. ‘The Host’ is an example of that. I wrote this song in twenty minutes on a really depressing morning in the summer of 2023, and it pulled me out of a funk once I felt that drive to record something I was so proud of writing. I don't think I have a process, but maybe that is my process!”
How would you describe the sound on the EP? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you first began?
“I think the sound is pretty dark. There's always a dark aspect to my music, and I don't think that will ever change, honestly. I definitely experimented with some new sounds on songs like ‘C.R.E.A.M.’ and I always strive to challenge myself with a new style when writing. I think that happened a lot during the creation of my next release. For example, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was mostly stripped-down folk-inspired, country-esque songs while one of my up-and-coming songs experiments with Brazilian Funk sounds and a haunting toybox-like keyboard.”
“I think change is what gets me started on a new project. I never want to make something similar to my past work. My music today sounds nothing like the music I was writing at sixteen. For a while, I was recording trap music sounding like a complete fool on Soundcloud. I thought it was the only way people would care about my music. Today, I understand that doing that only kills the passion. I also think it's a great way to keep listeners excited, and unaware of what could be released next.”
You’ve spoken about your mental health. Did that resonate within the EP, and was there a central message or theme you were trying to convey?
“I really wanted to convey the message that sometimes anxiety can cause you to feel like a deer in the forest, lost and hunted. I wanted to convey the message that America is a terrifying place for so many people. Something that connects all of us through each individual struggle is the anxiety. The title track, ‘Hunting Season’, really captures the entire concept for me. I am hugely inspired by nature, and I sometimes find myself comparing human behaviour to that of an animal. This song elaborates on that idea by suggesting ‘We're all just trying to keep surviving’ cause it's Hunting Season. The hunter could even be the greed of those in power. Regardless, as I even say in the song, ‘we're no different than the animals’."
What's next after this EP? Do you have any new releases or shows on the horizon?
“I am super excited for what is next. I don't have a release date yet, but I have something super special coming soon. I lost my grandmother last year, so this next project is dedicated to her and to the people of Sicily.”
What sort of reception have you had to the EP so far? Are there any memorable moments that stand out?
“One huge moment was my friend Simy Eurydice reaching out to nearly bring me to tears with compliments. I hadn't actually known Simy prior, and this would be how we got to creating the God Complex Remix. Simy is such a kind-hearted soul, and the release of this project helped bring us together. If this had happened sooner, I would have just put Simy on the original version!”
Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything you would like to say to our audience before you go?
My Instagram is mrkilldyl, and my music can be found on all streaming services right now! My favourite song is ‘Desire’ so you can start with that one. You can support me by sharing my music, saving it, and letting it soundtrack life's memories. ‘Hunting Season’ is almost over, and I hope this next era brings a whole new community of listeners.”
killdyl's musical origins are rooted in a lifelong love for sound. ‘Hunting Season’, however, marks a significant chapter, born from personal battles with anxiety, OCD, and ADHD. Each track, crafted with a unique blend of influences and songwriting processes, paints a vivid picture of vulnerability and resilience.
As killdyl looks to the future, with new music and a growing community of listeners, the artist's dedication to authenticity and emotional honesty remains paramount. ‘Hunting Season’ may be drawing to a close, but the echoes of its vulnerability will undoubtedly resonate with those who have found solace in its raw expression.
To connect with killdyl, and support their journey, find them on Instagram and stream their music on all major platforms.
