Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I was surrounded by music in my childhood, mainly in the classic rock realm. When I was still a baby, bands like Styx, Journey, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, the Rolling Stones, and the Eagles were always being played in my house and in the car. There were also the live concert films I watched, mainly Live Aid 1985 and Eric Clapton & Friends. ‘70s and ‘80s classic rock is the guiding light to how I create music, and I would always go back to it. I learned how to play the piano when I was four, and I taught myself how to play the drums at five. My father is also a musician, so he taught me how to play the guitar when I was six years old, and I taught myself to play solos and other techniques on it. I learned how to play other instruments after that: bass, synthesizer, ukulele, mandolin, and countless others. Aside from the music, I have many stories from my childhood that sometimes inspire my songs.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Dylan Taganas”?
A: Playing more live shows and promoting on social media! My message is to prepare yourself for a ride full of twists and sharp turns, with the warm feeling of nostalgia by your side.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Pink Floyd. They are the main band that opened the doors for me to take music experimentation to its limits. From sounds, songwriting, production, and arrangements, there is no doubt that Pink Floyd is a significant inspiration to me. Other classic rock groups like Steely Dan, Supertramp, The Beatles, Foreigner, Bruce Springsteen, and many others also influenced me in different ways.
While on the topic of experimentation, I would say that’s one source of inspiration for me: creating the songs and figuring out what sounds work in my head. Sometimes inspiration can hit out of nowhere: if a guitar lick pops into my head, I’ll record it on my voice memos app. If lyrics pop into my head, I’ll write them down. Inspiration can (thankfully) arrive unannounced sometimes.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Live Your Mind.”?
A: So “Live Your Mind” was created back in March of 2025. The real reason for creating this song was that I had all these hard rock songs, and I wanted to make something that sounded “indie” and a little more pop. At my college, there was a thing called Music Fest, and before that big event, there was a battle of the bands competition to see who would open for a big artist that day. My band and I ended up winning, and I was gonna open up for A Boogie Wit da Hoodie. I thought, “How should I create an indie-sounding song?” because if you have an audience of college students where only a few people listen to hard rock, there should be at least one song that’s a little light and familiar for their taste. So I came up with a guitar riff that’s very Smiths-esque, and eventually I recorded all the other instruments and my vocals, mainly a rough draft of the song, so I can show it to my band for them to learn. Lyrically, it’s about reaching out to a friend who is trying to get through a difficult time.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Melodious.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Live Your Mind”?
A: Yeah, I was basically racing against time to finish the song before Music Fest. Since the event was in April and I was writing the song in late March, I was a bit stressed out that I wouldn’t finish it. Thankfully, I did, and playing that at Music Fest 2025 was the first time I played it live, smoothly. There were no problems with the recording process; after I recorded the rough demo for the song, I got back to re-recording some parts in August of 2025, mainly guitar and vocals. The drums and bass you hear now in the song were from the rough demo.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: We, humans, share experiences and can feel stories told through music, and how we feel is essential for the arts and in real life. I want to resonate with audiences, unify and connect with them through my music, and make them feel a certain way whenever they hear one of my songs. And through that connection, I hope to develop a following – especially to go on a regional tour with other great bands.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I would love to collaborate with Alan Parsons. His engineering and production are incredible, especially given his notable work with the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and countless other artists. The Alan Parsons Project is one of my many influences, so it would be a great honor to work with Alan Parsons.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: My advice is to stay true to yourself and keep moving forward, no matter how many obstacles you encounter. Most importantly, make as many connections as possible! You wouldn’t know if someone you met before will help you in the long run.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I would tell my younger self: Do not hold back on opportunities, and continue to stay true to yourself. Follow your heart while also being careful.
