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The pop/funk/R&B/soul singer and guitarist that is Dylan Chambers has journeyed from Arlington, TX to Los Angeles, where the powerhouse vocalist has dug his heels in, coming a long way since the singer-songwriter tact of his debut EP, while expanding his oeuvre to meet the crest of a fuller, more robust sound rooted in soul. Spinning up a string of new singles with longtime producer, Stefan Litrownik (Boyz II Men, Andy Grammer), Chambers is raring to garner the charm of timeless classics, having no scruples about citing modern stalwarts such as Vulfpeck, Jacob Collier, Devon Gilfilian and all who are concerned with preserving the sanctity of soul. In the past, he’s collaborated with producer John Alagia (John Mayer, Herbie Hancock), critically acclaimed singer Haley Reinhart (American Idol, F is for Family), Mark Ballas (Dancing with the Stars) and Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum jazz artist Dave Koz.
Chambers’ new single “Breakdown” – an infectious mantra that reflects the singer’s emotional fatigue during lockdown – was the catalyst for its counterpart, “Some Kind of Happy.” Both new singles harness a lifeforce that demonstrate Chambers’ resilience as a songwriter, and an uncanny ability to cast bright and bold melodies, enlivened by the singer’s impressive vocal range, grimy synth bass and electric guitar rhythms beholden to Prince. Creating a party atmosphere, even when the narrative is centered around having a nervous breakdown, is what Chambers is all about. “We’re always thinking about what’s next, constantly moving and not allowing ourselves to feel vulnerable, or just not making enough time for it. So lately, I’ve been focussed on the intention of feeling good and feeling happy, and so I’ve been checking in with myself and thinking, ‘look, life is passing you by,’ so what can we do to make ourselves feel better? Time is slipping,” says Chambers.
Chambers moved to Los Angeles in 2011 with his roommate, resident choreographer of RuPaul’s Drag Race and American Idol finalist, Todrick Hall. Hustling quite a bit at first to keep up, he worked as a barista by day and performed open-mic nights at The Parlor on Melrose, while also taking up various residences around Hollywood. Pretty soon, he met and became fast friends with Mark Ballas of Dancing with the Stars, which led him to performing on the show and joining the national DWTS tour as a featured singer and guitarist in 2014, performing with that season’s winner Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and many more.
While his spiritual framework remains intact, with the acknowledgement that serendipity is a universal truth and a language in its own right, Chambers also realizes that he has to step out and make his own luck: “People aren’t gonna change your life. It’s not their job. They’re trying to change their life. You’ve gotta change yours. Do everything you can to do it. And if you have a life that you really wanna live, that’s full of adventure and wildness, or whatever… that’s up to you. You gotta create that atmosphere for yourself, ‘cause nobody else is gonna do it.” And that’s where one of Chambers’ last singles came from – “I Can Do it Myself” – exuding confidence and rivaling Bruno Mars.
“I’ve learned in spirituality that, whatever the goal is, you almost have to run in the complete opposite direction to get to it. And it makes sense to me, now. I think I’ve kind of been doing that for a long time. It just didn’t hit me until recently. You’re not going to get what you want, immediately, if it’s worth your time in the long run,” says Chambers.