Check Out Dylan Bradley’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Bradley. 

Hi Dylan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for 22 years of my life. Throughout my 22 years, I was always surrounded by music whether it was my parents playing Guns n’ Roses in our living room, listening to Kenny Chesney on the radio in the car, or just singing out loud. At the age of nine, my grandmother got me my first guitar. I began to take lessons and really enjoyed playing. When I got into middle school, I also participated in the talent shows every year and I would always sing and play a Beatles song for it. Once I got to high school, I started a band called November Blue. November Blue was just a duo and we played little bars around the Pittsburgh area. The other half of November Blue, Tom Currey, went to college and the next year I attended the same college, Duquesne University. When I got to Duquesne University, we entered ourselves in the Battle of The Bands. I started to write original music by myself and with Tom for the first time my freshman year. We met new people and our band went from two people to five people We ended up finishing in first place! The second-place band, Millgroves Crossing, was also friends of ours and we started to play together more and more after Battle of The Bands. Sure, enough as the year went on November Blue and Millgroves Crossing became one band but still under the name November Blue. That was back in 2015 and to this day all five of us are still together. By adding the new members to the band, I started to listen to music I never heard. John Wilcox, our guitar player, and other singers showed me, Gram Parsons. From that day forward Gram Parsons would be my music idol. It wasn’t just Gram’s voice. It was his songs, the production, and of course the use of pedal steel and electric guitar. Luckily our bass player, Brodie Holifield, had a cousin, Alex Barcic, who went to Belmont University. During the summers Alex would start to play in November Blue and our sound became more country-rock than folk. It also helped that our drummer, Dean Maddox, was a phenomenal drummer and could drum in just about every style of drumming. We also started to get bigger around the area and once I graduated college in May of 2019, November Blue moved to Nashville. So, in November Blue we have three songwriters, Me, John, and Tom. I started to write so much once we got down to Nashville that I had a lot of songs. I thought to myself, “Why don’t I just release my own album” and that is what I’m doing. Plus, when I got to Nashville, I really discovered some great artists that truly inspired me to write more and to focus on my craft. I even found a love for radio country again which I hadn’t listened to for years. Two artists that truly helped me were Ruston Kelly & Morgan Wallen. I loved both of their songwriting and singing. In January of 2021, I started to record my album that will consist of ten original songs and maybe a couple of bonus tracks. These songs have a mix of Ruston Kelly, Morgan Wallen, Kings of Leon, Neil Young kinds of sound throughout each of them. The songs I picked are also songs that mean a lot to me. Some songs are about heartbreak and some are about love. Others are about home and really starting a new chapter in Tennessee. I do want my Pennsylvania roots to be known in my music because I love home. When people of Pittsburgh, they think of Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller. One day I would like them to think of Dylan Bradley. There is such a country and rock n’ roll scene in Pittsburgh that truly does not get recognized. I hope many others will love my first album and I hope I can bring that recognition to Pittsburgh and to Pennsylvania. In late October, early November my album will finally hit all streaming platforms for the world to hear. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road of pursuing music is never an easy one. Many people have different roads and routes to becoming a successful musician. I think in today’s age you have to focus on your product which is the songs and materials and then start to brand yourself and market your product. The personal struggles I have faced have never been with the music but with working a job while playing out and then also needing enough money to eat but also enough money to market your songs/albums. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, I am one of the lead singers in a band called November Blue. Our genre is Americana/Country Rock. In that band, I am a lead singer but our band is huge on harmonies. A lot of our music and harmonies give people Eagles and Crosby, Stills, and Nash vibes. We have four albums out and have been recording a new album with Grammy award-winning producer Michael Omartian (Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Peter Ceitira). Like I have mentioned, I am currently also working on my own album that will consist of ten original songs with a couple of bonus tracks. This album will be more alternative country giving people Ruston Kelly, Kings of Leon, and Neil Young vibes. I am extremely proud of the music that I put into November Blue and Dylan Bradley. It is a nice balance because in a band of six people you can be selfless but when you work on your own music you can be selfish. It is a very nice mix but overall, I am extremely proud of my work with all of my songs. 

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you? 

I do really like co-writing as well as sitting down and sharing songs with others. My favorite thing to do is perform and I would be happy to play at any venue. If anyone would like to contact me, I have an Instagram and Facebook page under @dylanbradleymusic. I also play in a band and we also have an Instagram and Facebook @novemberblueband. We also have a website www.novemberblueband.com. I update my personal page as well as November Blue so if you would like to see the band or myself play, we post our events on social media and the website. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.novemberblueband.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylanbradleymusic/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dylanbradleymusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dylbradmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe9vpaT5J6MNiQfiwi3Ck6g

Image Credits
Brittain Clay