Dylan Atlantis' Insta bio may read 'amateur artist', but we beg to differ; the up-and-coming talent has vocals and lyrics that extend well beyond her young years.
The Mount Druitt-born musician was raised on a musical diet of RnB and Hip-Hop by her Mum. Now a self-professed lover of all genres of music (even country), she's out here sharing her innermost thoughts and lyrical experiments with the world. "I kinda just treat music like a diary but also a science lab where I can experiment expressing myself in different ways until it's awesome enough that I feel compelled to share it."
Well, if the Grammys taught us one thing this week, it's that there's a flurry of up-and-coming artists waiting to rise and take their bow as the new guard. Dylan is proof that locally, it's no different.
Get to know her better below then traverse the streets of Sydney with her in the gallery above.
What music did you grow up listening to? Has that changed?
My Mum raised my brothers and I mainly on Rnb/ Hip-Hop, but she also randomly loved bossa nova, jazz, and dance music. My mum was a pretty young Mum so she also just really loved whatever was cool or playing on the radio.
If you could only listen to one genre of music for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s too hard to choose. I love all music, even country music.
What’s your creative process like?
I don’t think I have a creative process, I kinda just treat music like a diary but also a science lab where I can experiment expressing myself in different ways until it’s awesome enough that I feel compelled to share it.
What subjects or themes do you find yourself returning to in your music, and why do you think this is?
I always sing about love in some form. Love for my family, love for music, love for a romantic partner.
Do you create music with your audience in mind?
Towards the end of my making music, yes. But at the beginning of something? Then no.
When do you feel most ‘you’?
When I feel comfortable.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
If it’s a job worth doing, then it’s a job worth doing well. My mum would usually say this when I didn’t do my chores properly, but I think it applies to everything in life.
What’s the coolest or most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
Strawberries aren’t berries, but bananas are. By technical definition.
What books are you reading at the moment?
33 1⁄3 book series; I just finished reading the one about D’angelo’s VooDoo. Now I’ve started reading about Carole King’s Tapestry. I think it’s really inspiring reading about how bodies of work were influenced by their surroundings, whether it's societal, political or emotional.
Favourite book?
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs. The Mistborn book series by Brandon Sandersen.
Favourite movie?
Tough to choose just one, top 3 right now would be Everything Everywhere All At Once, Nacho Libre and Kill Bill.
Favourite song?
Right at this very moment, Jan. 24 2025, My favourite song is 'Lovers Rock' by Sade and 'Bodys' by Car Seat Headrest.
Are there any social or cultural shifts you hope will happen in the next 10 years?
I hope Australia as a culture realises the importance of art and self-expression. I think this country is extremely conservative when it comes to individuality.
What are you most looking forward to for 2025?
Releasing my album, playing more shows hopefully outside of Sydney, just being able to share the things I’ve been working on for the past 1.5 years.
Photos: Jacob Pietras Fashion: Monique Moynihan Features Editor: Chloe Hill
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional owners of the land on which this shoot took place.
