Gwendolyn Lewis, who performs under the name DYLYN, grew up on the outskirts of Toronto, born to a father of British descent, and a mother from mainland China. With a childhood that was steeped in the music of Led Zeppelin and Blondie, she released her synth-rock retro-pop debut EP "Sauvignon In a Kimono" (Home/Nettwerk) in 2018.
2019 saw Gwen traveling to Los Angeles and Vancouver to work with both Ryan Guldemond and Colin Munroe as she put together the material for her new album. Gwen was looking to evolve beyond the electro-pop sounds of her previous releases, and dig in to a deeper rock vibe that cuts straight to the core of her original artistic inspiration. "Call Me What You Want" is the result of that - a fast-moving and unapologetic celebration of her rebellious spirit, with an edgy guitar hook and Bonham-style drums. In a previous life, Gwen - as Guinevere - nurtured a promising career as a dance-pop artist with top 10 cuts on the U.S. Billboard charts. But she wasn’t happy as a 'dubstep diva' - and decided on a whim to embrace her true identity as a rock fan, and her enduring love for bands like Black Sabbath and Queens of the Stone Age. With a banging voice and killer good looks, and some early successes to build on, Gwen decided to fight for a sound that brought her back to the suburbs of Toronto, listening to her father’s record collection from the ’70s. That vibe of raw adrenalin had never left her creative consciousness: thus was DYLYN born.
"Call Me What You Want" continues to define the fiery sound that DYLYN began with her debut EP, and lays down an aggressive and heartfelt vocal performance over the top of a fearless uptempo groove. She will continue to unveil more new tracks throughout the year, culminating in a 2021 EP "Make It Naked." For now we can relish the self-affirming, party-all-night mojo of a pop star on the rise, with a knack for mixing classic rock with sticky vocal hooks and distinctly modern energy.
This song is featured on our CHILL Angeles playlist.
