Hey Dillon! Great to have you with us today! Whereabouts are you based at the moment and how is the music scene doing there given the pandemic effects?
I am currently based in Orange County, California USA. The music scene is finally picking back up at a normal pace. I am proud of everyone who has been involved so heavily in reviving our scene.
We’re excited to be chatting with you around your latest release, the ‘Simple Minded’ EP made in collaboration with UK artist Saffron Stone on Solardo’s SOLA imprint. Congrats on a great release here! What can you tell us about this one?
Thank you so much! This is my 3rd EP with Sola and I am so stoked on the collaboration between myself and Saffron because it is a very unique sound.
The collaboration between you and Saffron Stone works very well. How did this collab come about and have you guys worked together before?
We actually have never met before but I was always a big fan of her sound and her DJ skills. We hit it off after messaging and started sending ideas back and forth. A few sessions later we finished the tunes pretty effortlessly. Saffron actually did all of the vocals for the EP as well!
Have you been able to begin playing at events again yet given the effects of the pandemic, and if so have you got to try this EP out yet?
Yes we are in full swing in the U.S. basically since April. I can attest that both tracks have been going off in every set!
We’d love to hear a bit more about your background, when and how did you first get into DJing and producing and what first inspired you to do so?
My brother taught me how to play the guitar, drums, and bass when I was 8 years old. I got my first production software (FL Studio) when I was 15 and haven’t stopped producing! I actually got into DJing because my father had bought a DJ controller for himself to learn when I was about 15 but I took it over from him.
Who or what styles of music have had the biggest influence on you as an artist?
I’d have to say Derrick May, Carl Cox, Sasha, John Digweed, The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, and Timo Maas music had a huge impact on me when I started listening to house music on long car rides with my father and uncle. My family has had the biggest impact on my musical taste.
Thank you for chatting with us today Dillon! To finish off, is there anything else on the way from yourself soon that you’d like to share with us?
I have a lot of new music coming for the rest of the year that I can’t quite announce but I am very excited to join MK on his tour starting next weekend.
Dillon Nathaniel & Saffron Stone – Simple Minded is OUT NOW on SOLA
