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Originally released on Dirtybird's exclusive subscription service "The Birdfeed," "No Pressure" was road tested by Claude VonStroke, and the reactions on the dance floor were too good to pass.
even a statement on the main label. The EP is packed with undeniable bass, lasers, a bit of wobble, and some heavy funk making it a must-have, while “Come On” adds to the sweetness with a roll with homemade b-side nuances.
We have had the pleasure of interviewing Dillon Marinez, and this has been the result.
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music? Was it all internet based?
I was born and raised in San Diego, California. My musical Journey started in the 4th grade when I first learned how to play the piano, and later progressed into playing the guitar and bass. Throughout High School I played in a reggae band, where I really picked up on understanding the importance of drums, raw percussion, and how it creates a style of music that gets people dancing. Later in my college years is when I learned more about music production. I picked up a copy of Ableton, started watching tutorials online - but I’d say, I mainly learned through trial and error and by ear. During this time, my friend and I would make beats that he would rap over, which really gave us a fun outlet to experiment, explore, and integrate all the new tools and instruments that we were learning. It wasn't until I graduated that I decided to take music production more seriously that I started to see my sound develop and take shape.
Who have been your main inspirations (both musical and in "life")? And how have they affected your sound?
My main musical inspirations have been a lot of the original crew of Dirtybird producers and DJs, really making this project a full circle moment. Their sound was so unique to me, it was like nothing I had ever heard of - I just remember, noticing how it drew this magnetic reaction every time I played any song around friends. They inspired me to create music that is danceable, exciting, and different. Music that has a build, catches you off guard and is both unexpected and contagious. My main inspirations outside of house music would be my dad and grandfather. They always encouraged me to pursue music and exposed me to all sorts of styles and genres growing up. In general, my family and friends have always been very supportive and for that, an inspiration to keep going.
How would you define your sound?
I would describe my music as exciting, shocking, Bass heavy, and funky.
How has your sound evolved so far?
I feel like my music has gone from not just exciting and shocking with a big lead to now a body of work that is combining traditional dance structures with more of my personalized modern touch - making the songs more danceable and widely received in open spaces and clubs.
What can you tell us about your last job? What inspired you? What do you want to convey?
My inspiration came from a time of being in quarantine, working a lot in my day job and really using music as an outlet. Basically the message I want to convey from this project is that I really just wanted to make the same kind of music that I liked as a fan. These songs really manifested themselves into creation with that thought in mind.
What can you tell us about each song that makes up your latest work? What is hidden behind?
No pressure came together really quickly because the lead synth, which creates the shock factor, carries the entire track. I also feel like the vocals have a light-hearted message of ‘no pressure’ and ‘let me see where your works at’ which I imagined would be like a quirky call to action on the dance floor, a literal command of getting people to move. “Come On” was inspired by a lot of world music, where I wanted it to be a slow build with a lot of swing and drive. The vocal’s lyrics of ‘come on, baby come’ I thought was a perfect addition to the swelling lead that carries the listener in and out of a deep bass line.
How are you living the current situation because of COVID? Has your work affected you a lot? Do you think there is hope? I feel like the underground scene will continue to persist.
Honestly, my life here in San Diego has been very calm. I saw the time in the pandemic as an opportunity to work really hard, make a lot of music, refine my sound and to work on myself. Overall I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and I'm really thankful for my friends and family that I have here. I agree, I feel like there's hope. I can probably attest for a lot of people that music is very powerful and I think we were meant to experience it together in a live setting. It’s refreshing to see a new stronger appreciation for entertainment now.
What projects are you working on right now?
I'm currently working on a few new projects that highlight a new sound direction that I'm going in. I've been feeling really inspired by World and Latin American genres such as Cumbia and Reggaeton. It was exciting to see my last EP receive such positive feedback on Basement Leak since those tracks are
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