Wylen: A Musical Mystery with Summer Tunes to Swoon Over

By Savannah DavanzoContributing Editor

Article photo - Wylen: A Musical Mystery with Summer Tunes to Swoon Over

The mastermind behind production project Wylen is as elusive as it gets, but at least his music is hiding in plain sight on Spotify. With roots in both Massachusetts and Canada, young singer-songwriter Will Smith is one of an unquantifiable number of kids with big dreamsmaking beats in their bedroom. We’re not knocking them, by the way -- they’ve got talent in spades, it’s just that sifting through SoundCloud can feel like mining for gold but dredging up grit and gravel instead. Wylen, though, is the gold.

Though his social media presence is pretty bare-bones and it looks like he hasn’t released anything since last year, we’re at least left with a few summer anthems bursting with danceable beats led by husky vocals. 2016 especially was a big deal for Wylen -- he scored features and remixes on a couple killer tunes like ​“Thoughts About You,”​ an original collaboration between fellow producers Boomslang X​ and​ Panski​ that Wylen lent his vocals on. He manages to bring flavor and zest to each feature he’s on, but where Wylen really shines is on his solo work.

Our first taste of his dreamy one-of-a-kind sonic treatment is on the aptly-named “Dream” released a few years ago. The track opens with a blooms of synth before, layer by layer, new rhythms come in: first the snaps, then a hush of bustling voices in the background, then a percussive beat, then a sizzling drum pad. A quick clap erupts, the alarm-clock introduction to Wylen’s smooth vocals. The arrangement is so well-crafted, so thoughtful in the way Wylen initiates each rhythm in such an expert succession. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the track, but it buzzes as a lush, dreamy soundscape, almost like a lullaby if it weren’t for those colorful chimes and bright beats to wake you up and remind you that, yes, there really is music as good as this.

Then, of course, there’s Wylen’s ridiculously addictive “Heart Melt,” a skilled collaboration with Croatian producer Ninski​. It opens with breathy distant vocals joined by stronger echoing harmony before a vivid foot-tapping beat kicks in. A minute in, the vocals are in the spotlight, deliciously confessing “You make my heart melt slow”, immediately transforming into a little lovesong told in churning dance-pop beats and sweetened songwriting, a pure and perfect summertrack.

In case it isn’t clear yet just how much talent Wylen boasts, he kicks it up a couple notches with “Montreal,” his most impressive effort to date. Released last year on ​Noon Pacific​ , this ode to Montreal’s mellow mornings and quiet beauty is a fleeting gem of sonic goodness. Wylen’s voice is at its best here, laidback and airy, as a tropically-tinged groove floats around him. Powerful slaps of percussion and the buzz of bass lead the arrangement, each element pulsing insistently for just over three minutes to create a soft feel-good track perfect for those early morning hours spent reflecting on life and love and the present... what’s most remarkable, perhaps, is how “Montreal” is ​also the perfect song for late-night windows-down cruising solo onwarm summer nights. The way he captures this duality in a single track is a testament to just how talented Wylen is. After days of waiting eagerly for a response from an artist we assumed we’d never hear from again, Will kindly got back to us with an exclusive quote about “Montreal”. Here’s what he had to say:

“When I sit down at my computer to make a song, I have no set process on what comes first. For “Montreal,” I started with the chorus and built the song around that into a simple and easy listening tune. I don't release songs too often because at the moment I care more about refining my recording/production skills ​ [Editor’s note: Aha! That’s why he’s been laying low... respect.]​. Although, I did decide to release “Montreal” since it showed good progression in my production and writing abilities.

Montreal is a city that I love inherently because my dad loves it so much. He talks of walking on with your lover on cobblestone roads, hanging around Old Montreal during the day and how it's almost the calm before the storm because at night that city wakes up like you wouldn't believe, only to get up the next day and start all over again.

From this point on, I'd like to build upon the success of “Montreal,” keep improving as a writer, and hopefully get a consistent flow of releases going over the course of the winter. I'd like people to get to know me and build a bit of a following moving into 2019.”

Before talking with Will, we were convinced he’s a musical mystery, laying low and remaining ever elusive, but Wylen deserves credit where credit’s due, and we’re stoked to hear he’s ready to make a mark. His attention to production -- the details of it, the layers, the decisions -- and his ability to craft light-as-air summer dance anthems (ones you float to more so than twerk to) are the makings of a wildly gifted producer.

You can connect with (or, rather, wistfully dream of the day he gets back on social media to release another stunner) Wylen on​ SoundCloud​, ​Facebook​ and ​Instagram​ .

About Savannah Davanzo

Savannah Davanzo is a music journalist and social media coordinator from New York. Over the last six years, she has built several websites dedicated to highlighting underrated new music, all while pursuing her Master’s degree in Arts Entrepreneurship. She is the founder and lead editor of ​ The Music Mermaid where she writes album reviews, exclusive premieres, music op-eds, interviews with artists, and more. In addition to her work with TMM, she’s thrilled to be part of the MusicNGear team!

Contact Savannah Davanzo at savannah.davanzo@musicngear.com

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