E125: Special Guest Dillon Treacy

Summary

• Music career and prophecy with drummer Dylan Tracy. 0:07
  • Dr. Dave shares his prophecy that Dylan Tracy will be a drummer after giving him a drumstick as a baby.
  • Dillon Treacy now realizes that prophecy as a worldwide musician with inspiring performances.
• Music inspiration and passion. 2:24
  • Dillon discusses their inspiration from Leroy Burgess' song "Barely Breaking Even," which they've been obsessing over for a year.
  • The song's lyrics, including "Just got my paycheck, and I'm on my way home / Between the rent and the phone bill, it's nearly gone," resonate with the speaker's experiences of grinding and partying despite financial struggles.
  • Dillon Treacy, a drummer and resident of New York City for 13 years, discusses his passion for drumming and how it connects him to his heritage and culture.
  • Dillon believes that his drumming should evoke a visceral reaction in listeners, whether through movement or emotion, and keeps him interested and engaged in his craft.
• Musical inspirations and creative freedom. 7:43
  • Dillon discusses their experience at NYU for jazz performance and living in New York City as a formative educational experience.
  • George Clinton's music and lyrics educated the speaker on how to feel and experience life, and Afrofuturism inspired a vision of a future that doesn't exist yet.
• Musical inspirations and cultural heritage. 11:44
  • Dillon names Funkadelic and John Bonham as major drumming inspirations, citing their ability to create space and care in their playing.
  • Dillon grew up in various music genres, including ‘60s-80s R&B, soul, and hip hop, and was inspired by artists like Prince, Kanye West, and J Dilla.
  • Dillon is currently inspired by disco and boogie music and enjoys the repetition and groove of these genres.
• Creativity, obstacles, and personal growth in music. 16:52
  • Dillon reflects on the challenges of freelancing, including self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and how they've learned to "fake it till they make it" and be confident in their abilities.
  • Dillon shares a personal project with significant meaning for them, highlighting the importance of personal meaning and purpose in creative work.
  • Dr. Dave reflects on the joy of playing music with friends, citing a memorable gig with his band Alter Apollo as an inspiration.
  • Dillon emphasizes the importance of finding joy in music, even in low-key performances, and notes that his main source of income is touring as a musician.
• Travel, social issues, and art. 21:53
  • Musician travels across 46 US states and 20 countries, experiencing diverse cultures and vibes.
  • Dillon reflects on travel experiences and how they shape their social-issue perspective.
  • Dillon shares their experience at a music festival in Cheltenham, UK, where they discussed politics with a stranger with different views.
  • Dillon expresses frustration with people using social media to promote their agendas without taking action in their daily lives.
• Social activism and breaking into the music industry. 28:35
  • Dr. Dave and Speaker 2 discuss the sacrifices made by an unnamed person for a social cause.
  • Dr. Dave believes that making music can be a form of social activism by forgetting about problems and relaxing to see the big picture.
  • Dillon advises aspiring musicians to go to the city they want to work in, as he learned more about the industry in New York despite not getting any gig opportunities from his jazz program professors.
• Music industry diversity and cultural representation. 32:46
  • Dillon emphasizes the importance of building relationships in the music industry, citing the "hang and music" triangle as a helpful framework for understanding the interconnectedness of these factors.
  • Dr. Dave agrees, sharing anecdotes about people he's met in the scene who he'll never want to work with again while also highlighting the importance of being a good person and building genuine connections with others.
  • Dr. Dave discusses the changing art landscape for people of color, mentioning the increased diversity in the music industry and the potential for segregation in the greater scope of things.
  • Dillon reflects on the history of race records and how it has influenced the current state of music, including the impact of the internet and television on finding and showcasing music within specific communities.
• Music, identity, and aspirations. 38:21
  • Dillon expresses frustration with musicians not holding each other accountable for being better people, especially in diverse spheres.
  • Dillon's obstacle to achieving their artistic aspirations is self-doubt and fear of failure.
  • Dillon wants to create a sample library using their extensive record collection and produce music for others.
  • Dillon's main aspiration is to be happy with their decisions and enjoy music without being influenced by money.
  • Dillon offers encouragement and critiques capitalism, ending with "free Palestine, free the Congo."