SPOTLIGHT: D.K. LYONS

Photo By Julian Donaldson

Meet D.K. Lyons and tune into his newest single “loveseeking.”

“loveseeking” feels like both a personal and universal journey. What inspired this song, and what did you hope people would feel when listening to it?

It absolutely is! I had the chorus pop in my head on a flight back from London in summer 2023 and knew I had something catchy to build around. On a romantic level, I’d been through a pretty uninspired few years of dating where everything was missing a spark. But then on a global level, I feel like it’s easy to fall into ruts and settle in life, so this was a bit of a pep talk to myself to remember that magic, purpose, and joy are out there but we as individuals must seek it out and work to rise above mediocrity to achieve fulfillment. 

The music video, dropping May 22, draws influence from Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova (Magician’s Cut).” What elements of her visual storytelling did you want to echo or reinterpret in your own way?

I think Chappell is one of the best all-around artists out there. Her identity is so strong and I knew I wanted to pay tribute with my own personal style. So with the obvious references to magic in “loveseeking” and the Red Wine video, I wanted to emulate as many shots as I could. So the intro, the storyline of the magician showing her how to do magic, and the eventual spell cast on the bigot are all taken from her video. The biggest difference I think is that Chappell’s video fits her persona and is very sensual, flirty, and sexy where I feel like my visual brand is very self-deprecating with lots of physical comedy and naive playfulness, so that’s where my personal brand really shines in this video. 

There’s a magical quality in the video’s narrative, where the hero and magician take revenge on bigots. Can you walk us through the symbolism and themes at play in this visual storyline?

It’s my absolute favorite part of the original video! We live in a world where it’s so easy to shame others via social media and we seem to be regressing as a society. Everything feels like it’s becoming whitewashed, muted, and numbed, so I wanted to show that magic and color and vibrant expression can overcome that. It’s within the meaning of the song and the video where I’m trying to encourage people to embrace themselves and seek out magic, whatever that means to them. 

How did you approach blending hope and heartbreak in both the sonic and visual aspects of “loveseeking”?

I don’t think you can have one without the other. The whole theme of my new EP centers around this theme, that cliche idiom of “it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.” I was really questioning that and getting really pessimistic after going through a breakup and a lengthy spell of unsuccessfully looking for love and fulfillment. But then I would have these little moments of magic, a special show with the crowd singing my songs back to me, a crazy weekend with my sister and cousin, a dog curled up in my lap falling asleep on my heart. These moments remind me that there is magic out there and that seeking love and fulfillment is what life is all about. 

You describe the song as representing the deadly sin of greed, how does that idea unfold in the lyrics and the video’s emotional arc?

So the backstory here is that I read the Divine Comedy last summer and started to draw parallels between the Dark Ages and now (going back to that repression I mentioned earlier.) Working in advertising, I drew a lot of parallels between the church’s aim to turn people into obedient sheep with what capitalism and consumerism has done to our current society. So I decided to pair up each of the 7 songs on my EP with a different “deadly sin” and am creating SNL-style parody ads for fake products that match up to each song and sin to challenge these supposed “sins.” So for “loveseeking,” it’s the idea that it’s greedy to want magic and love and fulfillment when in reality it’s the elixir of life and ambition and passion are really powerful things for humans to have. And the Renaissance followed the Dark Ages, so I’m kind of manifesting that history repeats itself and we weather the storm of the times we’ve been living through. 

Was there a moment during the creation of this single or video where everything “clicked” for you artistically?

Absolutely, I feel like there were a number of moments in the process where I knew I had struck veins of gold amidst quite literally 100+ hours of mining and seemingly only finding coal. Producing music is like an iceberg where the final song is only the tip and there’s so much beneath the surface that’s propping it up. So moments like singing that chorus the first time, finding that guitar riff after noodling for hours, re-recording the vocals for the fifth time and finally feeling like I had hit the notes with the right feel. So there were little moments of magic throughout the entire process that were little sign posts that I was moving in the right direction. 

Do you see “loveseeking” as a standalone statement, or more of a doorway into the deeper themes of Darling Kiss Louder?

It’s 100% the doorway into the theme of the EP and is effectively the central theme in itself. The EP follows the story of a breakup, going through a maze of superficial, confusing, and lonely moments before seeing a light at the end of the title. And while it’s all about romantic love on the surface, it’s a continuation of that larger metaphor about what makes life worth living and why it’s worth pursuing because there really is no alternative.  

The upcoming EP Darling Kiss Louder pulls from heavy concepts like the Divine Comedy, the seven deadly sins, and influencer culture. What inspired you to take on such an ambitious fusion?

Like most things that I become inspired to create, I usually have a nice laugh at a concept of mine before I pursue it because it usually has a level of ridiculousness to it. So like I mentioned, I read the book last summer and one day was like “Hmm, I wonder if I could pair up each deadly sin to each song on the EP,” and when they each seamlessly had a pairing, I knew I had to do something with it. So that mixed with my day job in marketing where I’ve become disdainful for brands and discovering the magic of SNL through my sister and girlfriend, I decided that each song will get its own fake product and fake ad as part of the usual promotion process. Who knows if people will get it, but I get off on taking those random moments of inspiration and seeing them through to a finished product. 

You’ve said each song on the EP ties into a different sin, how do you balance personal vulnerability with broad philosophical commentary in your songwriting?

This is such a good question! It’s something I actually spend a TON of time thinking about and trying to walk that line. Every song I write is rooted in personal vulnerability. I don’t ever sit down and think, “Today I’m going to write a song about a flower.” Music for me is therapy, so I’m usually digging up a core emotional thought or question and then creating characters or scenes that offer up that broader philosophical mirror to try and help me work through those thoughts and questions. I would never dare to try and lecture my audience, but my hope is that by asking these questions about love, loss, hope, fear, etc. to try and work through my own journey that it resonates with others asking these same questions. 

Photo By Julian Donaldson

What do you want listeners to take away from the contrast between the Dark Ages and the idea of a “renaissance” in your narrative?

I want people to know that there’s hope. Humanity has always had these pendulum swings, although now the lows happen to be far more destructive in terms of nuclear weapons, AI, fossil fuels, etc. America has been in decline for some time. People feel more out of touch despite the seemingly infinite ability to connect via the internet. Dark hard right oppressive ordeals are swelling up again. There are days where things feel hopeless and the idea of modernity seems laughable. But if we can survive this, I believe humans have the ability to respond and that pendulum will swing up again and hopefully create a fresh world of love, art, and hope. 

Your visuals are incredibly detailed and cinematic, how do you go about building out the characters and imagery in your music videos?

Thank you! I’ve worked in video production now for a decade and I feel like my songs are all mini movies with classic character arcs. And since we live in a world of content and social media, this is the most authentic way I can show up and be a part of it without having to try and join the TikTok dance trends or whatever the flavor of the week is. I think my videos help paint the full picture of me as an artist where my humor, drama, and emotion can be amplified. 

You’re a self-described feminist and credit the women who raised you for shaping your perspective. How do their influences show up in your lyrics and storytelling?

My mom has been my hero and a role model my entire life. She’s an incredible writer, poet, and all-around beautiful, strong person who managed to balance being a single mom with work, getting her PHD, and producing her own creative work. I’ve had the pleasure of having so many amazing women family members, friends and artists in my life and I feel like I’ve learned the most from these women. So the majority of my songs feature me searching for some sort of lesson and a strong female character who’s there to open my eyes and guide me.  

You’ve been writing songs since childhood and taught yourself guitar through trial and error, how has that DIY beginning shaped your approach to artistry today?

I’ve come to realize that this process of trying, failing, and learning on my own is just who I am. And it’ll usually take a LOT of failure to get to that learning phase. But I’ve learned so much from this process, especially when it comes to work ethic, perseverance, and learning to trust my instincts as well. Being an artist is expensive if you don’t know how to do things for yourself too, which I’ve learned the hard way, so each step in the journey I’ve become more self-sufficient, which has also led to more confidence and self-worth in what I’m doing. 

You’ve explored a wide range of sounds, from indie pop-rock to tropical house and concept albums. What do you feel has remained constant in your music, no matter the genre or format?

In the Spotify era, I’ve become exposed to so many different types of music that speak to me. This new EP is no different and features some ‘90s grunge, alt country, UK garage, LoFi, and pop punk. But I think no matter what, my lyrical style, characters, and themes all live within the same world. It’s given me the flexibility to explore different genres and not ever feel confined to a box so that I can make sounds that move me, no matter what genre they’re considered to be a part of. 

If 5-year-old D.K. who told his mom he’d be a rock star could see you now: music videos, EPs, growing fanbase, what do you think he’d say?

He would be beside himself. Even 5 years ago I never would have dreamed I’d be where I am now, playing shows with a band full of my best friends, making music on my own that I’m proud of. He would also want more though, and I have this internal drive inside of me to keep going because it’s a calling I’ve felt ever since I was 5. 

Watch the “loveseeking” music video here.