-
Love Like This 3:060:00/3:06
-
0:00/3:11
-
0:00/3:04
-
0:00/3:22
-
High (When I’m Low) 2:480:00/2:48
-
The Fever 2:570:00/2:57
-
Don’t Say It 2:560:00/2:56
-
Whatever Happens 2:410:00/2:41
"Dylan Chambers Debuts ‘Some Kind of Happy', Showing Off His Soulful Versatility"
- American Songwriter
“…the powerhouse soul number ('Mystical and Paranoid') that rips with a Bruno Mars modern pop flair and boisterous rhythmic counterparts that swings with the vibrant tightness of The J.B.’s”
- Glide Magazine
Ever since he was singing along to “Hound Dog” as a kid, Dylan Chambers has known the value of diving deeply through the technicolor whirlpool of musical history. The LA-based singer-songwriter dances and dives his way from ‘50s rock to ‘70s soul, modern pop to vintage funk, treating each with reverence and pulling the styles together in his own kaleidoscopic vision. “I want to carry that torch like an Olympic runner—finding the unison and the contrast between these incredible sounds and modern music,” Chambers says of his new EP, the ecstatic Dreaming in Technicolor (released October 2025). “Artists like Chuck Berry and Al Green were producing this deep, vibrant music that brought excitement and danger to a straightlaced world, and I want people to know we can still do that.”
Chambers first shared his impeccable blend of precision and passion on his debut EP, 2024’s For Your Listening Pleasure. That record tapped into the sort of out-of-time brilliance of Silk Sonic and Black Pumas, though with the added brilliance of his beatific energy—sweet and warm whether reveling in life’s beauty or sharing in its pain. That depth has led to collaborations with beloved experimentalists like G. Love, Dave Koz, and Ozomatli. While that range might seem unusual, drawing together the wide musical universe runs at the core of Chambers’ artistic drive. “I love so much music that I want to tap into all of it, to never do the same thing twice,” he says. “This EP feels like the moment when TV and movies turned from black and white to color—bringing so much new joy, new energy to a world that can feel so dark.”
The rugged, horn-aided R&B that opens lead single “Mercy (That’s What I Need)” exemplifies that transformative power that music can hold, both for listeners and for the songwriter himself. In the midst of some conflict in his family, Chambers turned to his guitar, penning the first draft of the single while sitting on his bed. “I often write music as a positive world to fall into, but this was a pain I’d not felt before,” he explains. “I needed to write something new to exorcise what I was feeling.” Over muscly guitar chops and a stumbling bass line, the vocals ache and groan,
crying out for some sort of relief from life’s problems.
Dreaming in Technicolor’s soulful expressiveness comes aided again via Stefan Lit, the artist/producer who helped bring Chambers’ debut to life in addition to previous credits with artists ranging from Lil Nas X to Hailee Steinfeld. “He’s my musical partner in crime,” Chambers laughs. The two holed up in Lit’s studio, working through more than a dozen songs before settling on the six that fit best together for this release.
The burnished tone afforded by classic instruments propels Chambers’ adoring tribute to Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis on the riotous “The Fever”. Complete with chuckled bridge and howling falsetto, the track lives in the boiling turbulence of the modern world but embraces their own individual fire in response. “I’ll start my own fire and hopefully it’ll catch on and help everyone else find their own flame,” he says. “We felt the presence of a spirit from the old dance hall days, and I really screamed that one out, which is something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Another highlight comes in the form of the swanky “Golden Handcuffs”, a track about Chambers’ lifelong insistence that even when things are good, you need to keep evolving and experimenting. “I ain’t trying to go/ But I know can’t stay/ Everything’s getting old/ This time I need a change,” he sings in that liquid gold delivery, the track a radiant burst of sunshine. The soulful “Love Like This” was inspired by a more intimate source of joy, encapsulating the flowery, sunny feeling that Chambers gets from his newlywed wife. It’s the sort of track that surely must have been on countless loving mixtapes dating back to ‘73, but also feels completely true to a singular love story.
Throughout his musical journey, Chambers has learned time and time again to trust his instincts, that by having dug through music history for gems he has developed an unparalleled musical voice. But after the success of his debut, that strength was reinforced. “I’ve recognized the value of my independence and realized that I truly have the reins of my life and my artistry in my own hands,” he says. “On this EP, I’m steering wherever I want to go, and I don’t need anyone’s permission.” The resulting joy ride is a thrill, Chambers yet again bringing listeners on a journey through some of music’s greatest eras and directly into his heart.