At pointblank music school, supporting and elevating our students beyond the classroom is at the heart of what we do and pointblank recordings (PBR) is a key part of that mission. We’re proud to introduce our latest PBR artist signing, Dylan O’Connor, a rising artist whose lyrical depth and genre-blending sound reflect the creativity brewing in our halls. A graduate of our Music Business Diploma, he brings both creative and professional insight to his artistry, making him a perfect example of how pointblank nurtures well-rounded music careers.
His journey with pointblank Recordings is just getting started, but with BBC Introducing airtime, collaborations across continents, and a string of new releases in the works, it’s clear Dylan is one to watch. Whether you’re an artist looking to be signed, or someone who dreams of working behind the scenes in A&R, artist management or label operations, pointblank offers the tools and connections to make it happen.
Hi Dylan! For those who don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself.
Artist name is Dyloco (pronounced dyl-oh-koh ), and I’m from South West London, now based in North East. I’ve been writing lyrics for as long as I could remember, often politically charged, as was the case with The State Of It All, which was my debut track, meant as a way to get a lot off my chest about the (then) state of the country. This was featured on BBC Radio London via BBC Introducing. I also recently performed on DJ AG’s set in Kings Cross, which was shared by him. Since my first release, I’ve been trying to focus on the instrumentation side of making music, while continuing to write in the studio and never losing sight of what I consider to be my strength: lyrics.
What course(s) are you currently studying at pointblank?
I did the Music Business Diploma in late 2024 to get a greater understanding of the industry.
What’s the genre or style of music you make?
A mix between UK Garage and UK Alternative rap describes it best, but I don’t feel tied to any particular genre and take influence from hundreds of artists from all periods and places.
How has your experience with pointblank Recordings been so far? In what ways has the label supported your journey?
It gave me a lot of insight into the industry and connections with other like minded musicians. Using the facilities, like the studio, but also the student area as a space to work on my own music and network, was a highlight. It is early days with the label so far but they have shown a lot of faith as of yet in my music which I’m very appreciative of.
What inspires you as an artist?
For me, creating in general is a way of putting my life experience; thoughts and doubts, into a tangible outlet. My inspiration in terms of other art comes from a lot of sources – film, books, sounds, general day to day experiences. Musically, I can appreciate a lot of genres and particularly love hip hop, electronic, jazz, soul, even classical. There are countless artists I draw from.
Production-wise, I’m inspired by the sounds of Joy Orbison, Four Tet, Burial, Massive Attack, Bonobo. Then lyrically there are rappers like CasIsDead, NaS, Andre 3000 and Prodigy from Mobb Deep, who I take a lot from – a sense of pain and purpose in their lyrics that is powerful. I feel a lot of passion for UK Music too with legends like Amy Winehouse and The Streets resonating with me along with newer talents like Jim Legxacy and Joe James. Being from London is a blessing as I don’t think there’s anywhere better for emerging music.
What’s your process when it comes to music creation?
Getting in a flow state. There aren’t many things in life that allow me to be completely in the present moment but music is definitely one of them. My process varies – sometimes I’ll try listening deeply to another track and get inspiration from the melodies or drums, sometimes I’ll just go to a cafe, slap some headphones on and try and come up with something original from scratch. I think it’s a lot more difficult to delegate time to lyric writing – so I might be on the tube or on my bike and I’ll have to get my phone out and record myself, so I don’t forget, or even as I’m drifting off to sleep I’ll think of something and have to get up and write it down.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in getting involved with pointblank Recordings?
Reach out to people. Back yourself, back your art, and do all you can to get it out there with the best possible chance of being heard.
Any upcoming releases or projects we should know about?
I’ve got about 10 tracks in the locker that I’m in the final stages of assembling. Includes a track with Brazilian rapper OhLeow, who I met in Rio De Janeiro while recording the music vid for the original. Some of the tracks are pretty different from each other, but I am also working on releasing a thematic project too, whether that be an album or EP.
Dyloco’s story is a testament to what happens when passion meets opportunity—and we’re proud to be part of his journey. At pointblank recordings, we not only spotlight emerging talent, but also offer the chance for students to play key roles behind the scenes. If you’re an aspiring A&R rep, label manager or music executive, explore our BA (Hons) Music Business Degree and get hands-on experience working with real artists and projects like PBR.
And if you’re ready to launch your artist career like Dyloco, you can apply to one of our flagship degrees: the Music Production & Sound Engineering Degree, Music Production & DJ Performance Degree, or Music Production & Vocal Performance Degree. These courses are designed to develop you creatively, technically, and professionally so you’re not just making music, you’re building a career.
Stay locked in for Dyloco’s upcoming releases and follow @Dy1oco on Instagram and @CentralSound on YouTube to hear what’s next. This is just the beginning.
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