Meet Dylan Tolbert | Singer, Songwriter, Multi- Instrumentalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dylan Tolbert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dylan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I honestly didn’t have the mindset to start a business, I just wanted to play music and see how far I could go with it. I had zero intentions and zero interest in starting a business. But my interest changed with my intentions, so now all I want to do is put the best product out there.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My musical journey started out with minimal expectations. I went from open mic to open mic hoping to gain a little traction, but it took a while. This is not an easy profession, there’s more to it than the music aspect. You really have to be willing and able to become and salesperson, not only on stage but through your correspondence with music venues, bars, breweries, etc. The only way to overcome it is keep pushing. I know it sounds cliche but it’s true. You have to become a sponge and take something from everyone. And always continue to practice your craft and continue to be a student.

The thing I’m most proud of is my album I released a couple years ago, Tolbert Drive. It was always a goal of mine to release a solo album and to do most of the instrumentation in the album. Something I want to the world to know is that I just want to make music and reach people through music. It’s such a powerful tool and I want to use it to bring people together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely have to go to One Well Brewing on portage road in Kalamazoo, Michigan. My girlfriend and I are mug club members there and it’s one of the most comfortable and a cozy place you’ll find in Kalamazoo. In my personal opinion I think they have the best beer in Kalamazoo County, but that’s just me. But besides One Well there are numerous breweries in the Portage/Kalamazoo area, you can’t go wrong with a lot of them. There’s a lot of history in Kalamazoo, so much to see and so much to learn. We would hit all the cocktail lounges and old historic bars in the area. Go see a show at the Miller Auditorium or the State Theatre. Maybe catch a Growlers game or K Wings game, depending on the season. There’s a lot that can be done in a week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shout out to Troy Weatherburn and Alex Weatherburn for all they have done for me and my musical journey. It didn’t start out great, and I was extremely rough around the edges, but they saw the potential in me and always continued to give advice and show their support. Also, I want to thank my mother, LaCheryl Tolbert-Shelton, for always being in my corner from day one. She’s always showed up and for that I am forever grateful.

Website: www.tolbertdrive.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tolbertdylan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbKORN5mGl_ChiHDyi-4qWQ