Dylon Jack – Speak Up (2024)
From tragic vulnerabilities to endearing resilience, singer-songwriter Dylon Jack delicately explores reality in his music. From its grit to its glory, his moving melodies brim with a plethora of emotions resonating in personal narratives. As with most, creative expression acts as a catharsis for Jack; however, the intricacy and intimacy of his music act as solace for everyone who hears it. In 2020, the Irish artist began turning heads with his single ‘Director’; skip ahead a few years and Jack’s confident sound reaches far beyond his Irish borders. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Speak Up’.
Following his well-received single ‘OBVIOUS’, Dylon Jack captures the poignancy and tragedy of living with mental health conditions in ‘Speak Up’. It’s not merely an individual tale exploring the emotional implications for one person – ‘Speak Up’ tackles the greater picture alongside personal effects.
Over three verses, ‘Speak Up’ taps into the pain, shame, stress and strain with reflection and honesty. We begin with an identification of how mental health conditions are becoming an unfortunately common occurrence, while the second verse is inspired by Jack’s loss of a friend to suicide. A look at the shock and despair continues as ‘Speak Up’ explores sudden confusion and questioning what could have been done. Yet, while the track covers the breadth of difficulties when faced with mental health conditions, there is comfort as Jack pushes the message of acceptance, understanding and support.
Lyrically, the composition of ‘Speak Up’ delicately encapsulates the rawness of these issues from fear and shock to warm comfort. Melodically, ‘Speak Up’ takes listeners on a rollercoaster perfectly aligning with spoken emotion. A moving blend of indie-rock with indie-folk sentimentality, the song is rich and confident but subdued and trembling. Beneath the bold beats and warm instrumentation, Jack’s hushed vocals add weighty depth to ‘Speak Up’. He explains:
“If anybody takes anything away from this song, then I want it to be this. Life is a beautiful gift. It’s going to be filled with euphoric highs and depressing lows, but at that low point, we need to know that it’s ok to speak up and be honest about how it is we are truly feeling. Just because it feels like the end doesn’t mean that it is…”
Find out more about Dylon Jack on his Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
Discover more indie-rock music on The Other Side Reviews Indie Rock playlist:
