Music Spotlight: Wyland
We’re stoked to introduce you to rock band Wyland. The band, composed of vocalist, guitarist and pianist Ryan Sloan, vocalist + keyboardist Ariella Mastroianni, vocalist + drummer Chris Luna, guitarist Patrick Viso, + bassist Zachary Calidonna, released their latest single Nowhere Now, a vividly transcendent track, last month + is currently wrapping up a tour with Valley. We caught up with the band on Nowhere Now, tour + what’s next.
// photo by Kelsey Ayres
Asymmetric Magazine: Tell us a bit about Nowhere Now.
Ariella Mastroianni: Nowhere Now, to me, is feeling connected to a place that you can't really describe. Somewhere else. Somewhere where the laws of the universe just don't quite apply. Imagination. The word ‘nowhere’ may have a negative connotation, but I see it as somewhere with infinite possibility.
Ryan Sloan: It’s a place I’ve been looking for my whole life actually. It’s a place we all go to from time to time whether we realize it or not.
Chris Luna: The song has gone through many evolutions and finally came together in Ireland. It’s about the place that you go to when you realize that your life has been lived a certain way for many years, and you’re looking for something new.
AMag: What else can we expect to hear on your upcoming EP?
AM: We show a range of inspiration and emotion on this EP. A few of the songs are dark, moody, a little more experimental, and the other half is fun and upbeat. We connected the songs' emotional range by keeping the tone very earthy, atmospheric and textured. We really aimed for a full, textured sound.
RS: Yeah, lyrically the entire EP is connected by a story, and the main character is the listener traveling through these dynamic sequences of sound and color.
CL: I think this new record features a very different side of Wyland. We’ve defined our sound a bit more which has allowed for some embellishments. Studio days were filled with experimentation and curiosity with things that hadn’t really been tried before.
the main character is the listener traveling through dynamic sequences of sound and color.
AMag: How would you describe your sound?
AM: A little worn and a little new. Like an adventure book tucked away in an attic, forgotten and then found.
AMag: What themes do you typically pursue through your music?
AM: Exploration, imagination. Escaping from and escaping to.
RS: I just try to voice what I’m feeling at the moment. I feel like I’m a different person every day, so that changes quite often.
Zachary Calidonna: We pursue themes of being lost, themes of adventure and finding/losing love.
CL: We’re always trying to communicate with words like ‘cinematic’ or ‘landscape’ to get ideas across to each other. It’s really interesting to see how each member interprets that.
photo by Kelsey Ayres // source: Facebook
AMag: What other musicians are you currently listening to?
AM: Two of my favorite bands are The Staves and Lord Huron. Their music always moves me, and I love the texture and vulnerability in their songs.
RS: I’ve been playing a lot Frightened Rabbit at the moment. I think the loss of Scott Hutchinson really puzzled me, and I feel like I’m hearing deeper messages in his songwriting the more I listen. They always inspired me. Bear’s Den is another one I like to get lost in at the moment.
ZC: I always loved how innovative Peter Gabriel and David Byrne are. They created things they thought were cool and pushed the boundaries of rock music. Damon Albarn also inspires me. He taught me that you don’t have to stick with one thing to be an artist. I find that beautiful.
CL: I’m really into Stereo Honey, The Band Camino, Smallpools, Bad Suns, Young The Giant, Wye Oak, and Mumford and Sons—all of which are still pumping out new music which makes me really happy.
AMag: Where is one place that you feel completely in touch with your creative self/music?
AM: When I walk. I feel the most connected to my art when I'm out for a walk.
RS: It’s not really a place for me, but when I’m exhausted and about to fall asleep, I suddenly become so connected with myself artistically. It’s bizarre and frustrating because I have to choose between sleep and art. And I definitely don’t sleep enough.
ZC: Nowhere Now.
CL: Honestly, it’s whenever I’m not near my musical instrument. I tend to get these really elaborate ideas at work or in the car where I always have a pair of headphones in and I’m usually unable to really play them out. I’m sure some artists can relate.
AMag: What are you most excited for on tour?
AM: I grew up in Canada, right outside of Toronto, and I've never played there. I'm really looking forward to that.
ZC: I’m just excited to share the new music with everyone. See how everyone vibes and send that vibes back to the crowd.
CL: To be on tour is exciting in itself, but we’re excited to share the stage with Valley and finally debut some new music!
AMag: What can we expect to hear from you next?
AM: Look out for more new music in the coming months. We recorded some acoustic tracks with our friend in Old Sea Brigade that came out really beautifully. I'm excited to share those.
// listen to nowhere now:
// Listen to more Wyland on Spotify + SoundCloud.
