Dylan Earl is a man shaped by the land around him. Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, but “naturalized by the Natural State” as a teenager, Dylan (or “Dearl” as he’s come to be known) has been active in the Arkansas underground country scene for over a decade, first as a founding member of alt-country band Swampbird and then as a solo performer and songwriter. Using a sonic blend of honkytonk, southern rock, and traditional country, Earl crafts thoughtful, introspective tunes straight from the heart, each song a dog-eared page from the chapters of his life. Alongside his friends and contemporaries Willi Carlisle and Nick Shoulders, Dylan has been heavily involved in carving out space for socially conscious Country Music in the mid-south region and beyond.
On his latest single, “High On Ouachita,” Earl puts on a performance that is steeped in tradition while detailing the somewhat overlooked spiritual side of Country music. The arrangement reaches back to the simplistic roots of country by employing sliding guitar melodies, toe-tapping drum patterns, and relaxed melodies. When Earl’s lyrical vision comes into frame, the listener learns this is far from an amalgamation of twangy tropes. Lyrically, Earl explores the concept of escapism spiritually, painting vivid imagery of the places he can retreat to in times of pain. This concept looks different to everyone; it may be a state of mind or simply closing the door to your bedroom, but for Earl, it’s nature. The poetic songwriting keeps just enough space to act as a mirror for the listener while still being a vulnerable single for the young artist. “High On Ouachita” is a powerful country ballad that introduces Earl as a forward-thinking, thought-provoking songwriter with a fearless approach to tradition.
“‘High on Ouachita’ is an exploration of my thin place. The concept of ‘the thin place’ is rooted in Celtic spirituality. It’s essentially where the boundary between the spiritual realm and physical world meshes and becomes permeable,” explains Earl. “My idea of a thin place, among few others, is the Ouachita Mountains. Sometimes, I have dreams rooted in my experiences from my youth in those peaks and hollers. This tends to happen most when I’m furthest from home. Perhaps I’m a little lonely, uncomfortable, cold, and on the road. It’s then that I most frequently dream of my thin place.”
