D.K. Lyons is a NYC-based artist known for creating a distinct indie pop/rock sound that dares listeners to dream. Having been quite an ambitious songwriter as a kid, D.K. taught himself to play the guitar, and went on to record thousands of demos, all while making a name for himself at open mic nights. In 2018, he entered the studio for the very first time, recording his debut EP Blame My Astrology. Since then, D.K. has released several longer bodies of work, and a new EP, Long Overdue May Lillies, set to arrive in November.
For now, D.K. entertains listeners with “Reckless Enchantment,” a reflection of his own love story that happened to unfold exactly the way he imagined. His love interest was performing at a club, and the two had undeniable chemistry that bounced between the stage and the audience. “Reckless Enchantment” is an easy-going pop/rock track with a tinge of early 2010s nostalgia that evokes a true sense of happiness. Perhaps it will remind you of the feeling of discovering your first crush, or simply being excited to explore the world and meeting new people.
Check out the music video for “Reckless Enchantment” below, then get to know D.K. Lyons better with our Q&A!
What are some of the most important things new listeners should know about you as an artist?
I hope listeners quickly understand who I am as an artist through the music and the lyrics of my work, which is someone who is earnest, emotional, a little self-depricating, and ultimately a fan of great music myself. I’ve never been afraid to put myself out there and I’m just trying to bring my own unique voice and perspective to listeners while avoiding cliches and predictability to the extent that those pillars serve the music.
Tell us about the process of making “Reckless Enchantment”
This one all started with hearing the hook in my head and following that down whatever path it took me. I somewhat knew it was going to be a pop-punk influenced song, but I also knew that this project was going to feel more organic and acoustic, so bringing those two worlds together through the production was an exciting challenge for me. Lyrically, the song is about as autobiographical as it gets, documenting a real night in the early stages of a relationship, out at a karaoke bar with my partner who was absolutely mesmerizing on stage, and a conversation I had with her best friend where she told me, “You better not hurt her, she’s my absolute best friend,” to which I actually replied, “Hurt her? I think I’m in LOVE with your best friend,” which was a pretty brash thing to say being only a few weeks into the relationship. But as documented through the rest of my new EP, it was one of those cosmic things where none of the rules applied and it was love at first encounter.
The music video looks very fun! What was your favorite memory from the making of the video?
Thank you! I’ve loved making the two videos for this new era because they are so organic and authentic, just getting my friends together to celebrate the music. My favorite memory was simply the fact that almost nobody in the room had heard the song beforehand (except those in my band) and yet within 1 take, everyone was dancing and singing along. We shot the whole thing in 3x takes because I didn’t want to ruin the unfiltered purity of the moment and I think that comes out strongly in the final product.
Your new project “Long Overdue May Lilies” is set for release two months from now. What are you hoping fans will take away from the album?
After my last project really questioned the existence of love, intimacy, and commitment in modern times, my hope from this new EP is that all 3 unequivocally exist and are out there for those willing to look and be patient. I was so down on love when I made my last project to the point where I think the universe finally heard me, so this new EP is meant to be the counterpart to “Darling Kiss Louder” and a resounding response that love does exist and when you find it, it has the power to change your life. So “Long Overdue May Lilies” (with the acronym not so subtly being LOML) is an ode to love, exploring themes of infatuation, devotion, finding security in someone, intimacy, expression and ultimately pride in love.
What are some songs, albums, or artists you can’t get enough of at the moment?
I’ve been jumping around a little bit lately, but it’s been a lot of Mk.Gee, Jason Isbell, Role Model, Charli XCX, and Phoebe Bridgers, to name a few. I’ve also recently been doing this exercise where I’m going through Rolling Stone’s top 500 albums of all time list, starting from one, and I’m in the 50s and just listened to Liz Phair’s “Exile in Guyville” which I’d never heard before and that I found fantastic while also getting to relive “Dark Side of the Moon” and Led Zeppelin IV, which were seminal parts of my musical upbringing.
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