Magg Dylan: Metal Female-Fronted Band
Interview conducted on June 24, 2021
By Dan Locke
Magg Dylan is a really heartfelt and down-to-earth band based out of Virginia Beach. All of their songs come from actual life experiences, feelings, emotions, and things they have gone through. Suzanne De Iulio, is the frontwoman, vocalist, and co-founder of Magg Dylan. From their collective mortal journey comes the lyrics and emotion behind each of these songs. Brucifer Jordan, guitars/programming and co-founder of Magg Dylan, entices with his 7-string crunch. You can hear within the soulful melodies, harmonics, and backing vocals that their songs come from the minds of insanely great writers. Les Moseley, the bass guitarist, adds four and five-string tones that absolutely mesh well with their writing style, and has been what they needed since the start.
Band Members:
Brucifer Jordan – Guitar
Suzanne De Iulio – Vocals
Les Moseley – Bass
Adam Hoye – Drums
What is your upbringing? I grew up in Upstate NY.
Suzanne De Iulio : How did you discover music? My father used to play guitar, and my mom loves music. They brought me to a concert when I was very young. There was always music playing in my house. They had an amazing album collection.
How did you start to write music?
I was in school and I just started writing.
Suzanne- Your mom taught you how music and emotions are connected. Can you give me a bit of her wisdom?
To listen to everything, the lyrics, the music and feel what is being played.
You band is based out of Virginia Beach. How did you start?
Brucifer and I met at an open mic, then we started writing and formed a band. We had shows booked in 3 months.
How did you find your drummer?
Being he was not from your area. We met Adam when we on tour with Hed PE in early 2020, before we released Amathyst or the pandemic.
How did you get your bands name?
It roots from Mary Magdalene and Matt Dillon.
Describe your music.
Our music is driven by energy and emotion. We are metalcore.
What was your first performance at like?
It was insane because we had so little time to prepare. We wrote Delusional on Monday and performed it on Thursday. The show was packed and very fun!
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
We belong to BMI and ASCAP.
What makes a good songwriter?
There are so many things that make a good songwriter. I always appreciate honesty in the lyrics.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My first original song became F.I.N.E. I wrote the lyrics to that years ago.
What is the process of writing your music?
Sometimes Bruce writes the music first, sometimes I bring him lyrics and a melody and he writes around it.
Have you gotten any feedback from Alanis Morsette about your version of “You Ought Know”?
Just that she approved it. I am still hoping she will see the video and be proud of what we did with her song.
Tell me about “Pawns”?
Pawns was written out the frustration that was 2020. My family was very divided on opinions, so it’s written from both of their sides.
Why did you pick Scott Hansen and Desirce Connell to direct the video?
I see He also has done a film “Until it Hurs a documentary about 9/11? We have worked with them before and they are amazing.
What is your favorite track on your album?
That’s like picking a favorite child. I have such a hard time deciding, but Delusional is my baby since it’s about getting sober.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I love that the music gets out there to everyone.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
I don’t think everyone knows it represents sharps in music.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both ?? for me personally, digital.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Fire Woman by The Cult. To me it means energy. I love the energy of that song.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I feel like Covid made us more creative when it comes to Live music. Live music still went on in some places for the smaller independent bands.
How was the Drive-In Live performance like?
It was awesome. It was so great to be able to do a show before it was common for people.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
We work regular jobs, so we have been working, writing, recording, and playing live music.
What is a Dog Yoga?
Dog yoga was me and Brucifer attempting yoga, but the dogs kept joining in.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Walking and more walking.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Nothing new here.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I haven’t seen much of a change because people still post lives on their personal pages.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Social Media is great staying in touch.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Pay to play is definitely still alive although I don’t think as much.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That will be interesting for sure.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I hope it helps them for sure.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. RELIEF RESOURCES. Have you applied for it yet?
We haven’t applied.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I don’t know. I work with my father now, and I really enjoy it.
What is your happy place?
The stage and live shows.
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
I would certainly consider it.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
I am not sure.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
We love TikTok and we are trying to post more often.
You did a show in Feb. in Wayvesville NC and Clarksville TN. Can you tell me how it felt?
It was awesome to do live shows out of town.
Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows:
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival For July 23-25 Event In Mansfield, OH
Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts From Spring To November 11-14 In Daytona Beach, FL
Aftershock Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place? We would love to play any or all of the Danny Wimmer Festivals.
We would go through whatever is required to play those festivals.
Suzanne- How did you get the name Tour Dog Mom?
Because we bring Tommy Boy with us.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you so much for having me!
