DYLN is a name used by Stephanie Lang, a Canadian Pop/RnB artist, songwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles, California. Her musical style is mainly pop and R&B, with influences of hip hop and electronic sounds.
Lang was born on December 30, 1988, in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The divorce of her parents when she was five prompted her to write letters to her mother in an effort to comfort her during the time of separation. Lang recalls her earliest memories to be a display of heightened arguments between her parents.
She credits the divorce as the catalyst that made her a songwriter. "I became hypersensitive and aware of people's emotions early on. I wrote long letters to make sense of everything for myself. I think the trauma of it made me become a writer because it continues to be my natural way of dealing with things."[1][citation needed]
Career
Lang is known by the stage name Stef Lang. She adopted the name in 2016 and independently released her debut single "Better Things", which Pip Williams, of The Line of Best Fi,t describes as, "Sharp, slick electro-pop with a hell of an attitude." Lang wrote and co-produced her latest EP, Stef Lang _02, released in December 2020, which amassed over a million streams, garnering attention from coveted curated playlists, such as New Music Friday and Alternative R&B.
The name comes from a guitar which she named Stef Lang, on which she wrote songs during a depression. The carbon fibre guitar was said to be unbreakable, so the singer kept the sentiment as her name. Lang is known for her wide-ranging vocals, her talk-rapping style, and for her messages of female empowerment. She has performed at notable venues in New York, such as Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End, and Pianos, as well as clubs in Los Angeles such as The Peppermint Club, Hotel Cafe, and Resident. She has toured internationally. She has performed at events such as South by Southwest, NXNE, the Canadian Radio Music Awards, the Toronto International Film Festival, and CMJ.[2][3][4]
2006-2010: Career beginnings
In the spring of 2006, Lang won a local radio station talent competition hosted by The Beat 94.5, now Virgin Radio, where she won a four-song recording deal with a recording studio. After graduating high school at 17, she moved to Vancouver, BC, where accepted a studio internship to learn more about the music industry and music production.[5] She spent this time perfecting her songwriting skills, and learning how to run the studio. She worked part-time at a local grocery store as a check-out clerk while performing at clubs like The Roxy, The Railway Club, The Media Club, The Bourbon, The Main, and The Rusty Gull. She also worked odd jobs as a cashier, retail sales clerk, server, hostess, and as an extra on film sets.[6]
At 18, Lang suffered from severe depression and anxiety, stopping her ability to write or perform for six months. She continued an abusive relationship, which ended up inspiring songs for her debut album.[7]
Within four years, she had written over 250 songs. Two EPs were released, titled Birth and Blood and Bravery. In the spring of 2009, Lang signed a publishing deal with Nettwerk One/H-Songs, who launched the careers of Sarah McLachlan and Coldplay and other world-renowned artists such as Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Chantal Kreviazuk. In 2010, she independently released her debut album, The Underdog, which earned her two Canadian Radio Music Award Nominations (HOT AC & CHR) for her single "Mr. Immature". The album was also nominated for Pop Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.[8] Two EPs were released, titled Birth and Blood and Bravery.
2010-2016: The Underdog, Fighting Mirrors, Arrows Pt. 1 & 2
In 2010, Lang toured Canada nationally for her debut album, The Underdog, often performing at clubs and colleges and making various radio station appearances. In 2011, Her follow-up single, "Slave 2 Love", was dubbed the most added song on Canadian Radio that year.[10] From 2010 to 2013, Lang often traveled to New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville for songwriting trips, while working as a waitress in bars. During that time, she opened for K'naan, Fefe Dobson, Simple Plan, Ron Sexsmith, Matt Good, Shawn Desman, and Sum 41. In 2012, Lang self-released her EP Fighting Mirrors which garnered Canadian Radio airplay with her single "Paper Doll." Later that year, she independently released a full album called Self, which she wrote and produced entirely herself. In 2013, Lang moved to New York to further pursue music and ended her management and publishing agreements to remain fully independent. Lang's vocals were featured on ISH's song "Rollin'" released on Warner Music, which also received airplay on Canadian radio that year. She continued to focus on writing sessions while living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and started to perform in clubs such as Rockwood Music Hall and The Bitter End, later releasing her EP Rubix in 2014. By 2015, Lang released two more EPs, Arrows Pt. 1 and Arrows Pt. 2, where she once again wrote and produced all of the tracks. Her final release under the name Stef Lang was her single "Stronger", which she wrote to raise awareness for mental health and wellness in 2016.[citation needed][1]
2017-2018: "Better Things", "Hold", Chapter 1: The Truth
In 2017, Lang made her debut as Stef Lang with her single "Better Things", which garnered buzz from notable music blogs such as The Line of Best Fit, Hilly Dilly, and Going Solo. Later that year she released two more singles, "Hold" and "Colours". Notable music blog Hillydilly wrote, "You ought to know her new song, 'Better Things'. It’s one pulsating and filled with attitude." It was added to their Songs of the Week playlist.[11][12] In 2018, Lang moved to Los Angeles to further pursue music opportunities and later released her first EP, Chapter 1: The Truth. Mitch Mosk of Atwood Magazine described Chapter 1: The Truth as "A gorgeous three-track collection of dynamic and intimately reflective dark indie pop." Later that year, she performed in Los Angeles venues such as The Peppermint Club and made her debut showcasing at SXSW. As a follow-up to her first EP, she later released another three-song EP called "Chapter 2: The Silver Lining" in 2019.[1]
2019: Rings
In 2019, Lang released a full-length album called Rings, which she wrote and co-produced with her husband Frequency (Eminem, Rihanna), written entirely about their marriage. In a post by Wonky Sensitive, the blog refers to the album as "A collection of 10 heartfelt and deeply personal songs, Rings is a portrait of marriage - a glimpse of the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Exploring intimacy, communication, resentment, and commitment in a pop/R&B soundscape".
2020: Stef Lang_02
Pulling inspiration from Beyoncé, Missy Elliot, The Black Eyed Peas, and Run the Jewels, Lang started crafting a new style incorporating her ability to talk-rap and sing full-range simultaneously. Her most recent EP, Stef Lang_02, dips into a more moody, female empowerment landscape, exuding confidence, attitude, and swagger. She wrote and co-produced the EP Stef Lang_02 with her husband during the pandemic and released it in December 2020 and it was featured on playlists such as New Music Friday and Alternate R&B, amassing over a million streams.
Musical style
Performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas, 2018
The genre of Lang's music has been described as pop with R&B and electronic undertones, often using hip-hop influences. Her latest EP Stef Lang_02 includes her wide-ranging vocals in songs like "Shower" as well as her talk-rapping style in "Quit Talkin’" and showcases influences to the likes of Beyoncé, Missy Elliot and The Black Eyed Peas. About her songwriting process, she says, "My philosophy is to write real songs," often crediting influences like Kid Cudi and Robyn, whose themes of darkness and sadness have molded her music.[4]
Music blog PressPlayOk referred to her music as having "unforgettable style," and later stated, "Proclaiming this NYC gal as a future pop queen. Not to be missed."[13] Notable music blog Hillydilly wrote, "You ought to know her new song, 'Better Things.' It’s one pulsating and filled with attitude." It was added to their Songs of the Week playlist.[11][12]. Lang is also a music producer, often producing songs on her own.
Discography
Singles
Title
Details
"Better Things"
Released: March 3, 2017
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
"Hold"
Released: June 7, 2017
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
"Colours"
Released: November 10, 2017
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
"Need Me"
Released: June 26, 2020
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
Extended plays
Title
Details
Chapter 1: The Truth
Released: November 2, 2018
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
Chapter 2: The Silver Lining
Released: May 17, 2019
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
Stef Lang_02
Released: December 30, 2020
Label: Self-released
Format: Digital download
Studio albums
Title
Details
Rings
Released: November 15, 2019
Label: Independent
Formats: Digital Download
Film & TV song placements
"Like That" – Almost Family / Pilot Episode
"Face The Arrows" – VH1's Black Ink Crew" / Episode 514
"Mr. Immature" – Hit No. 5 on the Billboard Chart for Canadian Emerging Artist[21]
"Slave 2 Love" – American Music Chart – CANADA: HOT AC; hit #12 on Mainstream Radio[22][23]
"Rollin'" Ish – 2012 – Canadian Hot 100, peaked at No. 59[24]
"Paper Doll" – 2012 – No. 1 Most Added Song in Canadian Radio
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