Folk Rocker Aaron Wylder Releases “Don’t Let Me Down“
You’ve got to love what you do and draw inspiration from whatever drives you to be the best you can be. The love and passion for music and the art of songwriting is clearly defined by the brilliant indie-folk rock star Aaron Wylder on his newly released single, “Don’t Let Me Down.”
The Cayman Island-born, Victoria, BC-based indie-folk sensation has once again blessed our ears with this new soulful and raw, introspective track that can be heard on the just-released Adventure Songs EP.
The song kicks off with a poetic and acoustic melody that instantly puts you in an upbeat mood as the soothing sound of Wyler’s voice guides you on a musical journey. “I’m looking for the sun to shine. I’m looking for words to rhyme. Oh don’t let me down. Some days I feel like. Only way that I’ll survive. Is with a guitar in hand.“
Wylder can be heard in the first verse referencing his desire for the sun to shine and for words to rhyme, searching for positivity and creativity. The title phrase, “don’t let me down,” emphasizes the importance of achieving these goals and not losing hope.
“This song describes my animalistic passion and competitive drive to be a truly successful singer-songwriter,” says Wylder. “It is me saying, hey world, I may not be this or that, but this is who I am.”
With the steady strumming beat of acoustic guitar setting the tone throughout the track, Wylder sings about his love for rock ‘n roll and creating meaningful music. “Cause I’m just a boy. From a sandy island. But I love rock ‘n roll. And I sing from my soul,” paying homage to his proud Cayman Island roots and his passion for his music.
The authentic and nostalgic singer and songwriter go on to add,
“This song is me presenting myself to the world and making a statement that I have arrived.”
Wylder shares his struggles, facing all kinds of different challenges, but he uses music as a coping mechanism, putting him in his comfort zone with a guitar and pen in hand. Making music is how he expresses his emotions, and he uses those words as a way of encouragement to continue writing and making soulful and honest music.
“I learnt to sing along.
To the beat of my lonely heart.
I don’t mess around.
I learnt to read and write.
To the beat of my lonely fight.
I won’t hit the ground.”
Listen to “Don’t Let Me Down” below and learn more about Aaron Wylder via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself?
Hey there, My name is Aaron Wylder. I am a 25-year-old singer-songwriter based out of Victoria BC. I am originally from the Cayman Islands but moved to Canada when I was 14. I love good times, folk, and rock n’ roll. Thanks for having me!
Tell us about the process of writing “Don’t Let Me Down.”
“Don’t Let Me Down” started with a fun little riff that I came up with while I was backpacking Europe in October. At the time, I kept thinking about what I needed to do next as an artist when I was home. I knew I needed to be better and where I wanted to be. Music is such a challenging industry to make it in that I feel like you have to constantly challenge yourself to be better. So I sought to write a song that was fast, technical, and hard-hitting—something to get people off their feet and dancing. I started out with that riff I had been working on and wrote some lyrics. When I got home, I kept on it. It wasn’t until maybe two days before I went into the studio that I felt it was finished. Lyrically, the song is about my drive to be a successful musician. I like to say this song is me announcing myself to the world.
What’s it like being a musician in Victoria?
The Victoria music scene is sweet. I’d say it is a great place to blossom as a young musician and figure out your sound. Our summer scene is pretty incredible with all the music festivals we get. I think once you get to a certain place, though, you have to make the decision to spread your wings and get on the road.
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
That’s a tough question. But Sam Roberts’ album We Were Born In A Flame blew me away man. I remember feeling like, “wow, there’s a guy who makes me feel inspired and proud to be a Canadian musician.”
You’ve been making music for a short bit now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Surround yourself with opinions you respect and are objectively truthful about your songwriting. Put your pride aside, and be prepared to fail and learn as a songwriter. Write your songs and be 100% you, but use this feedback to improve and evolve.