Dylan Carroll is following in his father’s footsteps pursuing both a musical career and a degree from Syracuse University.

Growing up in Stewartsville, New Jersey, Carroll has been playing guitar since his early adolescent years and has been singing for as long as he can remember. He cites his father as one of his biggest influences on his musical and personal life. This year, he signed with Marshall Street Records, a student-run record label on campus.

“I had met one of the girls who is in charge of Marshall Street Records in one of my music classes,” said Carroll, now a junior English major. “We lost touch but then reconnected and then worked out a contract and I was signed on.”

The singer-songwriter wasn’t always so comfortable performing, though. He didn’t tell anyone that he could sing until his junior year of high school and after that, he performed at a few school events and benefit concerts. He writes original songs and covers tracks by the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ray LaMontagne, Bruno Mars, OneRepublic and Maroon 5.

 

Carroll has always considered himself a solo artist — he has never been in a band. He loves working with other artists, though, and hopes to collaborate with some in the future.

During his time at SU, Carroll has performed at Funk ‘n Waffles open mic nights and has participated in the Setnor School of Music’s “PRISM Concert,” an event where musicians are dispersed around a dark auditorium in Crouse and a huge, bright light beats down on the performer when they are playing.

He will also be participating in the corporate funding awareness event, “Jammin’ for Justice” on Nov. 7. A week before, though, he’ll enter the recording studio with Marshall Street Records. He said he hopes to put out an EP before May.

 

In addition to working with the small label, Carroll has spent the last two years volunteering with Musicians on Call, an organization that brings musicians to hospitals to sing and play for patients.

“I was watching The Voice about three or four years ago and someone who was auditioning was talking about the program,” Carroll said. “I looked it up, sent in an audition video and got signed on.”

Performers can play anywhere from a minute to two hours and from one patient to small audiences.

Musicians on Call takes performers from 16 major cities across the country, including New York City, Miami, Philadelphia, Nashville, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. They will also take people as volunteers to guide the musicians through the hospitals.

“It is such a rewarding feeling coming out of it every time. I always go into it hoping I can make at least one person smile or feel something that makes their day a little better,” he said. “I guess I feel like it’s the least I can do as a musician; it’s nice to be able to help lift people’s spirits in that way.”

Carroll listens to a wide range of artists such as Mumford and Sons, Eminem, The Beatles and Billy Joel. Billy Joel and The Beatles really influenced Carroll’s performing whereas Eminem influenced his writing music, he said.

“Performing and playing music is what makes me happiest. I would definitely enjoy doing this for the rest of my life,” he said. “When it comes down to it, music is all about connection and emotions, it has this incredible ability to bring people together.”

Published on October 27, 2015 at 10:09 pm

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