Enjoying a Garlic Bagel with Lyla DiPaul
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with New Orleans singer-songwriter Lyla DiPaul!
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with New Orleans singer-songwriter Lyla DiPaul! Together we discussed sad songs in major keys, their creative process, love, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have you join them at On The Shelf. How are you doing today?
I am doing well!
2. Mustard has observed that you write sad songs in major keys. How do major keys help enhance the sad songs you write?
Yes, “sad songs in major keys” has been my instagram bio for several years now. A lot of folks associate major chords as being happy and minor chords as being more sad or haunting. I think the contrast of happy sounding music over sad and heartfelt lyrics is just a really fun way to write and produce songs. It means that your song can be there for someone on a sunny day or a rainy day.
3. You fell in love with guitar and writing songs at the age of ten. Can you remember the first song you learned how to play? How has your love of guitar blossomed over time?
The first songs I ever learned on guitar were “Good Riddance” by Green Day and “Speak Now” by Taylor Swift. My older brother taught me all my first chords and helped me learn how to play the songs I liked when we were kids.
My love of guitar has certainly come a long way since 2010 (as has my playing). I used to think of it as a means to help me sing songs, but when I was a teenager and began studying guitar at my high school and taking private lessons I really got to know and understand the guitar more. It’s such an accessible instrument whether you care to learn music theory or not and I’ve always loved that about guitar playing. Meeting different guitar players and learning how they approach the instrument is always very interesting.
4. Mustard is curious if any of the songs you wrote while you were ten have been released now?
I was really not a super proficient songwriter until I got to college and really honed in on the craft. So, no there aren't any songs I wrote as a kid out in the world that I know of. Growing up my neighbor and I were in a duo called WhatRWe? and we did record some of our original music, but I don’t think it ever got out into the world aside from our parents' video tapes.
5. You met your band in 2018 at Loyola University. Did you all know each other prior? Could you share more about your formation?
My band has had a few changes of members over the years, but in its current form we are all former Loyola University music students just as the original band was. My band actually started as a school project for a friend of mine. When we were freshman, all the Music Industry Studies students were required to do a fun little semester-long project where they basically play pretend record label. So each member of the group is given a different role (manager, A&R, marketing…etc) and they “sign” and artist. The project artist ends up recording and releasing a song and playing a debut show with lots of other fun stuff in between. I ended up as the artist for a friends project and we collectively assembled a group of friends to play in my band and the rest is history.
To speak on the current members of my band and how we all came to be is just luck and fate. My drummer, Marco Saah, actually grew up pretty near me in Maryland, and was the year ahead of me at our highschool. We both ended up at Loyola and in New Orleans. Even when we were teenagers he was a really incredible drummer, so when my first drummer had to step away from the band to start tour managing, I was delighted when Marco agreed to join my little group.
My guitar player, Dylan Nails, was one of the first friends I made my sophomore year of college. We both transferred into our music program late so we were the only sophomores in freshman music theory. We became close friends really fast. Good guitar players are hard to find and even harder to keep around. When my last guitar player seemed to be phasing out of the band, it felt like an obvious choice to ask Dylan who was both very talented, and such a kind supporter of my music.
My bassist, Mike Tenreiro, is the youngest but absolutely the most spirited member of my band. He is so nice, dedicated, and brings so much joy to every single band he plays in (which is many). I was hesitant to hire him for my band since he was so young and we knew nothing about him. But he came recommended by the bassist who had played on my EP and been a part of my band for a few years. I’m so happy we took a chance on him and Mike is a part of my band.
Lastly, our newest member is my dear friend and someone who I co-write songs with, Raph Zee. Raph and I were in the same freshman class at Loyola and started writing songs together during the pandemic semesters. We have a little duo called Girlstupid and are just big fans of each other's writing. When my old keyboardist decided to move back up north I knew it would be hard to find a replacement who could bring as much to the table. Now Raph plays keys, sings harmonies, and plays the trumpet!
6. Taylor Swift, Joni Mitchell, and Phoebe Bridgers are some of your influences. What album from each do you consider essential listening?
Okay this is a really hard question, but I’ll do my best. Starting off with Joni, I’ll have to go with Blue. My mom really likes this album and when my voice teacher in high school started to get me into Joni, my mom and I would listen to the songs from Blue in the car. “A Case of You” is one of my favorite songs ever.
For Phoebe, I’m gonna go with Stranger In The Alps. This album just changed something in me when I first discovered it. I felt like I had this perfect example of the kind of music and songwriting I want to do. I’ve always loved sad songs, books, movies, and TV so naturally this album became my best friend and my greatest source of inspiration for years.
Now to Taylor. This is so hard because I’ve been a fan of Taylor since I was 7 or 8 and she has so so so many albums all of which I love so much. Ultimately, I think I’m gonna have to go with RED. This record came out when I was 12 years old and right as I was starting to feel more mature, here was this brand new album where my favorite artist (she is the reason I started playing guitar) was exploring new sounds and themes. Everything about it was just perfect, and the new version with the songs from the vault has really only increased my love for this record.
7. If these three artists were to form a supergroup what would they be called? What do you think their first single would sound like?
Ohh this is a good one. If I were them, I’d choose a super ironic name like One Hit Wonders or something like that. I think they’d all lean into their folk side of things and it would be a singer songwriter track for the ages. What these three women have in common is being exceptional songwriters, and I think that would be the aspect they would want to shine through the most in a collaboration.
8. Mustard wonders what is your creative process?
I am like a traditional pen and paper songwriter. A lot of the time I write alone and I usually write in chronological order. By that I mean, I start with the first verse and build from there. Some people start with the hook or a particular melody, but that’s pretty rare for me outside of co-writing. Once I feel a song is done and I’m feeling stable enough to be vulnerable with the world and my friends, I share the song with my band and we work on how to play it live. They always breathe so much life into my songs. When recording, I find collaboration is key. I am not self produced. I get by with a little help from my friends.
9. You can be found calling in a sausage egg and cheese on a bagel. What type of bagel best compliments these ingredients?
I work at a bagel shop so I am in fact an expert. I go for a garlic bagel these days.
10. You are the proud parent of your cat Millie. Can we expect Millie to featured on a future track?
She’s just a baby. Not ready to be a star quite yet!
11. 2018 saw the release of your single "Best as you can." Did you get a chance to see the subject of this song?
I actually do not like this song anymore. A big reason for that is that I was not a seasoned songwriter so this song is entirely made up and doesn’t have much real detail or meaning to me. There are some friends back home who have thought this song was about them and so yes I have seen all my potential muses since the release.
12. Mustard has observed that love is complicated for humans. Why can't a human make another human love them? How did this inspire your single "I Can't Make You Love Me?"
I have been a victim of intense crushes on friends that never really led anywhere many times in my life. This song was inspired by my hopeless romantic attitude being crushed by my inability to express my feelings to anyone. So instead I wrote a song about trying to get someone to fall for you by laughing at their jokes and singing them songs. Spoiler alert, subtle messages don't usually work.
13. Is this a dream?
Yes.
14. That single led to the release of your EP "Sleepless Nights." Could you share what it was like to put this EP together?
This EP was a dream because we actually spent 3 days in a real studio and got to spend the night on the property and everything. It was recorded at Dockside Studio, which happens to be owned and operated by my guitar player's family. We were all in awe of all the gear and our wonderful engineer Justin. All the songs had been written already and we had been playing them live for a little while so we came in with really good bones for the songs. The fun came as we all got to put our producer hats on and begin adding new elements. My favorite thing we did on that record is the string parts for “Sleepless Nights” which were played entirely on the upright bass. My bassist at the time, Joey, wrote a 3 part string arrangement on his laptop inbetween takes and then played them all on the upright with a bow. It turned out so lovely.
15. How can a human avoid having sleepless nights?
Melatonin is a savior.
16. As a condiment, Mustard is curious, what are some Aquarius tendencies?
Being emotionally closed off and hiding your emotions is what I’ve heard.
17. On this single, you mention that "at least you've got something to show." What are you showing on this single?
That first chorus is about a relationship ending but feeling grateful that you at least gave it a go and tried to make it work. What we have to show is the way two people impacted one another.
18. Your most recent release, "I Feel Okay", is about the mundane parts of life. What are some things that human do every day that are considered mundane? How did these activities inspire this single?
Walking around town, brushing your teeth, combing your hair… are all mundane little things.
The single was inspired by me drinking a little during college and then feeling sad and lonely and the ways I would cope with that. I used to ride my bike around alone and look at the beautiful New Orleans neighborhoods and spend money I didn’t have. My saving grace however, was always my friends and spending time with them.
19. A human invites their friend to see Lyla DiPaul perform. What five words best describe your live performances?
Goofy, energetic, heartfelt, intimate, fun!
20. Do you have any upcoming shows?
Absolutely, we have 2 gigs in New Orleans during the first week of Jazz Fest activities. In June I’m doing a few acoustic shows on the East Coast. Folks can look out for June 12th in Philadelphia and June 13th in Baltimore. There’s a few more in the works.
21. What is on the horizon for Lyla DiPaul in 2024?
I am currently wrapping up work on a new EP. I’ve been recording this in my friend Riley’s bedroom studio over the last few months. It’s a little collection of songs I’ve written over the last few years and I am so so so excited about it!
22. Where can readers listen to your music?
Anywhere and everywhere! Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, Bandcamp… my music is out there and ready to greet you!