Saturday Night Session 035: Party Favor

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Few moments are more sacred than the reprieve Saturday night provides from the daily grind of school and work. Its importance is meant to be emphasized, and thus, a feature dedicated to “doing the night right” was born. Saturday Night Sessions are set around energizing mixes meant to get the party started. New or old, each episode has one cornerstone thing in similarity: they serve as the perfect backdrop for the weekend pregame.

Dylan Ragland has produced some of dance music’s most infamous club tracks under his moniker Party Favor, but the artist is the first to admit that his ideal Saturday night is going to bed early and getting a good night’s sleep. His need for sleep is belied by his catalog of music, which is singularly unified by one thematic: energy.

Ragland made his foray into dance music through mashups during his high school years. He explains, “I got into dance music through mashups. I was a huge mashup head in high school and I started gravitating towards all the European mashup djs who were mashing up American pop/hip hop vocals with electronic music that I had never heard before. I fell in love with the energy and then began to learn more about electronic music slowly but surely.”

Despite the fact that he has been producing originals for years, his early influences are apparent when looking at the breadth of music Ragland produces. Whether it is rap-leaning “Scrape” featuring Gucci Mane, tropical infused “Caskets,” or club-phenomenon “Bap U,” Ragland’s diverse sonic interests are apparent. Listener’s never know what to expect with each of his new releases. Is it going to be trap? Is it going to be rap? Is it going to be commercial crossover? This uncertainty is refreshing in a musical landscape that promotes artists sticking to the genre that their largest fanbase supports.

Ragland gives fans a peak behind the curtain as he explains the ever-building pressure he and other artists are under by the music industry. He reveals the part of his job that fans can’t necessarily see when he says, “The stress to constantly be better and out-do what you’ve done in the past. Whether that’s through music or performance or stage design/production, the pressure to be better is always there in every facet. It’s a good problem but it’s hectic. Oh, and I get absolutely zero sleep and thats not good haha.”

Despite this pressure, Ragland carries on releasing quality material and putting on enamoring live shows. The artist’s latest addition to his musical catalog is “Once More” featuring Georgia Ku, which is the duo’s second track together following their 2016 hit “In My Head.” Ragland speaks about how working with Ku a second time made their creative process even easier, explaining, “I love working with Georgia. She is so insanely talented as a writer and singer. We had great success with our last song and I wanted to get back in the studio with her for years since. There was a comfort factor there and the song came together in basically a week!”

Ku’s enamoring vocals captivate from the track’s first note, but Ragland ultimately stuns with a spicy trap infused hip hop drop that leads the listener into a cascading melody of drum and bass notes.

In honor of his new release, Ragland has put together an exclusive Saturday Night Session mix. The mix samples the music and projects that have recently been inspiring him. Ragland notes, “My mixes are always a little bit of everything, like my music. Going more housey in this mix because I’ve been working on a lot of the SIDEPIECE stuff this past week. Including some of my new Isolation Beats I’ve been making during quarantine, and some exclusive new stuff from my friends as well!” For those still looking to enjoy their Saturday night despite the quarantine, look no further because Ragland has got the perfect soundtrack to get the night going.

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What are your top 3 most played songs (aside from your own releases)?
Right this second:
Myron – Lil Uzi Vert
Sombrerito – Tom & Collins
Monica Lewinsky – Saint Jhn

Tell us a little bit about your entrance into dance music. How did it all start?
I got into dance music through mashups. I was a huge mashup head in high school and I started gravitating towards all the European mashup djs who were mashing up American pop/hip hop vocals with electronic music that I had never heard before. I fell in love with the energy and then began to learn more about electronic music slowly but surely.

You produce music across so many genres, what is your favorite?
The reason I produce so many genres is because I don’t have a favorite haha. It’s my curse cuz I have music ADD. I can’t commit to one thing, I like anything with energy.

You released your debut LP last year, so what is in store for you this year?
Just released my single Once More this week, then a new EP coming out May 1st, and then a big remix for the Louis The Child boys after that. And then most likely singles to continue the year, been working on a lot of things.

Creatively, do you prefer working alone or with collaborators?
It depends on the mood I am in, but I love the collaborative process and working off each other. If you are in a room with another producer or a vocalist/songwriter and you start just vibing there is nothing better than that.

Can you tell us about your single “Once More” feat. Georgia Ku? It’s super catchy- what inspired the release?
I love working with Georgia. She is so insanely talented as a writer and singer. We had great success with our last song and I wanted to get back in the studio with her for years since. There was a comfort factor there and the song came together in basically a week!

What is one thing your fans don’t know when it comes to working as an artist in the chaos that is the music industry?
The stress to constantly be better and out-do what you’ve done in the past. Whether that’s through music or performance or stage design/production, the pressure to be better is always there in every facet. It’s a good problem but it’s hectic. Oh, and I get absolutely zero sleep and thats not good haha.

What does your ideal Saturday Night look like?
Going to bed early haha

What kind of a Saturday Night will your Saturday Night Session mix get listeners ready for?
My mixes are always a little bit of everything, like my music. Going more housey in this mix because I’ve been working on a lot of the SIDEPIECE stuff this past week. Including some of my new Isolation Beats I’ve been making during quarantine, and some exclusive new stuff from my friends as well!