Rilan is a combination of pop, glam rock, and musical theatre. He’s David Bowie meets Mr. Cellophane. He’s the illegitimate love child of Ziggy Stardust and Liza Minnelli. Or was it Lady Gaga and Fred Astaire? Who knows? Certainly not his birth parents. They were obviously drunk at the time. Whimsical, witty, and weird, Rilan is your typical boy-next-door if you lived next to a typical abandoned Vaudevillian theatre that may or may not be haunted. He’s part sad clown, part Vaudeville mime, and part rockstar.
“Nothing makes sense except the sex,” Rilan explains. “But recently, it’s taken on a new meaning for me in the post-quarantine world. Touch is something we took for granted. As we start to open up again, now more so than ever is the time to embrace it.”
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
What I’m doing now is completely me. It’s a little theatre, it’s a little southern, it’s a little weird, but it’s a whole lot of pop. I’ve tried lots of different styles in the past, but doing so made me feel like more of an actor than an artist. Now I’m doing exactly what I want. At the end of the day, it’s just more fun.
How would you describe the highs and lows of being an artist?
Being an artist isn’t just a job. It’s who you are as a person. Before I’m anything else, I’m an artist. I feel emotions intensely, and the only way I know how to deal with them is to write or dance. For me, the lows have always come from the politics of the music industry. I’ve been pulled and push in every different direction you can imagine by people who truly didn’t care about me or my music. Nothing leaves you feeling less like yourself than changing who you are for someone who still doesn’t believe in you and still doesn’t believe in you after doing exactly what they asked you to do. But like I said, an artist is who I am as a person. So I’ve picked myself back up time and time again and carried on because creating art makes me happy. I’m happiest when I’m on stage. Every time I perform is a high for me. I do this because there’s nothing else I could ever be happy doing.
Who are your all time musical icons?
I love 70s glam rock, 80s synth-pop, and 2000s pop music. David Bowie, Prince, and Madonna are my unholy trinity. They were larger than life on and off stage and truly created what it means to be a star. Sonically and lyrically, I’m also a huge fan of darker artists like Soft Cell, Tears for Fears, and Nine Inch Nails. Growing up as a Zillennial I loved Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and P!nk. Their production value and performances blew my mind. When I was a little older, Lady Gaga came out and I was an instant fan. I knew then that I could do this with my life.
What are some things to do to keep your inspiration alive?
I’m a total introvert, so I usually just watch my favorite movies or play my favorite video games to recharge and get inspired again, but after the past year and a half of isolation we’ve all had, I’ve been itching to be around people again. While I usually stand in the corner and watch more so than participate in the debauchery, it’s still just as fun for me. Being around craziness is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to writing music.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I’m the biggest Lady Gaga fan in the world. I have been every since the seventh grade. She’s an absolute genius and such an inspiration to artists who have never fit into the box of a specific genre or style. She proved that a weird little theatre kid could become the world’s biggest pop star. If she can do it, so can I.
Favorite movie or TV show?
My taste is all over the place. I like a little bit of everything, but my favorite movie would probably be Alien. It’s the perfect combination of horror and sci-fi. TV-wise I’m obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’ve watched it eight times through.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
Touch Me was actually written nearly three years ago. Previous management deals and other opportunities that never came to fruition left me sitting on it forever. Now that I’m completely independent, I just said, “Screw it,” and released it on my own. I’ve been sitting on so much music over the past few years that I can finally release. I’m excited to share it now.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
Self-doubt is always there. It’s crippling. It makes you question every single thing you do. I’m already a perfectionist, so questioning every single word or note of a song feels natural to me, but when I start to doubt myself it’s all over. I have to take a break and remind myself why I do this. It’s not to be perfect. It’s actually to be imperfect and to share that imperfection with the world. I’ll either watch interviews or performances from my favorite artists or I’ll do something completely unrelated to music, like play a video game or go for a run. Anxiety is a constant for creatives, and it constantly requires fresh ideas to combat it.
What’s the future looking like for you?
The future is filled with music. Period. I used to have a ton of expectations about exactly what I wanted from each release, but right now, I just want to get music out there for the world to hear. Plain and simple. You never know what might take off. So expect an EP coming your way this summer.
Who inspires your style and aesthetics?
Honestly, everything inspires me. From David Bowie and Madonna to Louisiana trailer parks and voodoo to aliens and vampires and werewolves, oh my. My style evolves constantly. When you think I’m one thing, I switch it up. Keeping you guessing is my favorite hobby.
What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?
Producing this new EP myself is truly what I’m most proud of to date. I used to think I needed an entire team to make quality art, but I don’t. I’ve been doing it myself for a long time, and I’ve never given myself enough credit for it. I’ve been backstage sewing dancers’ costumes right before going on. If I can do that, I can surely produce my own songs. Hell, I wrote them myself, so why not just finish the process?
What do you think is the best way to make it as an artist nowadays?
Be yourself. It’s that simple. As cliche as it is, it’s the only way to make it. If you’re not being yourself, you’re not an artist. You’re a mime. Many people can mimic what they think it means to be a star. It takes an artist to do it as themselves.
What would you change in the music and entertainment industry especially after this past year?
We need a show again. Everything is too cool for school right now. I’ve never been cool in my life, so I’m not gonna try to start now. You’re always going to get a show from me because that’s what I do best. I perform. So sit back and relax while I give you what you’ve been missing.
