Dylan: “I want to headline Wembley – playing there with Ed Sheeran gave me the hunger”
Dylan has spoken to NME about what to expect from her debut album, upcoming single ‘Perfect Revenge’, memories from supporting Ed Sheeran on his stadium tour and her love of Taylor Swift.
Speaking backstage at BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend in Luton, the rising UK singer-songwriter (real name 24-year-old Natasha Katherine Woods) revealed that her long-awaited debut album was coming “very soon” and that it is “the perfect representation of my personality”
“It’s very in your face… it’s a lot,” added the Suffolk artist, describing the as-yet-untitled record as “pop music, but you can tell that I was brought up with rock‘n’roll”.
Elaborating on those influences, she said “I go in with the minds of AC/DC and then mix that with early Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.”
Woods added: “I was really trying to keep it very much how I feel and what just comes out as word vomit.”
She also spoke about her upcoming single ‘Perfect Revenge’, revealing that “it’s for all my unhinged girlies out there.
“Life is just too short to not be petty and I feel like it’s acceptable to be a psychopath some of the time,” she joked. “I needed to get some tension out, and that’s how the song evolved.”
Talking about the sonic inspirations behind it, she said “it’s my version of a disco song, so I want people to feel elevated by it”.
Dylan, who broke into the top 20 of the UK album chart with her debut mixtape ‘The Greatest Thing I’ll Never Learn’ and has already headlined venues including London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, also spoke about her recent stadium tour with Ed Sheeran.
“Those shows were incredible,” she said. “Playing stadiums is my favourite thing in the whole world. I love those places and I loved meeting his fans because he’s got such a diverse fanbase. It’s not just people who buy his records, everyone loves Ed.”
Woods continued: “Watching him every night was surreal. He’s insanely talented.”
She also shared Sheeran’s top tip to her as a new artist – “to remember to stick up for yourself and do what feels true to you.”
“Especially for young artists, I think it’s very important that you hold your own in terms of who you are and stick with that, she said.
When asked about memorable moments from the tour, she said “one whack moment was an end-of-show party that Ed was having for the crew in a parking lot.
“There were beers and some karaoke going on, then Lil Nas X showed up and sang karaoke, which I wasn’t expecting.”
Dylan added that, as a self-confessed Taylor Swift stan, she thinks new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is “amazing”.
“Because everyone is growing up with her, I think lyrically it’s her best that she’s ever done,” she said. “She’s not trying to play to any audience now. It’s so honest and true. I feel like a lot of people are upset by that but I loved it. Serious respect! She rules the world.”
Woods added that, although she’s not yet met Swift, she would love to collaborate with her idol.
Talking about her plans for the rest of the year, Dylan said that she’s excited to be heading on a world tour – with bigger ambitions beyond that.
“I want to headline Wembley [Stadium] one day,” she ended. “I did it with Ed and that has really given me the hunger.”
Check back at NME for more interviews from BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend.
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Ben Jolley
NME
