Meet Dallas Dillard | Musician, Composer, Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dallas Dillard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dallas, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
When I was younger, I had a sort of epiphany regarding work ethic and finding success. I saw musicians in their 20s working day by day to inch closer to their goals. On the other side, I saw ex-musicians in their 30s and 40s who decided that it wasn’t going to work, and that it was time to pursue new passions and lines of work. What I DIDN’T see were musicians who had spent 20+ years pursuing their dream, and having not found a level of comfort. I realized that, if you give it everything, every day, and continue on the path of your dream, then truly the only way to fail IS to give up. Continuing on the path you pick, without wavering or giving into external (or even internal) pressure to quit, is the hardest part.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a part of many different projects and work, but at the center of it all is music. I am the musical director for Fort Worth artist Averi Burk, the guitar director and A/V lead at an international high school, I play regularly in original projects and cover bands throughout Texas, and I operate a composition + recording business out of my home studio near White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. I am extremely excited about my upcoming projects in the studio, including new music and recordings by artists such as Secure the Sun, Averi Burk, Madison Russell, and a new exciting project from myself (no spoilers!)

My path began when my dad taught me how to play the guitar at 5 years old. I didn’t start taking it seriously until high school, where my band director became my biggest role model and inspiration. After graduating, I moved from Maryland to DFW to study jazz performance at the University of North Texas. Living in Denton was like a breath of fresh air, being constantly surrounded by some of the world’s best musicians. After an exciting few months, I started to realize how much harder it would be to achieve my goals than I first had thought.

Being surrounded by the best can be invigorating and inspiring, but it can also be extremely intimidating. I started my twenties in a constant state of stress and anxiety, comparing myself to my peers and feeling trapped. After a few extremely difficult and unhappy years, I came to the point of exploring different careers. However, finding my musical family and being able to truly feel safe playing the music I loved was my escape. I left that time in my life with the lesson that you CANNOT give up. The only way to fail is to stop, creativity can stick with you for the rest of your life if you nurture it and give it your all.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am not native to Texas, so I have spent a looooong time searching for the best Dallas has to offer. Each area of town has little gems that really make it special for me, it’s hard to just choose a few! A nice fancy night would be coffee at The Wild Detectives in Bishop Arts, walking across the street to Boulevardier for their amazing burger and brussels sprouts. I’d end the night listening to friends play at Revelers Hall, one of my favorite live music spots. If I was still looking to hang out, I would end up at either DOTS or Double Wide in Deep Ellum after. During the day, I love taking friends and family to the design district, specifically to hit Bowlounge, Lula B’s, and Cidercade. For time spent outside, I think nothing beats White Rock Lake. From the yacht clubs to the dog park, you can spend all day walking and taking it all in. The view of the skyline from there is hard to beat!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Surrounding yourself with love and support is essential to success in the creative world, so I have a long long long list of shoutouts that would most likely fill the whole page. The reason I am a musician today is the result of a passionate high school teacher, Alexander Scott. My fiancé, Brittany, is always supportive of my hectic schedule and loud noises. My close group of friends are always a sounding board for ideas, frustrations, and dreams, and are all extremely talented in their own right. Special shoutout to Averi Burk for trusting me with her music!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallasdillard/

Image Credits
J. Gilbert Photo https://www.jgilbertphotography.com/