UTG @ CMJ 2014: Wyland Discuss Their Musical Background and New EP

What do you get when you combine NGHBRS‘ infectious rhythm and OneRepublic‘s contoured melodic dynamic?

You get Kearney, New Jersey pop/indie-rock quintet, Wyland.

Under The Gun has many up-and-coming artists on the radar and these folks are one of them. They played a CMJ showcase this year and we were able to get in touch to talk about their upcoming EP, among many other things.

What are your names and roles in the band?

Ryan Sloan: Hi. My name is Ryan Sloan and I sing for Wyland.
Pablo Techera: I’m Pablo Techera and I play piano.
Mauricio Salazar: I’m Mauricio Salazar and I play the guitar in Wyland.
Kara Delonas: Kara Delonas, I sing and play the upright bass and the electric occasionally.
Matt Pana: I’m Matt Pana and I play percussion and drums in Wyland.

When and how did Wyland form?

PT: Wyland formed in early 2013 when Ryan and I began working on a couple different song ideas that he had written. We really connected on a direction and began the quest of looking for other members who could help us build something special. We made a Craigslist post and Mauricio was literally the only person that answered, and thank God for that. From Mauricio, we found Kara as they were both attending Montclair State University as music majors and we were lucky enough to pick up Matt from a producer/mutual friend.

Your band name is pretty cool; and oddly, it suits your sound really, really well. Where does it come from?

RS: Why, thank you, kindly. The name actually comes from a combination of two words: ‘why’ and ‘land.’ And basically, the idea was that we wanted something universal, and at the time we were heavily into Bon Iver’s “Holocene,” and funny enough, my ex-girlfriend misinterpreted the line “You’re in Milwaukee / off your feet” as “You’re in the world / get off your feet,” so the EP title was actually created long before the band name.

What type of musical backgrounds do you guys have, if any?

MP: We pride ourselves on being a collective of artists. From classical to contemporary, we are five musicians from different worlds, growing into a family of misfits. Ryan is the Jersey native, singer-songwriter, visionary, and pop-fiend. Pablo, born and raised in Uruguay, brings an eclectic blend of ambient and electronic music to the mix. Mauricio Salazar from Southern California, an instant classic, inspired by bands like Pink Floyd and The Beatles yet a pedal board genius obsessed with tones and effects. Kara Delonas, a natural born talent, currently attending one of the top classical music programs in the country. And Matt Pana, myself, I’m a bit of a workhorse; I’ve toured as a drummer in two countries and traveled over 11,000 miles before joining Wyland.

Coming into this particular music scene, are there bands of the similar genre that you would say influence your sound or your lyrics?

MS: In this particular music scene, we’re trying not to do what everyone else is doing. We all come from a variety of backgrounds when it comes to the music we were raised on and/or influenced by and while individually, we all apply those influences in the writing process. At the end of the day, our main goal is to just write music that we’re happy with.

You guys have an upcoming EP. What is it called and when can we expect it to arrive?

Our new EP is titled You’re In The World, Get Off Your Feet, and it is scheduled for release in February 2015.

What can people expect from this EP in terms of sound?

RS: In terms of the sound of this EP, I would say that we mixed more of an organic sound in with the electronic ambiance of each song. We really enjoy experimenting with patches and plug-ins via Komplete and Ableton but we also enjoy being a band that can strip down and play without all that stuff, too.

Are you guys touring after CMJ? If so, can you give us dates?

KD: We’ll be opening for VH1’s Fancy Reagan at Mexicali Live on October 25. Returning to Brooklyn at The Rock Shop in November. And possibly a Holiday benefit show in our hometown of Kearny.

What is next for Wyland in 2015, aside from the debut EP?

PT: Our two goals thus far are to perform at SXSW in Austin, and perform at one of our favorite venues in the city, The Mercury Lounge.

If your band were able to tour with any band (dead or alive), who would it be? In other words, what would your ideal festival bill (including yourselves) look like?

RS: Oh, wow. Well, I would love to tour with Freddy Mercury and Miles Davis, I’m not sure how that bill would work out for Wyland, but fuck it.
MS: The fab four.
PT: I’ve always wanted to perform with Jon Hopkins and/or Brian Eno. I love their work and they’re still alive so I have hope.
MP: I’m a rhythm and bass guy but I would love to perform with The Police or Steely Dan. Tight-in-the-pocket kind of groups.
KD: So, Freddy Mercury, Miles Davis, The Beatles, Brian Eno and The Police… If that bill could exist and we were on it, that’d be a hell of a festival!

FUN WYLAND FACTS:

– Matt hosts the LIKEWISE Podcast on iTunes
– Mauricio is a Musical Therapist
– Kara is playing with Elton John at Carnegie Hall in December as part of her school’s orchestra
– Pablo is an incredible cook
– Ryan is secretly a fan of One Direction

There we have it! Keep an eye out for Wyland, as more and more people are bound to catch up to the good vibes their music brings.

Dana Reandelar
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