Dylan Cartlidge Lifts Up Our Spirits With Hope Above Diversity

As Dylan Cartlidge releases his debut album ‘Hope Above Adversity’ we talk to the singer from Redcar who has used his past trauma to create something meaningful for others who may be going through hard times. ‘Hope & Adversity’ is inspired by Dylan’s incredible story of positivity following overcoming his difficult and traumatic childhood which included spending time in care. The album is full of bold, colourful alt-rap with gospel influenced tracks which Dylan created with new collaborators including Ed Irwin Singer (of Glass Animals) and producer Eg White (Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Smith).

‘Hope Above Adversity’ seems like such a personal debut album with you sharing your personal story overcoming a traumatic childhood. What made you comfortable enough to share your story with the world?

The fear of somebody experiencing trauma or adversity and on top of everything else to feel like you’re alone in those situations in my experience is utterly devastating and ostracising. And I believe it’s my obligation to use my platform to be able to give back the hope I didn’t have as a child in danger and to challenge the stigma around Trauma in the industry.

 Your debut album was produced during the lockdown while you were shielding at home. What was that experience like for you?

A weird and a whacky one like lockdown was for everybody but it really was a chamber of self-reflection in which the only path to progressing creatively was to take a long hard look at the version of myself that existed when the world stopped turning and all the hustle and bustle of everyday life halted with lockdown.

What is the one word you would use to sum up the album?

Cathartic

You’ve got some live shows lined up later on in the year. How do you think you are going to feel going back on stage?

I’m super excited & pray we are in a much safer position in regard to Covid so that the shows will be as sweaty and groovy as gigs gone past

What is the one fashion item that you would use to describe yourself

 A detangler, inside and out I’m a ball of fluff and Tangela from PokemoniIs definitely my spirit animal.

You can catch Dylan performing live at the following dates and venue:

27 October – Georgian Theatre, Stockton

2 November – YES, Manchester

3 November – Waiting Room, London

4 November – Sugarmill, Stoke

Follow Dylan Cartlidge: Instagram | Spotify

Victoria Beckham: From Spice Girl to Art Curator

Victoria Beckham, the quintessential icon of reinvention, has once again redefined her image. This time, she’s stepping out of the fashion world and into the art world, curating an exhibition of renowned 20th and 21st-century artists for Sotheby’s. The exhibition, showcasing works by masters like Yoshitomo Nara, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Francis Bacon, is currently on […]

Read More

Stepping on the Competition: Why Steve Madden’s Acquisition of Kurt Geiger Makes Sense

The recent announcement of Steve Madden’s acquisition of Kurt Geiger signals a strategic move in the competitive footwear market. This deal highlights several key motivations driving such acquisitions in the fashion industry: 1. Expanding Market Dominance: By acquiring a key competitor like Kurt Geiger, Steve Madden aims to strengthen its market position. Kurt Geiger boasts […]

Read More

Warner Music Acquires Africori, Deepening its Roots in the African Music Market

Warner Music Group (WMG) has finalized the full acquisition of Africori, a leading African music company specializing in distribution, rights management, and artist development. This strategic move strengthens WMG’s presence in the rapidly growing African music market, building upon existing partnerships with key players like Chocolate City and WCB-Wasafi. “We’ve demonstrated that investing in and […]

Read More