Establishing the mood with an immersive electric guitar soundscape, Dylan Forshner opens It Ain’t So Bad with situational, introspective prose as he sings, “I wake up you go to sleep, try to get myself through the week, we make plans for better days, open my eyes see through the haze…”
We are immediately drawn in by Dylan’s raw authenticity and grunge-adjacency. He wears his heart on his sleeve as he shares poetic prowess with a cinematic allure. There is no doubt that It Ain’t So Bad would be perfect for a coming-of-age movie sync placement, or perhaps a TV show like Euphoria on HBO. It also feels like the perfect fit for a Cruel Intentions sequel.
The atmospheric sound design is hypnotic, and the overarching message of the song feels self-realized. The lyrical hook, “cos when I’m with you…it ain’t so bad…” feels wholesome and connected despite Dylan’s wider woes.
Speaking on the release, Dylan confesses, “My music always tends to be heavily influenced by personal experience and is essentially a journal just with some extrapolation. It Ain’t So Bad specifically is primarily about me starting to settle in after moving to Welland last August. I had started jamming with Joe and Jody and was feeling good about my music gaining momentum again. I had been sober for maybe six months and my mood was turning around from some difficult times. It is a song of optimism in times of malaise and depression. It is also a sign of my heart opening up again after going through a difficult breakup. I found myself writing about themes of love in a positive light again.”
We learn that It Ain’t So Bad was recorded with his Welland band, and also features two additional songs that explore themes of love, heartbreak, mental health and newfound optimism through sobriety. Dylan is influenced by 90s and 2000s rock icons like Nirvana, System of a Down and Coldplay, but it is clear that Dylan’s instinct-driven approach and thoughtful melodies are unique to his own design.
Naturally, we have added It Ain’t So Bad to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Time, and I Miss You, and anticipate future releases from Dylan Forshner!