Derry Fillin wants to create a movie in your mind. The singer-songwriter pens cinematic songs about romance and relationships, drawing influence from songwriting legends like Bob Dylan and The Beatles.
Fillin grew up attending music school for guitar, eventually recording original songs on his tape recorder throughout his adolescence in the early 2000s. After an eight-year hiatus from making music, Fillin began recording new songs and shaping his new era of music in New York City, releasing his first single as Derry Fillin in April entitled “Coney Island.” “I used to be more detached from my songwriting,” Fillin says. “But now my songs are very personal.” Amassing over 10k Spotify streams to date,
“Coney Island” is a breezy, guitar-driven track that harkens back to the sound of 90s British bands like Oasis and Blur. With his upcoming debut EP on the horizon, Fillin is diving into his new era of music, shaping the sound he was always meant to create.
What first got you into music?
My grandmother noticed my interest in an old guitar we had at our apartment and decided to start practicing with a teacher. When I was about 6 years old. I went to music school for 6 years and wrote my first songs at the age of 11 with a synth I used to practice piano.
What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?
I studied international economy at university so I might have become an IMF executive or something like that since I was really into international relations/diplomacy when I was out of high school.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Paul McCartney for sure, he is a living legend
Which famous musicians do you admire?
In terms of individual musicians, it would be Paul McCartney, Thom Yorke, Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, Michael Stipe from R.E.M. and probably Damon Alborn from Blur.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Don’t rush it. Be calm and collected, prepared for everything, and follow your dream step by step.
Who are your main musical influences?
These days, my main influences are The Arctic Monkeys, R.E.M. and Radiohead, although it’s always subject to change. Being a singer-songwriter I don’t really listen to many singer-songwriters myself and still sort of associate my act with a type of sound that bands have.
Has your musical journey had a deliberate direction or did it simply gradually evolve in whatever direction it found?
Early on I was very much influenced by rave music actually, the likes of The Prodigy which I enjoy listening to this day. Afterward, I’ve had a Beatles era, a Led Zeppelin era and a crush on Nirvana. Gradually I got into progressive rock like Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree. Those were some of my main influences in the early days. I did listen to a lot of relatively heavier bands like Muse which I’ve got some of my influences from. I gradually moved into the brit-pop territory and enjoyed Blur and The Smiths. There was a time period when I listened to only two artists – Lana Del Rey and Jamie T for months.
Whichever music I listened to has definitely had an impact on my output so it definitely evolved along with my music tastes.
What led you to become a music artist and what advice can you give to others aspiring to make a hit?
Everything requires systematic work and practice, even something so intangible as «making a hit». Play your instrument an hour a day no matter what and you’ll find the inspiration you need almost all the time.
What would be a good theme song for your life?
A lot of candidates, but the one song that comes to mind instantly is The Suburbs by Arcade Fire, which is a fantastic band and should get an honorary mention in the interview anyway.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
A tough one, but I might suggest Nicholas Hoult, whom I surprisingly enough have first spotted in a British series called Skins, which is sort of like a teen comedy-drama show that’s fun to watch.
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Considering what’s happening in the world today, the only really relevant question would be – is everyone safe and happy?
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
Don’t linger on decisions for too long – let go of things and try new things.