Who Is Dyland? Urban Artist Kicks Off Solo Career With ‘Ruleta Rusa’ [INTERVIEW]

Imagine having the dream of becoming a professional basketball player but end up being a music artist instead—that was the case for Carlos Castillo Cruz a.k.a. Dyland.

Dyland first stepped into the spotlight in 2009 with the urban duo Dyland and Lenny. During their four-year trajectory, they signed a record label with Sony Music and dropped hot singles, such as Nadie Te Amara Como Yo. The Puerto Rican duo called it quits in 2013 to embark their solo projects. Five years later, Dyland has kicked off his solo career, presenting his new single Ruleta Rusa.

We got the nitty-gritty about his single, upcoming album, and his thoughts about the music industry. Check out our Q&A below:

PULSO POP: Five years after Dyland and Lenny called it quits, you are embarking your solo career. What can we expect from you as a solo artist?

DYLAND: I don’t want to brag and say something like “good music.” I just want to express what comes from me. When you’re in a duo, you’re the 50 percent of something. Now I’m the 100 percent of my own project and I have a compromise with my career.

PP: Talk to us about your inspiration for “Ruleta Rusa.”

D: There are some girls who are dangerous and us men love danger. I’ve never actually played Russian Roulette, but I can imagine it being intense and that adrenaline feeling that it sparks.

PP: The song is part of your debut album, CanDyland. I’m curious to know why your album is named this way.

D: It was my concept, a union of my name. Urban music allows you to experiment in different music—trap, reggaeton, bachata. There are many ways you can go in the genre. That’s what I wanted to do in this album, divide all of those styles with different flavors. Ruleta Rusa is sweet and sour, for example.

PP: So, what different type of flavors can we find in CanDyland?

D: Collaborations benefit everyone and it’s in style. My team wants me so bad to do a featuring, but to be honest, I’d like to make my own music and that listeners fall in love with my music as a solo artist. I respect people like Calle 13 because they don’t depend on collabs. I want to be different. I know I’m taking the challenging route, but I enjoy my music.

PP: With this album, you’re celebrating that you “cheated death three times,” what’s that all about?

D: I’m the type of person that I am who I am because of what I’ve been through. God has big plans for me. I had three near-death car crashes, where the cars were total losses. They happened during a time in my life that I was not focused and didn’t know how to handle fame. I made lots of mistakes when I was young but I never had a wake up call. In my last accident I was even hospitalized over a month and I couldn’t move. In this album, I want people to listen to my testimony. Not everything is expensive cars and beautiful women. Fame is a double edge.

PP: What’s the story behind “Dyland” if your name is Carlos Castillo Cruz?

D: I was actually searching for an artistic name for an entire year. I used to play basketball and had a scholarship in the U.S. One of my toughest games was against a team named Dyland. One of my teammates told me I should call myself Dyland to remind myself of my passion: basketball.

PP: To finish off, the urban scene has changed drastically since you kicked off your career almost 10 years ago. How does it feel being a part of this movement today?

D: The urban genre is living its best moments, even better than when Daddy Yankee released Gasolina. In terms of numbers, Despacito broke barriers that even international artists such as Drake have found an interest in collaborating with Latin artists. We’re in our best times thanks to people like Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Tego Calderon, who opened doors.