Q&A: Dalby on Finding Her Sound,Atlanta’s Music Scene, and “Mr. WouldaCoulda Shoulda”

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words and photos by Andrea Garcia

Atlanta singer-songwriter Dalby has been part of the city’s music scene for nearly half her life. She began writing and performing her own music at only 11 years old, developing a nostalgic pop-rock sound shaped by influences ranging from The Cure and Green Day to Olivia Rodrigo and Ethel Cain.

On July 18, Dalby returned to Eddie Owen Presents at Red Clay for an intimate acoustic

performance alongside fellow Atlanta artists ellakate and Whitney Bjerken. Before the show, Echo Magazine sat down with Dalby to discuss how her songwriting has evolved, the importance of Atlanta’s local music community, and her upcoming single, “Mr. Woulda Coulda Shoulda.”

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

ECHO MUSIC MAGAZINE: How does it feel to be performing here again?

DALBY: I’m so excited. I used to play here when I was 11 or 12, and I don’t think I’ve performed here since I was about 15. I remember all the rooms and where everything is. I walked in and thought, “Wow, I really know where I’m going.” I remember everything.

It feels like a second home. This is where I started, so it is really exciting to be back as an older person, even though I’m only 20.

What are you most excited to perform tonight?

I actually have some top-secret information, but you can share it. I have a new song coming out on August 14 called “Mr. Woulda Coulda Shoulda.” I haven’t announced it yet, but I will very soon. I’m performing it acoustically for the first time tonight, and I’m very excited.

The title gives me Taylor Swift energy.

Very Taylor Swift. It is almost like “Mr. Perfectly Fine” and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”

combined. It wasn’t meant to be that way, but then I realized it afterward. I was like, “She’s just in me.”

What is the story behind “Mr. Woulda Coulda Shoulda”?

A thing about my music is that I write a lot about men who piss me off.

The song is about having someone promise that they will be there and show up for you, but then they never do. I think there are a lot of friendships and relationships like that.

For me, showing up and being supportive is one of the most important things, especially when you are part of the music scene. It sucks when somebody isn’t there for you.

I wrote it a couple of days after I played a show. I was mad and pouting about the whole

experience, so I wrote about it. It’s “Mr. Woulda Coulda Shoulda”, but he didn’t.

There is a part where the chorus gets really anthemic. There is a lot of shouting, and I recorded a lot of vocal tracks for it. I think people are really going to like that part.

You started writing music when you were very young. How has your songwriting

changed since your first songs?

When I first started, I was almost territorial about my songwriting. I only wrote by myself and for myself. I wasn’t interested in writing for other people, and I wasn’t interested in writing with many people either. As I got older, it became harder to come up with every idea entirely on my own with my little acoustic guitar. I started collaborating with many different people and working with producers from hip-hop, rap, pop, rock, country, and other genres. I think working with as many different people as possible is one of the greatest ways to grow as a songwriter. I’ve learned so much about what I love to write about and how I like to write. I have written to tracks and experimented with many different approaches. It has been eye-opening to grow up and realize that it doesn’t always have to come entirely fromme. You can’t be stubborn. That is how you grow.

You have previously spoken about not wanting to be placed inside one genre. Do you

still feel that way?

One hundred percent. I definitely have a comfort zone when it comes to genre. Pop-rock is where I naturally gravitate because that is a lot of what I listen to. I grew up listening to The Cure, Pearl Jam, Green Day, and music like that. I also grew up in the 2010s and listened to SiriusXM Hits 1 almost every day, so pop music is naturally part of my

sound too. At the same time, I love almost every genre. I’ve been to Chris Stapleton, Old Dominion, Zach Bryan, Tame Impala, Djo, and so many different kinds of shows. Seeing Tame Impala live gave me a new respect for the music. I mostly went because I love

Djo, but watching Tame Impala perform was incredible. I love surrounding myself with different types of music. When you focus too much on only one genre, you stop finding new influences, and your music can become stagnant. You need to grow and take inspiration from other places. I also love dream pop and bedroom pop. I’ve seen Wallows and Royel Otis, and I’m always finding new artists to share with people. I’m open to seeing and appreciating any kind of music.

Which artists have been inspiring you lately?

The new Olivia Rodrigo album has been inspiring me. I’m actually performing “cigarette smoke” tonight. I think she is incredible. She takes her time with her music, and she wears her influences on her sleeve. I know she sometimes gets criticism for that, but I think it is really cool. I also love Paramore and Hayley Williams’ new record. Ethel Cain has been huge for me too. There are so many artists doing really great things right now.

Olivia Rodrigo’s career is similar to what I would love to see myself doing. I also love Olivia Dean. My mom and I are obsessed with her, but we weren’t able to get tickets to her concert. We lost the Ticketmaster war. That is another reason smaller concerts are so great. They are more accessible, and you can discover so many incredible artists through them.

How do you feel you are contributing to Atlanta’s local music scene?

It is funny because I feel like I have been around forever, even though I’m only 20. I started playing shows when I was 11, so I have been in Atlanta’s music scene for almost half my life. I’ve played some amazing venues, often with my friends Whitney and Ella. We have performed together several times and have become really great friends.

Something I love about Atlanta’s pop-girl music scene is how supportive everyone is. Almost every artist I have played with has also attended shows where they weren’t performing just to support me. They repost my music, come to my shows, and we are genuinely friends. It doesn’t feel like the old idea that women in music are always competing against one another. It really doesn’t feel that way here, and I think that is amazing. The local Atlanta scene is very underrated. Venues like Smith’s Olde Bar, The Masquerade, 529, and Boggs Social & Supply give local artists places to perform and find an audience. Networking is also huge in Atlanta. When you are kind, authentic, and a real person, that makes a difference.

What do you want people to feel when they leave one of your performances?

I want people to feel like they can relate to something. Because I began writing songs so young, I have written about a wide range of experiences. When I write, I don’t always focus on one specific event. I focus more on how the experience made me feel.

Someone listening may not have gone through the exact same situation, but they might

recognize the feeling. I want them to think, “I’ve felt that way before. I can relate to this. I feel seen.” That is what is important to me. Live music hits you in a way that many other things don’t. What is so special about tonight is that it is three girls performing acoustic sets, talking about songs we have written, and having a great time. That is what makes all of this worth doing. It is back to basics—me with an acoustic guitar or me

with a piano. It is the best feeling, and this is the best place to do it.

Why is performing at Eddie Owen Presents especially meaningful to you?

Eddie Owen has been an amazing mentor to me. He gave me a platform when I was 12 years old to come here and perform my original songs alongside adults. Being that young in music was hard. There were times when I didn’t feel like I was being taken seriously, but I never felt that way here. There was never a time when I felt like I didn’t belong. I was always respected and treated as an equal, which is one of my favorite things about this place.

What is coming next for you after this performance?

I have another show on August 14, which is also the release date for my next song. I’m opening for Bedroom Division, an indie-rock band from North Carolina. They have a sound that reminds me of The 1975, which is another one of my favorite bands. There are also a couple of other indie-rock bands performing that night, so it is going to be a lot

of fun.

What advice would you give to women who want to enter Atlanta’s alternative music

scene?

Persistence is key. It sounds like a simple thing to say, but you genuinely have to keep putting yourself out there. You have to send emails to venues. You have to reach out to other artists and try to connect with people. It really is about networking and who you know, which can be annoying to hear, but it is true. The reason I have been able to do what I’ve done is because I have been myself. I have been kind to people, pleasant to work with, and supportive of other artists. That support comes back to you. It really does.

Dalby’s story is a reminder of how important it is to keep creating, keep putting yourself out there, and keep showing up for the people around you. Whether she is returning to a venue where she first performed as a kid or turning disappointment into a song, her music feels honest, personal, and easy to connect with. “Mr. Woulda Coulda Shoulda” is scheduled to be released on August 14 as well as her next show at Smith’s old Bar in Atlanta.

Check out Dalby’s music on Spotify