Musician Rilan is Gleefully Reborn

Over the last decade, the music industry’s record label culture has experienced a major shift.  As streaming music sites, YouTube music channels, and homemade music videos have become staples, the path to becoming a music superstar is muddled.  In music’s previous era things were simple – sign with a record label, record your album, release the album, then do a road tour.  No one buys albums anymore, technology has advanced at home studios, and with free music streaming on every phone, there’s no money to be had except for road tours and merchandise selling.  Now with COVID, that’s not even an option.  Record labels and music managers have become mafiosos, treating their musicians as money makers – making it or breaking it in the biz is entirely up to them.  They have basically become PR and marketing machines, and little else.  So, what is a musician to do?  Walk away from it all and go rogue?  That’s what singer-songwriter Rilan did. 

With professional dancing and singing training, an eclectic childhood in New Orleans, and a distinct vocal sound, Rilan hit the scene directly after high school.  He was cast in the final season of GLEE as a Warbler and soon after started a colorful solo artist career.  He released a series of singles and his music videos would garner millions of views.  His Instagram was an artful mix of his Gagaesque looks and acoustic, unplugged versions of his hits.  Then everything went dark.  His Instagram pictures were deleted, and his music videos disappeared.  He had had enough…it was time for a reboot. 

While his fans were seeing a successful run, Rilan was dealing with being told how to look, how to sound, and what to present.  His sexuality was non-existent and his hard to categorize style was being forced into a box.  It wasn’t him.  Recently, Rilan’s Instagram started filling up with new pictures and a new look.  Last month, he released two self-produced singles “Sad” and “Bitter” and, for the first time, it’s completely Rilan.  He is now performing on his own terms.  This self-proclaimed introvert has been reborn and is sharing his story – bumps and all.

What inspired your social media silence and current rebirth?

100% by choice. I had just ended the worst management agreement of my life where every day I was told how I would only succeed if I changed everything about myself. And I did. And I didn’t succeed. So, I said, “fuck it” and decided to be everything my old manager hated, which is exactly who I am.

I was also very surprised when you started released VLOGS with behind-the-scenes looks at your process, as you are such a private person.  Was it weird recording your life, and even weirder editing it together for the public?

I used to hate watching myself be a normal person. I was comfortable with seeing footage of myself on stage or film, but I hated seeing myself in everyday life. I thought I wasn’t a star if I showed myself being “normal.” But then I realized I have never been normal in my entire life, so why not let people into my weirdness off the stage as well? It has been kind of fun not giving a shit anymore.

Was it hard hitting the market as a solo artist from Glee?  Your personal brand is clearly much different than being a show-tune singing Warbler.

I was a little worried that I might alienate the Glee fans by being myself. I am the polar opposite of the character I played on the show, but actually, the fans were and still are some of my biggest supporters to date. I think what they loved about Glee is what they like about my music – theatrics, performance, flash. While what we did on the show and what I release myself are very different, at the core of both is unapologetic entertainment. I think they connected with the theatre kid in me who is still and always will be very much alive in my art. Record labels at the time didn’t care about Glee or my music, so to me, the recognition from fans was where the real success came from. To me, that’s where success still comes from. I would much rather fellow weird kids who care about the music like me than some executive who doesn’t care chasing the next best money-making trend.

What did you learn most from your time on Glee?

I had such a great experience on Glee. I think what I learned the most was just that hard work pays off. The days were long. The audition process was even longer. It was grueling and the pressure was intense, but I loved every minute of it.

Now I know you’ve been independent, and you’ve also worked with labels.  Where do you stand now, do record labels really do anything anymore than put together press and tour?

Record labels used to break artists. They used to develop artists. They saw potential. Now they just see a paycheck. It’s like they want you to already be a famous household name before you even release music. It’s so backward nowadays. I used to dream of being signed to a major label, but honestly what I want more than anything now is just to release the music I like. It’s that simple. If a major wants me eventually, that’s amazing, but that’s not my focus right now.

Your brand is such an eclectic mix of looks, content, and presentation.  It is hard to quickly say who Rilan is:  you do not fit in one clear category, you are gay but you’re not gay leading, you’re pop but your look might scare some Britney Bitchey, you’re glam rock but Hanson could cover some of your music…so how do you sell yourself so to speak?

I’ve never categorized myself as anything. I’ve never been gay or straight or masculine or feminine or rock or pop or red or blue or up or down or hokey pokey and turn yourself around and I never will be. That’s not what it’s all about. I’m more than a single category. In fact, I’ve never fit into a single category in my life. In music, I’ve been too pop for theatre. I’ve been too theatre for pop. I’ve been too everything for everyone in the past, so I don’t try to be anything for anyone anymore. I’m just me now, and I like myself so much more now for being me than I ever did trying to appeal to people who aren’t like me. Honestly, no one is like me. No one person is the same as another, and I think we’re conditioned to categorize each other as one thing or another in all aspects of life to make ourselves feel more comfortable. That’s the opposite of what I’m here to do. I am here to make you uncomfortable until you’re comfortable with who you actually are instead of the idea that people have of you.

It is an art just to watch you dance.  You are so open and big with your dance which is quite different than your day-to-day presentation.  Did you have any struggles as an introvert being so focused, sensual, and big on stage?

I feel most myself on stage. I like myself there. Nothing makes me feel better than performing. I get to present myself exactly how I want. It’s rare for me to do that in normal life, but I think I’m getting there.

You work with Richy Jackson, Lady Gaga’s choreographer.  What did you discover from your own skillset, or what new aspects have you learned by working with Richy?

I always admired Richy and his work. His choreography is more than a single style. It’s everything that pop music is – jazz, theatre, street, hip hop, and more. It’s a combination of all the things I love. He bases movement on each artist he works with, so it fits them, and their music as opposed to forcing artists into a box. It’s inspiring and has honestly made me believe in myself and my art even more. My favorite thing he says is, “It’s so wrong, it’s right.” That’s the biggest compliment in the world to me.

What is your creative process when creating a video for your song? 

I start to envision a music video the minute I start writing a new song. If I don’t see anything while writing, I’ll stop, scrap the idea, and start something new. I just have a lot of crazy images always swirling around in my head which finally begin to piece themselves together when I write. It’s very organic. I only build a creative team to execute the ideas after I have them. I think after all the years of doing this and being told “no” before I was even able to bring my vision to life taught me to trust my instincts even more. There’s no wrong choice in art especially if that choice comes from the artist themself.

What is your take on TikTok dancing?  Does it hurt the industry and true dancer artists out there?

TikTok dancing and the dance industry are two completely different things. It’s just like how Instagram and the music industry are different. Because we’re so connected through social media nowadays, a lot of people think that fame on apps and success within the entertainment industry are one and the same, but they’re not. There’s nothing wrong with TikTok dancing. It’s fun. It brings people joy. That’s what dance should do. But it’s a different animal than dancing for artists. I don’t think elevated choreography and professional dance will ever take a backseat to trends. At least they never will for me.

You, as most artists do, have times of depression and self-doubt…how do you balance that with your career, how do you work through that?  What advice do you have?

I write about it. It’s my inspiration. I don’t talk about how I feel very often. I sing about. I dance it out. I put it out there in a pop song because at the end of the day nothing makes me feel better or more understood than a pop song. I don’t know if I really balance anything. I think I just throw myself headfirst into my art because I know that that is what makes me feel best. I can’t think of a better way to deal with my problems than to create something beautiful out of them.

You’ve worked with Dallas Austin producer/songwriter [TLC, Madonna, P!nk, Gwen Stefani) did you get any nerves in working with Dallas?  Or did you just go in and do your thing?  You have such a definite idea of your look and sound…is it hard working with another produced/songwriter?

Dallas is a genius. He’s the only producer and writer I’ve ever worked with who just gets you immediately. You don’t have to talk. You don’t have to say what you’re looking for. You don’t even have to describe yourself or your inspirations or anything. He just gets it. It’s pretty magical actually. It’s one of the most natural writing experiences I’ve had. He’s also one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met in my life.

I don’t know if I’m getting old or what…but the last few music awards show I’m like what?  Who?  That’s a song?  Is the music industry – or rather – the popular musicians becoming more about the image and social media or shock content (“WAP”) rather than the music itself? 

I think an artist who can do both is a true artist. To me, there’s nothing better than going from playing a piano ballad straight into a huge eleven o’clock number in the blink of an eye. I try not to look at what trends are currently in music when I create. I think it’s better to put blinders on and just do what you do. Art is purest that way. It’s most authentic then. Authenticity is what makes me like artists.

Let’s chat about your last two releases “Sad” and “Bitter.” Are you sad and bitter?

I was when I wrote them. And I am both sad and bitter from time to time. I think it’s important to talk about feelings of darkness in pop music. It’s cathartic. You can’t feel better until you acknowledge the bad and grow from it. Happiness is a process you must work towards. Music is my way of working towards just that.

How are these two videos different than what you’ve done?

They were the lowest budget videos I’ve ever done. I produced everything myself. I conceptualized them, styled them, edited them, colored them, and even uploaded them to YouTube myself. My team was just me, my father, Richy, Collier Landry (videographer), Roger Lopez (hair and makeup), and the dancers. I mean, “Bitter” was literally shot in my apartment. It’s a lot of work but I love it. And I am really happy with how they turned out because they’re 100% me.

What do you want your audience to walk away with after watching your new videos?

I’m a weirdo just like you. I do this for the kids like me. I’ve never been cool, and I never will be, but that’s cool to me. I want to bring performance and theatre back to pop music, and I’m going to do it being exactly who I am.

How is Rilan on stage different than Rilan in a music video?

Honestly, it is exactly the same. Who you see in my videos is who you’ll see on stage. I can’t wait for live music to come back. I have a lot in store for you.

Are you really going to keep the mullet?

My mullet is currently my favorite thing about myself. I pray every day to the mullet demons of hell for blessing me with just the right amount of delusion to pull off this beautifully tragic haircut. So yes, it’s staying, and I’m not sorry about it.

Do you believe in the Glee curse?

The only curse I’ve experienced from Glee is a residual check I got last year for $2.87.

What has been one of your favorite moments from a recording session?

Working with The Audibles on “Sad” was very special. They’re so talented and so kind. Those two days we wrote five songs along with co-writers Myah Marie and Zac Poor. The five of us just clicked so well. Truly the most fun I’ve had in the studio in years, and I can’t wait to share more of the records we created together.

You can follow Rilan on IG: @IamRilan

Photos: Instagram @zacpoor