For Dylan Matthew, everything comes back to storytelling. The Southern California native began harnessing his love of music before he could speak — a love that would eventually push a then-18-year-old Dylan to publish covers and original songs online. Following his 2016 inaugural EP Over You, listeners would see Dylan go from strength to strength. He scored his first Platinum-certified single with the viral acoustic hit “Love Is Gone,” garnered millions of Spotify listeners, over 750k+ feverish TikTok followers, and awed crowds while performing at Coachella, Lollapalooza, and a sold-out headline show at Avalon Hollywood in LA, his proudest moment to date.

Now, Dylan is embracing a new chapter of his history — one that was born amid an intense and tumultuous break-up that forced him to disconnect from the life he knew, look inward, and rebuild his future. “Although my artistic process has stayed the same — weaving vulnerable lyrics with powerful pop-focused sonics — I’m in a much different place than where I was,” explains Dylan, though it required him to confront a kaleidoscope of emotions. The catalyst of that personal journey is Dylan’s new EP, aptly titled no rain, no flowers.

Telling the story of a painful separation marred by betrayal and personal heartache, Dylan built the EP around his own healing journey. “I loved the phrase for years, I had it saved everywhere, and it was always a line that has meant a lot to me,” Dylan explains. “Now, comparing the hardest part of my life — the break-up — and where I am now… With the storm, there would’ve never been growth.”

As an artist who once dreamed of being a psychologist, Dylan approaches songwriting like it’s own form of therapy — one he relied on heavily during his painful break-up. “I’ve been fortunate enough to hear from other people that my music has helped them get through something,” he explains. “Therapy kind of comes in so many different ways and dealing with or facing something head on can be done from music, and luckily I’ve been able to do that as part of my healing journey.”

“Killing Me,” the first part of a chronological story that explores the break-up from beginning to end. Equal parts vulnerable and assured, the track firmly establishes Dylan as an artist with a deft touch that crafts high-powered indie pop-infused music while honoring what he does best — telling his story through universal narratives tied together with introspective and infectious lyricism. Other chapters of his healing process show Dylan at his punchiest sonically, like on “Did You Tell Him About Me?” and “FYTY”. Juxtaposed with those tracks are songs like “Proud of Me” and “Thank God” exhibit Dylan’s commanding lyricism by showing the transformative power of honoring one’s growth and success.

Most importantly, this EP displays Dylan’s ability to channel his own heartbreak into a succinct body of work that makes his personal story into something universal. Fusing together sounds in indie, alternative, pop, and every influence and inspiration in between, no rain, no flowers is primed to fully present Dylan at his best: an artist who, at his core, creates music that helps his listeners find hope.