Wyland is not just an alternative rock band from New Jersey. They're more t… Read Full Bio ↴Wyland is not just an alternative rock band from New Jersey. They're more than its novel fusion of electronic and acoustic influences, and its young and driven members.

Wyland is a question, a narrative, a journey.

This journey began in early 2013, when lead singer Ryan Sloan and pianist Pablo Techera, who had been in and out of several bands during their highschool years, decided to collaborate on something new. It wasn’t long before they realised that what they had just begun was going to become part of a much larger story. Helped by Craigslist, coincidences, and something which felt a little bit like fate, the pair set out to complete the fragments of an idea, and found along the way guitarist Mauricio Salazar, bassist Kara Delonas, and drummer Matt Pana. Despite the different members’ diverse backgrounds, they were united by a common dream: do what you love, share what you love, never let your feet touch the ground. It was this ethos which inspired both the band’s name, and its music. Wyland, a small-town band with a big-town dream, had just been born.

It’s the careful collision of influences which make Wyland’s sound what it is: a subtle blend of warm, atmospheric depth, arranged within an upbeat pop format. It’s music which both acknowledges, and builds on the past; mixing the heartfelt lyrics and stand-out vocals of the people that kickstarted their musical journey- the earlier U2 albums and The Police, with ambiental and acoustic beats inspired by artists such as M85 and Jon Hopkins. The result is an optimistic, reflective music, whose soaring vocals both address the present, and look to the future. It’s what the band themselves refer to as "transition music:" a sound which traces their own growth, and encourages others to do the same. A sound designed to inspire other young professionals to keep their head up against the swirling eddies of life.
True to its name, Wyland has no intention of touching down just yet. It’s been under two years since the band’s formation, but it has already gone from strength to strength. Not only have they been busy playing at a diverse range of events, performing to over 4,000 people at New York’s Holi Hai Festival, winning the 2014 Break Contest to take up main stage at Skate and Surf Festival 2014, but they also have had the opportunity to perform alongside acts such as Young the Giant, Capital Cities, Awolnation, and Twenty One Pilots at this year’s Center of the Universe festival.

The quintet is on the verge of releasing their second EP entitled ‘You’re In The World, Get Off Your Feet’. No one can tell what the future will hold, but Wyland are determined to keep going up.