Meet Colin Dahl | Making electronic chill music as RafterLife

We had the good fortune of connecting with Colin Dahl and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Colin, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Creating something new that didn’t previously exist makes my happy. As a songwriter and producer, that means immersing myself in the trenches of crafting new music. Songwriting is a process that has always drawn me in, and something that I’ve always felt a positive compulsion to pursue. It’s the closest thing I can identify as a mission or purpose in life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Under my artist persona, RafterLife, I write electronic-based downtempo or “chill” music. The songs are mostly instrumental with the intention of creating particular moods and vibes. I use a combination of live instruments and pre-recorded loops, repeating elements such as a drum beat or piano melody, to create the songs.

The mood a song evokes tends to be a reflection of my state of mind from when it was composed. At least, that’s the gold standard at which I’m always aiming. I believe effective music communicates a message from creator to listener; it provokes a response, in the form of feeling, thought, or physical reaction, such as dancing. I’ve done my job as a creator when my music elicits a response from the listener.

A good example of this ethos is my latest release, a light, summery song called “Kiss Me In Del Mar.” The song was conceived on a cold, rainy day. I imagined how I would rather be walking along the sand on a sunny coastline, soaking up the rays, and generally feeling no stress, no obligations, and no pressure.

The feedback I’ve received on the song confirms the mission–listeners are transported to a warm, relaxing afternoon at the beach. Everyone who hears the song imagines a different beachy scene. The song becomes their beach. It’s a gratifying experience to offer an abstract sketch, perhaps with some colors and boundaries, that prompts others to complete the picture with their imaginations.

The biggest challenge I face as a creator is staying consistent and seeing projects through to completion. As a solo artist making music in isolation on a laptop, it’s easy to get sidetracked in experimenting with different sounds or abandon songs altogether. Committing time to music every day and setting hard deadlines helps me bring songs to fruition.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m an LA guy when it comes to SoCal. The sights, bites, and experiences of the city are limitless. If I’m showing a visitor around, there are a few sure bets on the itinerary–a hike up Runyun Canyon, an afternoon at the Getty Museum, and sunset at Venice Beach or the Santa Monica Pier.

The Central Market in DTLA is one of my favorite spots around. You can’t go wrong with Villa’s Tacos and a Thai milk tea from Sticky Rice.

Echo Park Lake and an Italian dinner overlooking Westlake Lake on the deck at Boccaccio’s are a couple of my other must-dos in LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two people deserve special recognition in my musical journey. Firstly, my wife, Shannon. Her encouragement and support is unwavering. I’m sure it’s not easy being in a relationship with a musician. She’s awesome at giving me the time I need to create.

The second shoutout goes to my brother, Peter Dahl. He’s a musician too and an occasional collaborator. Peter knows the struggles of producing music in the same ways that I do. We often listen to each other’s songs before anyone else and help one another with feedback and direction.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafterlife_vibes/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rafterlife2152

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lvax2AbE6pczFQLprZYXz?si=dhlDa1F-RMKu1FgS8ic6FA

Image Credits
RafterLife