Dylan Schneider is fast emerging as one of Nashville’s most exciting modern country voices, blending a youthful energy with a deep respect for the genre’s traditions. Hailing from Indiana, Schneider first built his audience online through a series of viral covers before transitioning into original material that quickly caught the attention of fans and industry alike. Since then, he has amassed hundreds of millions of streams and developed a reputation for emotionally direct songwriting, pairing heartfelt lyrics with a contemporary country-pop edge that reflects his generation.
His rise has increasingly taken him beyond the US, with a growing fanbase in the UK and Europe. Schneider returned to London earlier this month for his second consecutive appearance at C2C: Country to Country, having already made a strong impression on UK audiences during his previous visit supporting Kane Brown on tour late last year. That momentum continues to build as he connects with international crowds through both his high-energy live performances and a catalogue of songs that balance youthful optimism with real emotional depth, marking him out as an artist firmly on the rise.
Hey Dylan – thanks for talking to us during such a busy festival weekend! How are you finding the trip so far?
Man, it’s been great. It’s always good to be back over here. I think this is actually my fourth time in London now, but my second time playing C2C. Every time I come back, it just feels a little more familiar, a little more comfortable, and you start recognising faces too, which is really cool. There’s something about the UK crowds—they really listen, they really care—and that makes the whole experience even better. This trip in particular has probably been one of my favourites so far.
What do you remember from your first time playing C2C last year?
Last year was awesome, man. One of the biggest things for me was getting to bring my band over for the first time. That just changes everything, because you’re sharing those moments with your people, and that always makes it more special. Playing the full band show was a highlight, and just getting to experience it all together—meeting fans, hanging out, taking it all in—that’s what sticks with you. I’ve already seen a bunch of familiar faces walking around today, which is crazy, and it just shows how much of an impression that first trip made.
You’ve stepped up to the Spotlight Stage this year—how does that progression feel?
It means a lot, honestly. I’m really excited about it. Last time I was here, I got to go out and perform with Kane, which was an incredible moment, but to now have my own slot on a bigger stage feels like a real step forward. It’s one of those moments where you kind of stop and go, “Okay, we’re building something here.” Playing at 6:30 on that stage is going to be special, and I’m just excited to make the most of it.
Is the main stage the next goal for you?
A hundred percent. That’s definitely the dream. You always want to keep moving forward, and for me, getting to the main stage at C2C would be huge. And beyond that, you start thinking even bigger—maybe one day headlining something like this. That’s the kind of long-term goal you keep in the back of your mind. For now, though, it’s about taking the next step and hopefully next time we come back, we’re up there.
You were out here supporting Kane Brown on arena shows—what was that experience like?
That was unreal. Me and Kane have been friends for a long time, so for him to bring me out on that tour, especially over here, meant a lot. Playing those arenas is a completely different experience—it’s bigger, louder, everything’s amplified. And having his crew kind of help me along the way made it feel like a really supportive environment. It was surreal, honestly. Those kinds of shows really push you as a performer.
Do you approach performing differently in an arena compared to a small club?
Yeah, definitely. It’s almost like two different worlds. In a smaller venue, it’s more intimate—you’re dialled in, connecting with people up close, and working within a tighter space. In an arena, you’ve got all this room, all this energy, and you’ve got to fill it. You’re moving more, you’re feeding off a bigger crowd, and it becomes a much more physical performance too. It’s a workout, for sure. But both have their place, and I enjoy both for different reasons.
Looking back on your album from 2024 ‘Puzzled' now it’s been out for a while, how do you feel about it?
I love that project, man. It was such a big moment for me—my first full album—and just getting to that finish line felt amazing. I’m still really proud of it, and I still love playing those songs live. It did exactly what I hoped it would do in terms of moving my career forward and connecting with people. It’s one of those records that I think really represents where I was at that time, and I’m grateful for everything it’s done for me.
Which song from the album connected the most with fans?
I’d probably say ‘Ain’t Missin’ You.' That was kind of the one that kicked everything off. It actually started out before we even fully planned the album—we were just putting together an EP at the time, and that song really sparked the whole process. It still gets a lot of attention now, and it’s one that people keep coming back to, which is always a good feeling.
You worked with a close circle of writers on that album—are those your go-to people?
Yeah, for sure. Those guys are some of my best friends, and that makes such a difference. When we get in a room together, there’s just a natural chemistry, and we usually come out with something great. I’ve known guys like Gabe Foust since we were kids—we go way back—so it’s cool to be able to build something together like that. It’s like having your team around you, and you just trust each other. That’s really important in songwriting.
Do you write much on your own, or do you prefer co-writing?
I’ll write on my own if I’m feeling inspired or have an idea I want to chase, but most of the time I prefer co-writing. I like having other people in the room, bouncing ideas off each other, getting different perspectives. It just helps you push the song further than you might on your own. That collaboration is a big part of how I like to work.
You didn’t release much new music last year — was that intentional?
Yeah, it was kind of by design. We had ‘Better Than You Left Me' out at radio, so there was a lot of focus on that—doing shows, promoting it, letting it breathe. At the same time, I was spending a lot of time writing and getting ready for the next chapter. Sometimes you’ve got to take that step back from releasing and just focus on creating, and that’s what I was doing.
Where do you feel you’ve grown most as a songwriter since ‘Puzzled'?
I think for me it’s been about melody. That’s always been something I love and something I feel is a strength, but I’m always trying to get better at it—make it fresher, more interesting, more unique. Storytelling comes pretty naturally a lot of the time, but melody is where I really like to challenge myself and keep evolving.
When you go into a writing session, what do you tend to bring to the table?
Usually melody. That’s kind of my lane. The guys I write with are great with titles and concepts, and sometimes we’ll just sit and talk about life until something clicks. Other times I’ll come in with an idea or a melody already forming. It really depends on the day, but I think the best songs come from that mix of everyone bringing something different into the room.
‘Momma's House' was a huge hit for you with Dustin Lynch. Are you still interested in writing for other artists as well?
Absolutely. For me, it’s always about writing the best song possible. Whether it ends up being for me or someone else doesn’t really matter at the start. If I write something that doesn’t quite fit me but I still love it, I’d love for someone else to cut it. That’s always something I’m open to, and I’d love to have more songs out there with other artists too.
What does the rest of the year look like for you in terms of new music?
We’ve got a bunch of songs we’re really excited about. The plan is to get back into the studio soon, finish a few more, and then start rolling things out—hopefully some singles in the near future. From there, it’s about building toward a bigger project. Ideally, I’d love to put out another full album, but we’ll see how it all comes together. You can’t rush the creative process, so it’s about taking the time to get it right and then putting it out when it’s ready.
Check out Dylan Schneider's ‘Puzzled' album in all the usual places and keep an eye out for new music from him later in 2026.
