Dylan Perkons continues to carve a path that feels deeply personal and refreshingly honest. Originally from Santa Maria, California, and now based in Vancouver, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has long been drawn to moody, introspective songwriting. His work effortlessly weaves influences from folk-rock giants like The National and Big Thief to the quiet wisdom of Neil Young and John Prine. There’s something transportive about his sound—wide-screened synth tones stretch out beside earthy acoustic textures, creating a sonic space that invites listeners to reflect and wander.
With a career that’s shifted through various phases and projects, Perkons has spent years refining a sound that finally felt so true to himself, he released it under his own name. “The idea of playing under my own name hadn’t really crossed my mind before,” he shared, “but when it came time to name the new project, it just felt right. For the first time in my life, my music truly sounded like me.” That sentiment rings especially clear in his latest single, “We Don’t Know the Ending Yet,” released on April 23, 2025 via Apophenia Records.
Following his March single “Edge of the World,” this new track finds Perkons leaning further into the vulnerable and layered emotions that have come to define his recent work. It’s a song that wrestles with self-doubt but refuses to surrender to it. With a candid and somewhat self-deprecating tone, he shares, “I wanted the verses to really juxtapose the hopefulness of the chorus. I like songs that make you feel multiple things at the same time.” That balance is struck beautifully here: a slow and uncertain beginning opens into an unexpectedly groovy arrangement. Organic percussion, pedal steel, electric guitar, saxophone, and layered harmonies all blend into something that feels light on its feet, even when the lyrics hint at heaviness.
The production on the track speaks to Perkons’ collaborative nature. Recorded across both Ontario and British Columbia, the single was shaped with the help of producers Jonas Bonnetta and Michael Duguay near Kingston. Pedal steel lines from Ryan Barwin were recorded at Hazy Grove in Hamilton, and David Vertesi added final touches in Vancouver. The result is a track that sounds cohesive despite the geographical sprawl—a sonic quilt stitched together with care.
Accompanying the release is a music video directed by Derek Janzen, offering a window into the quietly poetic moments of everyday life. Whether it’s walking the dog, vacuuming, or writing a song, the video finds subtle magic in the mundane. “We wanted to zoom in (literally and figuratively) and capture some beauty in the more mundane moments of life,” Perkons explains. It’s a visual that mirrors the emotional nuance of the track itself—a song about feeling lost and hopeful all at once.
Dylan Perkons may be exploring new ground with each release, but he remains anchored by an honesty that cuts through. With “We Don’t Know the Ending Yet,” he doesn’t offer answers, just a heartfelt invitation to keep going—to stick around long enough to see what might come next.
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