On the Verge of an Entirely New World

Fountain native singer/songwriter Dylin Danielson has been working on his second album, “On the Verge of an Entirely New World,” for three or four years. The album seems aptly named for our times – we do seem to be on the verge of an entirely new world. Danielson found the phrase in a collection of journals titled “Farthest North,” written by Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen. The phrase resonated with Danielson; the new album is a nautical transatlantic solo voyage of Captain Dyl who is a descendant of the Norse god Njordr with metaphysical undertones. It was foreshadowed in the last song “Gimlé” on Danielson’s first album, “Requiem for the Future.”

Both of Dylin’s albums are autobiographical. He shared that his first album was hyper personal. The second album was intended to be upbeat and optimistic, but when his personal life took an unexpected turn, so did the album. Each of the album’s songs have coordinates as they journal the travels of Captain Dyl and Dylin through the ocean of life. 

This second album differs from the first in several ways. Musically, there are more risks. Dylin feels the album is much more intimate and cohesive than the first. According to Dylin, the album deals with trying to find the peace he thought he had.

The music genre of the album is actually a combination of genres. Some musicians refer to it as folktronica. Dylin calls it “genre fluid.” It includes rock, punk, pop, metal and ambient. Dylin’s music appeals to a “weirdly diverse” group of people; 16- to 29-year-olds, 65% of which are male, make up the largest component of his fan base. His music creates a welcoming place for all. 

“Music is a personal catharsis for me,” Danielson declared. “I couldn’t function if I didn’t do creative things.” Dylin writes all his own lyrics; the music is a collaborative effort of his team. He approves every decision; he has a grand vision for the song, but other artists help fill in parts of it. He notes, “I want to create sonic landscapes for people to get lost in.”

Originally, Dylin went to UWRF to become a history professor. He then decided to pursue a trade and attended RCTC to become an electrician. Knowing that he wanted to do more creatively with music, he then earned a degree in Music Creative Technology. Upon graduation, he took a job with Carpet Booth Studios in Marion, Minn. While his dream was to be an artist, he also enjoyed being a studio person. Danielson recorded his first album at Carpet Booth. 

YouTuber Bradley Lehmann gave Danielson’s work favorable reviews and did a video of “Gimlé,” the last song on his first album. Danielson was surprised by the reception of the video and all the networking that resulted from it. His second album features some of the connections he made at that time. On the second album, he collaborates with Zach Zurn (the main producer), Charlie Burket, Ryan Howe, Cameron Bartlett and Mike Cole.

Danielson is inspired by Alaskan Tapes, Bon Iver, Novo Amour, Hailaker and the Japanese House. Life, stories, TV shows and obscure islands all inspire Dylin as well.

Dylin’s long term goal is to have his own franchise — movies, video games, graphic novels and coffee table books. At this time, his challenge continues to be financial. Music sales are different now — a lot of music is available at little cost via streaming. Danielson encourages people who are invested in an artist to support them financially. He is on Patreon, a creator platform where artists can monetize themselves to their audience by offering extra ways to connect. You can find more information on his website kommertilskogen.com/

Dylin hopes to finalize principal production of his album in July and release “On the Verge of an Entirely New World” in mid-2026.