August 11th 2024.
If you're a fan of The X Factor, you may remember Dylan Holloway from the 2012 season. He was one half of the hip-hop duo MK1, along with his partner Simeon Dixon, and they made it all the way to the live finals under the mentorship of Louis Walsh. Looking back on that experience now, Dylan still holds fond memories of his time on the show, even though he admits he felt a burning scream in the pit of his stomach at times.
Now, more than a decade later, Dylan is reflecting on his journey and how he has finally found his own voice as an artist. During the pandemic, he began his medical transition as a transgender man, and it has been a life-changing experience for him. "I finally realized that the person I had become was just a caricature of who I thought everyone wanted me to be," he shared. "I had to shed that bravado and really embrace who I am."
Dylan had always known that he was a trans man, but he had spent years suppressing and repressing his true self. In his teenage years, he even came out as attracted to women, hoping it would be enough to satisfy the life he wanted. "I thought, if I can at least marry a girl, maybe that'll be enough for me to be happy," he explained. But deep down, he always knew there was something more, something else that was missing.
It wasn't until he was 26 years old that Dylan finally came out as a trans man. And while that was a huge step in itself, he still felt like there was a final piece of the puzzle missing. In 2020, with the support of his friends and family, he decided to pursue a medical transition and underwent top surgery. It was a scary decision, especially for a musician who relies on his voice, but Dylan knew he had to put himself first.
He shared, "My voice was the only place where I felt safe, where I could really be myself. It was how I expressed my feelings and emotions, and I was afraid that testosterone would change that." But ultimately, he knew it was the right decision for him, and he was willing to risk losing his music career to finally be true to himself.
Thankfully, everything worked out for the best. Dylan loves his voice now and feels like it's even better than before. And he's not afraid to embrace his past, often posting clips of himself harmonizing with his pre-transition self. "I realized that the person I was before is the one who brought me to be Dylan," he said. "And it would be cruel to put him away and forget about him. He's a part of me, and he helped shape who I am today."
While Dylan doesn't often meet up with his fellow X Factor stars, he still keeps in touch with them through an active WhatsApp group. And he has nothing but good things to say about his former mentor, Louis Walsh. "He may come across as this lovable character, but he's actually quite smart and knows how to make music business decisions," Dylan shared.
After MK1 disbanded in 2015, Dylan reinvented himself as a solo artist under the name Dylan and the Moon. His music has evolved into a blend of indie pop with big hooks and heavy drums, and he describes it as "just fun." He's currently working on an EP called Mosaic, and his single "Bones" will be released next week.
Dylan will also be performing at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, London with his live band on October 26th. It's a chance for him to share his music and celebrate the little moments that make up our lives. "I want people to know that it's okay to embrace who you've been because that person helped shape who you are now," he said. "We can look back on our past selves with love and appreciate how far we've come."
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