If DYLI brought a friend for us, we’d probably vibe with them just as hard as we do with her music. The Lodi-born singer-songwriter has returned with “Friend 4 U,” a playful, effortlessly catchy track full of quick-witted bars and undeniable confidence. We caught up with her to talk about corny men, surprise Sri Lankan chart moments, and the line that started it all: “he so corny, give that man a Frito.” Welcome to the chaos—DYLI style.
“Friend 4 U” is such a vibe—what inspired the playful chaos behind this track?
The concept for “Friend 4 U” came to mind as I heard the track for the song. It was fun and playful and had a very light energy to it, so I wanted the lyrics to follow that. Once I started to create the flow for the song, “he so corny, give that man a Frito” was the first thing that came out of my mouth, and since that line is far from poetic, it set the foundation for the rest of the track.
The hook is instantly catchy. How did it come to you—on a voice memo, in the shower, at a party?
When I write, I typically lay down flows and melodies before any lyrics to give the song some structure. “Friend 4 U” was very different. Every now and then, a song will just naturally fall into place for me, and that was the case with this one. I wrote the first verse and pre in a matter of minutes, and once I got to the hook, I knew I wanted it to be something simple that would stick in your head—easy to remember. They preset the tone for the hook, specifically the line, “You could catch me in the back chillin’ with my boo, but it’s all love bae I brought a friend for you.” In my head, that HAD to be the hook, and we built it up from there.
There’s a lot of attitude in the delivery. Were you channeling anyone while recording “Friend 4 U”?
Honestly, no. I want to say that when I recorded “Friend 4 U,” I was so excited about the song itself that it just translated. Like I said before, it’s not every song that just flows so easily. It was one of those moments where the song wrote itself, and I just happened to be the catalyst.
What’s your favorite lyric in the song—and why does it hit home for you?
I wouldn’t say it necessarily “hits home,” but my favorite lyric has to be “had to drop that boy, cause he’s lowering my elo.” I’m sure everyone can relate to the meaning of that line, but I love it because it’s a “if you know, you know” kind of moment. Like a lyrical Easter egg.
What part of your personality shines the most in “Friend 4 U”?
I kept “Friend 4 U” as natural as possible, so the whole of the song really does feel like me. I’d like to say the attitude behind the song really captures my personality, but that is just my opinion. My inner circle might be better at answering that question than me.
When did you first realize music was more than just a hobby for you?
I have been making music for the better part of 10 years now, but it was only in the past few years that things started to change for me. As I have gotten older and more tuned into my craft, more opportunities have presented themselves, which I am so grateful for. I have an amazing group of people who I work with, and it’s because of them that I get to continue doing what I love, but even still, I have never looked at making music as work. I take it as seriously as a job, but I still enjoy it as a hobby. I’m not sure if that will ever change.
Do you ever write songs that you know aren’t meant for you? What happens to those?
In recent years, I have written a number of songs that weren’t meant for me. Some of them get released, and others are left untouched. “Foreplay,” a song I dropped last year, was originally written for another artist, and it never got picked up. After almost a year, I got the OK to release the song for myself, and that set the tone for my next few releases. The industry works in funny ways, and you never really know what will come of past or future projects.
What’s the most unexpectedly cool place you’ve heard someone playing your music?
In 2023, I released a song in collaboration with my producer, RUVVANGA, called “Ghetto Soda.” Though I wasn’t physically there for this, it was charting in Sri Lanka, his home country. That was one of the coolest feelings I have ever experienced. Knowing strangers are enjoying something you’ve created will never not be surreal.
What’s something you’re chasing in your career that has nothing to do with charts or streams?
In my heart, the most rewarding thing would be validation. It sounds extremely corny, and people always say not to care what others think, but after years of making music and expressing myself through my songs, the feeling of being recognized and related to would be unbeatable. More than charts or streams would ever be.
Ten years from now, what’s your dream headline in a magazine?
“Back with Dyli after 10 years: Her thoughts after winning her first Grammy” — Stereo Saints, of course.
After talking with DYLI, one thing’s clear: her pen is as sharp as her delivery, and she’s got enough attitude to pass around—just like that extra friend in the back. And to any man out here lowering someone’s elo? Consider this your warning… and maybe a snack.