Matthew Patania Mixing a love of classic country and southern-fried soul, Aragon Georgia’s Dalton Dover first started singing at church as a kid, winning his fifth-grade school talent show performing Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” At that moment, Dover’s love of performing was born. By the age of 16, he had picked up a guitar and started teaching himself to play, yet it was his grandfather who turned him on to country music and artists such as Keith Whitley, Rhett Akins, Joe Diffie, and Steve Wariner. Enamored with the honesty and storytelling found in country music, Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes” was the first song Dover taught himself to play on guitar. Performances at local bars soon followed along with sharing covers of some of his favorite songs on TikTok. It was there he caught the ear of producer Matt McV and A&R Veteran and founder of Droptine Recordings, Jim Catino, who quickly signed Dover.
Dalton’s latest single “Baby I Am,” is a love story that people can feel. Love is forever, and this song paints the perfect picture.
Having fallen in love with music at a young age, singing in church, performing at your fifth-grade talent show, it’s safe to say music has been running through your veins since day one. Who and/or what, sparked your love for music early on?
Dalton Dover (DD): “Being around country music at such a young age, I’ve always had a love for it. I would always sing whatever songs were on Country radio at the time. I knew I wanted to try & pursue my dream after being around guitar pickers like my best friend/brother-in-law Brandon (Morris). We had this drive to make people smile while singing along, and it just stuck with me through everything. When no one was there, music always was, and when I didn’t have the right words to say, the songs did.”
Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
DD: “Some of my biggest influences are my grandpa, Luke Combs & Keith Whitley.”
As a small-town kid with big dreams of pursuing a career in country music, what have you learned growing up that taught you how to set goals and make sacrifices, in order to accomplish everything your heart desires?
DD: “Growing up, I was taught to always strive to be great and never give up on something that you believe in. Music has been my identity for as long as I can remember, and without it, I wouldn’t be me. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing a show for two people or playing a show for 100 people, because I love how it makes me and I love how it makes the other people in the room feel.”
A couple of years back you auditioned for Season 16 of The Voice. What was that experience like for you? How do you find it has influenced your craft, as well as the level of confidence you’ve come to instill within yourself as a rising artist?
DD: “‘The Voice’ was definitely an experience for me — I actually found my voice while I was on the show, and I knew what I had to do when I came back home: play shows and grind hard. I also met some lifelong friends like Gyth Rigdon & Andrew Sevener.“
Over the last little while, you’ve been sharing covers of some of your favourite songs, along with originals, to TikTok. How has the platform allowed you to create more of an identity for yourself and your music as you move forward in your career?
DD: “I started posting on TikTok after a friend told me to try it out, little did I know it would change my life 6 months later. I found my fans there, and the platform has allowed me to show them my new projects before they’re released, post covers that they request and it gives me an opportunity to bond with my people on a different level.”
Tell us how your latest single, “Baby I Am,” came to be.” What does love mean to you?
DD: “I heard ‘Baby I Am’ for the first time in my producer’s (Matt McV) studio, and I knew it was a love story that people would feel. Love to me means forever, through thick & thin. I believe ‘Baby I Am’ brings that true meaning of love to life.”
When people hear your music, what do you hope they feel?
DD: “I hope anyone that hears my songs feels like they’re relatable and come from the heart.”
What can fans and new listeners alike, expect from Dalton Dover, as we kick off 2022?
DD: “Fans can expect to see me still playing songs from my front porch in Georgia on TikTok and social media, but they should also know that we’ve got plenty of new songs on the way. We’ve been spending a lot of time choosing songs that not only resonated with me but say what I want to say. I’m looking forward to sharing those with the world soon. I also got to play my first few shows with these new songs right before the holidays, so hitting the road and meeting fans in person is a big deal for me this year!”
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