The Musical Maestro

Donny Dykowsky talks about his new project Mirrors on the Moon.

Nov 12, 2023

Let's set the record straight, Donny Dykowsky isn't your average, run-of-the-mill musician. Even for an artist, he marches to the beat of his drummer. His journey through the musical wilderness isn't a jaunt; it's a full-blown odyssey.

Growing up in a not-so-musical house, he relied on extended family and gold old-fashioned reliable radio. He was introduced to an ocean of genres, floating from the growling blues to the sweetest pop to classic rock. Donny learned to attack music with a tenacity and temerity that would serve him well in a few short years.

As soon as he was able, he was playing live and touring with a band that was touring and successful in the tri-state area - New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Before he was old enough to legally drink alcohol, Donny got diagnosed with cancer.

After an epic five-year struggle for his life, Donny emerged with the band Chesterwhite. With his Midas touch, he turned Chesterwhite into a genre-blending spectacle. They weren't just playing tunes; they were conjuring magic, mixing rock with pop and a heavy shake of rockabilly. Better than that, the songs weren’t overwrought and loaded with bloviating braying.

After Chesterwhite collapsed, Donny extended his creativity and began his foray into work on commercials, television, and film.

Dykowsky's most recent venture is Mirrors on the Moon, which finds him tearing up the rulebook and writing his own. This project finds Donny making a bouillabaisse of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, and a dash of Leon Russell for a tasty treat. Mirrors on the Moon's music is at times ethereal and otherworldly, and others leg-shaking boogie.

Dykowsky isn't simply writing songs, he's sculpting sound, and painting pictures with notes and rhythms.

Donny has his fingers in every part of every song, a true maestro that makes every project he touches turn to gold. He's not just in MIrrors on the Moon; he's the guy pulling the strings, making sure every note hits right.

But wait there's more - Donny's not hoarding his musical wisdom. No way, now how. He's out there, mentoring the young guns, passing the torch. Donny Dykowsky isn't just about making music; he's forging a legacy, and building a new breed of musical warriors.

Recognition? Sure, that's all well and good, but that's not the point. Donny Dykowsky’s artistic career is not about the destination; it's about the journey, the exploration, and the relentless pursuit of something that pushes the boundaries of sound.

It can be said that Donny Dykowsky is a man on a never-ending quest for musical nirvana.

Donny is not just a musician; he's a force of nature, a whirlwind of creativity. From the get-go, he's been on a mission to not just play music but to live it, breathe it, and give it back to the world in spades. And let me tell you, this world, and culture, is better off that Donny Dykowsky survived that battle for life all those years ago.

So, strap in and keep your ears open – Donny Dykowsky's symphony is very far from finished.

Donny stopped by Thunderlove studio to chat with Keith about, well, about everything.