Basement Bloom — Dylan Forshner Finds Light in the Grunge

Dylan Forshner’s “It Ain’t So Bad” is one of those songs that sneaks up on you, a fuzzy, rough-around-the-edges anthem that ends up feeling surprisingly tender. Recorded DIY in drummer-producer Joe Labrie’s basement in Welland, this track captures a rare kind of authenticity: that moment when a musician finds both his footing and his freedom.

Forshner’s sound pays clear homage to the golden age of ‘90s and early 2000s rock, think the smoldering melancholy of Nirvana, the dynamic crunch of System of a Down, and the emotional shimmer of Coldplay. Yet, it’s not mimicry. The drop C# tuning, the textured fuzz of the guitar, and the unpolished but pulsing rhythm section create something raw and new. Bassist Jody Mayne’s melodic undercurrent pairs beautifully with Labrie’s playful, human drumming, giving the track a heartbeat you can feel.

What sets “It Ain’t So Bad” apart is the mood beneath the noise, optimism forged from the aftermath of struggle. Forshner wrote it while finding balance again, sober and steady, rediscovering joy in music and connection. That energy spills through every riff and every rise and fall of the melody.

It’s more than a grunge revival; it’s a document of personal renewal. A little scruffy, a little defiant — and all heart. If this is what Forshner sounds like in a basement, imagine where he’ll go next.