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Although Dylan Rockoff prefers not to use the word "fame" when thinking or speaking about himself, he agreed to the idea that he is now a recognized musician.
The 22 year-old singer-songwriter is excited to perform from 8-10 p.m. Friday in the Michael Ross Event Center at the Trade and Transit Center II, 144 W. Fourth St.
"Always happy to return home," he said. "Even happier that I'm bringing my band and music with me this time."
A Loyalsock Township High School graduate, Rockoff recently played to a much larger crowd -- about 11,000 people -- when he opened for Jon Bon Jovi at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The performance was part of Bon Jovi's "This House is Not for Sale" tour and was the reward for Rockoff winning a Live Nation contest. Even though he said it was a much different crowd than here in Williamsport, the experience was incredible.
"It wouldn't have been as awesome if the crowd wasn't as energetic and supportive as they were," he said. "It was truly surreal to hear an arena full of people sing parts of my songs. The roar of the crowd after our last song is something I will never forget."
What helped him feel at home, though, was hearing the cheers of some of the people who have followed him since the beginning of his career -- especially the voices of his family. He said his mom, dad, sister and brothers have always been front and center, singing and dancing along to the music. Rockoff recalled his earliest musical memory -- his mom and Poppop walking around the housing singing, "Hey Dyl, did you know that I love you? Comes the old April breeze ..."
"It's an old Frank Sinatra song and I don't think either of them ever knew the actual words," he said. "But to this day, that melody is the one I can remember as being the first I ever really loved."
That interest would lead him to the Uptown Music Collective, where he would absorb as much as he could from executive director Dave Brumbaugh and staff.
"I owe my musical education to that place and those people," he said. "Dave was the best music and life teacher I ever had because he took time to understand my learning style and pushed me to reach my potential."
But Rockoff would be remiss if he didn't recognize his classmates and teachers at Loyalsock, especially those he said tolerated his singing in the halls and classrooms when he thought no one was listening.
They're certainly listening now.
"It's definitely been amazing to see all the support I've received from my family and friends," he said. "Knowing that I have an army of people in my corner, rooting for me to keep pushing, has given me a lot more confidence and determination."
Rockoff has settled in Boston, Massachusetts, while he studies finance at Northeastern University. Although he considered applying to Berklee College of Music, he decided it would be a better career move to pursue a business education that he could later apply to his music.
With a focus on college, his touring schedule isn't as full as he would like, but he sees that changing upon graduation.
"Touring can be exhausting," he said. "But getting the chance to perform the music I wrote for people that want to hear it is an incredible gift. It's easy to forget, but I constantly remind myself how lucky I am to have connected with people in such a way that they would choose to spend their time watching me doing what I love to do. There's nothing like it."
It was this sort of connection that first convinced Rockoff that he truly did have a special talent. It was the first time that a person he had performed for reached out about one of his songs.
"This person shared their feelings with me towards graduating high school and leaving home," he said. "They described how the song helped them express and explain those emotions. I wrote that song, 'Yell Out,' my senior year of high school with those exact emotions at play. Connecting with people the way I connected with this person through music is a special thing to me."
He continued to capture his internal dialogue with "Paranoid," a favorite of his, and is excited to share "Come Over," the single from his new record.
"Paranoid is special to me because it's the first song that made me think to myself, 'yes, I was completely honest here.'"
The last song on "These Old Streets," "Paranoid" is much darker in comparison to the three that precede it, illustrating Rockoff's view of the crucial need to question everything, challenge social norms and seek truth.
"Come Over" is special to him because, stylistically, it incorporates elements from each of his favorite musical genres - a blend of acoustic, hip-hop, rhythm-and-blues, and rock. Rockoff said he is excited to return to Williamsport and considers himself lucky to have grown up in such a supportive environment that nurtures the development of young people. Now, the recognized singer will have a chance to pay it forward with Uptown students at a Q&A session that will take place before the 8 p.m. performance.
"I'm excited to talk with young people, impart some knowledge and share my experience with them," he said. " ... Regarding the music industry, recording and any other topic they'd like to cover."
Regardless of whether readers support Rockoff's musical pursuits, he asks each person to support the arts in some capacity.
"These days more than ever, people need an outlet for expression and reflection," he said. "Support the organizations and people that are creating things that make you think and feel."