"The raw spirit of indie rock. An amplified, rocking version of ’60s protest folk. The soulful passion of the Violent Femmes and The Waterboys." All of these comparisons have been made in attempts to describe Delta Spirit, the southern California five-piece who might just be one of the most important new bands of the decade. Each description contains elements of the truth, but the real answer to the question “who is Delta Spirit?” lies within Ode to Sunshine, the band’s captivating debut. The group’s DIY ethic shines throughout the album, with songs honed razor-sharp over a year of non-stop touring across America. Opening sold-out tours for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, and Dr. Dog, the band developed a riveting live show and gained a loyal following amongst tastemaker music fans, earning them invites to national festivals like Austin City Limits, Noise Pop and Sasquatch. So it would not be an understatement to call Ode to Sunshine one of the year’s most highly-anticipated debuts. But don’t take our word for it; in the words of Delta Spirit: “If you’re feeling what I’m feeling come on, all you soul searching people come on.”
Jonathan Jameson of Delta Spirit took a few minutes out of the band’s busy touring schedule to answer a few questions about the band, their music, and Ode to Sunshine.
Where in California did the band come together? How did you meet?
We are all from Southern California. Brandon met Matt while he was singing and playing guitar by the train tracks in San Diego. The rest is boring.
Who plays what and sings? Do you trade off instruments on different songs?
Brandon plays drums and percussion. Sean plays guitar, does some percussion and hits a big drum. Jon exclusively plays bass with the occasional vocal. Kelly plays piano, hits a drum, sings, hits a trashcan, plays guitar and a high strung guitar. Matt plays guitar, sings and plays piano.
Your songs are credited to the band as a whole. Could you describe how they come together? Are the lyrics collaborative as well?
It’s always a new experience. Matt and Kelly write the lyrics with minor editing done by the band. Songs come as jams, ideas, almost complete chords, hummed notes, drum beats, etc.
Some of the songs have very infectious sing along melodies (like the ba ba ba’s in “People C’mon”). Do you envision your music as communal, for audiences to participate in as well as listen to?
Our music feels most at home when we play it with people as opposed to at people. There is a mystery to music played live. It brings us out of ourselves into something bigger, something beyond our individuality. Sometimes it happens, other times the songs are just songs.
You recorded Ode to Sunshine at a cabin in Julian, California, out in the desert east of San Diego. Did the isolation of the setting influence the vibe of the album (like say, Dylan and The Band’s Basement Tapes)?
It feels like sun, saunas, dogs, friends, Old Crow and Coke, Eli Thompson, beards, hot days, long star filled nights, good books, hikes, shorts, bbq and just the way we wanted to make our first record.
Your music has been compared to current indie rockers, ’80s punk roots bands, and sixties folk rockers. Was there any music you listened to growing up, or that you listen to now, that you hear seeping into your current sound?
We were born in the ’80s, grew up in the ’90s and have parents from the ’60s. We are proud of the bands that are making great music now. Maybe it’s like the Waterboys covering Harry Nilsson or maybe a song by the Weavers at a rally, but on tour next month with Richard Swift. We want to be found in the lineage of honest and true music that has found its way through every current of music history.
There seems to be a conscience in the music, a sense of taking responsibility for ourselves, each other, and the world. What do you feel is special about this moment in history, and this generation, and the place of music and art in society? Are you encouraged by the energy you feel coming back to you from your audiences?
There is a feeling of possibility in our age. We feel that same possibility with our band. There is a deep connection there. We don’t want to forget about the most important thing for us, which is simply making good music, but that does include being aware of what’s going on in the world as well as what’s going on in our own heads and souls. We aren’t self-aggrandizing cock rockers or activist idealist hippies. We just want to be honest about ourselves and how we see the world, not minimizing the darkness or the hope, because both are very real.
Your original DIY version of Ode to Sunshine featured austere black & white artwork, while the new cover is much warmer, with the smiling face of Dr. Thomas Payne (an uncle of one of the band members) raising a toast while at a scientific convention on bark beetles. The Rounder release also features an additional song, “Streetwalker,” which despite its somber subject features a Phil Spector / Brian Wilson groove. Do the new artwork and song show a new side to the band?
I think that before when we were looking at the album it felt kinda heavy to us and serious. About the big things in life. Like a dusty record of Kennedy speeches. But I think we realized that the true feeling of the album also included what we were feeling while making it and recording it and that those bits of summer and excitement and wonder break through every once in a while. It’s as if after listening to those sobering speeches we found the pics of the Kennedys on vacation and now it all really made sense. The light and the dark. Sometimes you have to laugh at the serious stuff to be able to do something about it.
From the opening Rubber Soul-esque acoustic guitars of “Tomorrow Goes Away” to the saloon piano-over-grunge chords of “Trashcan,” from the harmonica-driven protest waltz “People, Turn Around” to the insistent surf rock drums of “Children,” Ode to Sunshine perfectly captures the energy and hope of a new generation that’s rising like a phoenix to change the world. And with Delta Spirit providing the soundtrack, this is one revolution you can dance to.
People C'mon
Delta Spirit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got no place of my own
Well, I got nothing to give
Well, I got nothing to show for it
And I'll be wondering on for all my years
What I become no one could know
If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon
And I got something to say my friends
I will never lay down without a fight
And when I die it will be the day
When every one of my wrongs will be made right
Only times gonna heal my pain
Lord knows the mistakes I will make
Yeah, there'll be peace on my soul someday
Reconciled, I'll be on my way
And I'll be wondering on for all my years
What I become no one can say
If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon
Oh no, if you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon, oh
And I'll be wondering on for all these years
What I become no one could know
If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
All you soul searching people c'mon, oh
Delta Spirit's "People C'mon" is a deeply introspective song that reflects on the feelings of a wandering soul, who has nothing to show for but a sense of uncertainty and pain. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song as the singer describes himself as a wanderer without a place to call his own. He admits that he has nothing to give and is unsure of what he will become. This theme is carried forward throughout the entire song, and one can feel the sense of despair and restlessness.
The song offers a message of hope, however, for those who relate to the singer's predicament. He calls out "All you soul searching people c'mon" to join him in his quest for a sense of purpose and direction. He acknowledges that only time will heal his pain, and he knows that he will make mistakes along the way. The song offers a sense of peace and reconciliation that comes with the healing of one's soul when all is said and done.
Overall, "People C'mon" is a poignant song that touches on universal feelings of uncertainty and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics are straightforward, yet they convey a deep message that is sure to resonate with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a wandering soul
I am a person who wanders aimlessly in life.
I got no place of my own
I do not have a place in the world that I can call home.
Well, I got nothing to give
I have nothing to offer to anyone.
Well, I got nothing to show for it
I have achieved nothing noteworthy in my life.
And I'll be wondering on for all my years
I will continue to wander through life without direction or purpose for the rest of my days.
What I become no one could know
I have no idea how my life will turn out.
If you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
If you are experiencing the same sense of aimlessness and lack of direction, come join me on my journey.
All you soul searching people c'mon
All those who are searching for their purpose in life, come join me.
And I got something to say my friends
I have a message for everyone.
I will never lay down without a fight
I will never willingly give up or surrender.
And when I die it will be the day
The day of my death will be the only day when I will be held accountable for my actions.
When every one of my wrongs will be made right
On the day of my death, I will be judged for my mistakes and held accountable for them.
Only times gonna heal my pain
The only way for me to recover from my emotional pain is to allow time to pass.
Lord knows the mistakes I will make
I know that I will make mistakes in life, as everyone does.
Yeah, there'll be peace on my soul someday
Someday, I will find peace and contentment within myself.
Reconciled, I'll be on my way
When I have made peace with myself and my past mistakes, I will be ready to move forward in life.
Oh no, if you're feeling what I'm feeling c'mon
Expressing empathy to others who are going through similar struggles as well.
All you soul searching people c'mon, oh
Urging anyone who is looking for their purpose to join me in this shared journey.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRANDON YOUNG, JONATHAN JAMESON, MATTHEW VASQUEZ, SEAN WALKER, KELLY WINRICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind