"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.
It Ain't Easy
Delta Spirit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The last time you saw me I was blacked out in the van
Disregarding every single red light that I saw
I blew past a speed trap, now I'm in trouble with the law
For the longest time, I would try
To get in line, but it ain't easy
And I found it hard to be myself
In your suit, you're dancing on last day
Sippin' pink lemonade, I'm rollin' in my grave
Thought I was dead but I am better now
Provin' nosy now, I'll never let you down
For the longest time, I would try
To get in line, but it ain't easy
And I found it hard to be myself
Without your help, but it ain't easy
Two wrong will make it right
Too proud to let it die
Before we say goodnight
I'll have my hands up
Two wrong will make it right
Too proud to let it die
Before we'd say goodnight
I'll have my hands up
Two wrong will make it right
Too proud to let it die
Before we say goodnight
I'll have my hands up
Two wrong will make it right
Too proud to let it die
Before we say goodnight
I'll have my hands up
The lyrics of Delta Spirit's "It Ain't Easy" touch upon themes of addiction, self-discovery, and the difficulty of being true to oneself. The opening lines "Could you feel me meltin' in your hand? / The last time you saw me I was blacked out in the van" paint a vivid picture of a man struggling with addiction and unable to control his impulses. He disregards red lights and ends up in trouble with the law, suggesting that his addiction has taken a heavy toll on his life.
The next verse reveals that the singer has been trying to get his life together for a long time, but it hasn't been easy. He struggles to be true to himself without the help of someone else, hinting that he might be heavily reliant on a specific person or group for support. The chorus echoes this sentiment, repeating the phrase "it ain't easy" and emphasizing that the singer's journey toward self-discovery and recovery is an arduous one.
In the final verse, the singer seems to be speaking directly to someone who has caused him pain. He mentions that they have both made mistakes but that he is "too proud to let it die." The repetition of the phrase "two wrong will make it right" suggests that the singer and this person both have a part to play in healing their relationship, and that they must work together to make things right.
Overall, "It Ain't Easy" is a poignant and reflective song that deals with difficult subject matter in an honest and heartfelt way.
Line by Line Meaning
Could you feel me meltin' in your hand?
Asking if the person could sense the singer's vulnerability and fragility
The last time you saw me I was blacked out in the van
Recalling a past incident where the singer was drunk and out of control
Disregarding every single red light that I saw
Describing reckless behavior and disregard for the rules
I blew past a speed trap, now I'm in trouble with the law
Consequences of the artist's dangerous actions
For the longest time, I would try
To get in line, but it ain't easy
And I found it hard to be myself
Without your help, but it ain't easy, easy, easy
Struggling to find one's identity and assert oneself, feeling lost and needing someone's support
In your suit, you're dancing on last day
Sippin' pink lemonade, I'm rollin' in my grave
Thought I was dead but I am better now
Provin' nosy now, I'll never let you down
Contrasting the singer's low point with someone else's success, expressing a newfound strength and determination
Two wrong will make it right
Too proud to let it die
Before we say goodnight
I'll have my hands up
Reaching out to mend a broken relationship, willing to apologize and make amends
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Matthew Logan Vasquez, Jonathan Jameson, Kelly Winrich, Brandon Young, William Robert McLaren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joeodonohoe6467
Truly superb. Two amazing singles so far. Easily one of the best bands on the planet. Cant wait for the album. Love from Dublin.
@Saxafruge
yea i followed them like a deadhead for a while ...nothin like em.
@bobross9004
I thought I was the only person in Dublin that listened to ds
@CantThinkofaCoolOne
Great record. Thanks KUTX. 2020 was the year that I fell in love with new music again, after a decade of thinking that I had reached that point in adult life when all the best was behind me.
@joaovitorribeiro3275
Brazil ✌
@revisionisthistories
How THE f you guys only have 600 subscribers?
@stevejobless5
Amazing bro
@tylercanopy2216
They’re back baby!!!
@halraza2760
The new issue of The Rolling Stone Magazine Germany is a pure blast! You're one of the reasons. So nice 🔥
@thiagopazian
I absolutely love this!