Delta Spirit is a band from San Diego, California, United States, beginning… Read Full Bio ↴Delta Spirit is a band from San Diego, California, United States, beginning in 2005. This band is most known for their intense live performances, their congregational song-writing, and their driving rhythm. The group consists of Jon Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (percussion), Matthew Vasquez (vocals/guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentals) and Will McLaren (guitar).

"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.

Tear It Up
Delta Spirit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up

Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up

Just tear it up

And by the way she told me
September's far too late
When her heart's like water
And a heart too strong to hate

Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up
You spare the life

Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up
You spare the life

And as a set don't shatter
Brought the folks out to the street
All walks of life together
Put the past beneath their feet

Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up

Just tear it up
Just tear it up
Just tear it up

You spare the life
You spare the life

You spare the life
You spare the life

Overall Meaning

Delta Spirit's "Tear It Up" is a song that is centered around the idea of destruction and rebuilding. The repetition of the phrase "just tear it up" is a call to action, urging listeners to break down whatever barriers are holding them back in order to move forward. The lyrics also seem to suggest that this destruction is necessary, as if to say that sometimes things must be completely torn apart before they can be rebuilt again. The line "and as a set don't shatter, brought the folks out to the street" supports this idea, as it implies that even when things seem broken beyond repair, they can still be salvaged and turned into something new.

The second verse of the song brings in a more personal element, as the lyrics describe a woman who is dealing with a challenging situation. She has been told that "September's far too late," perhaps referring to a deadline or a time frame that she will not be able to meet. Despite this, her heart is "like water," which suggests that she is still able to feel and be moved by emotion. The line "and a heart too strong to hate" is particularly interesting, as it seems to suggest that even when faced with adversity, the woman is refusing to be consumed by bitterness or anger. Instead, she is able to maintain a strong and positive attitude even in the face of difficulty.

Line by Line Meaning

Just tear it up
This phrase is a repetition that serves as a call to action, urging someone to destroy or break something apart.

And by the way she told me
The singer is relaying information given to them and is transitioning to a new topic of discussion.

September's far too late
The month of September is no longer a valid or acceptable timeframe for a certain action or event to occur.

When her heart's like water
The person being referred to has a heart that is soft, easily affected and influenced by others.

And a heart too strong to hate
While the person's heart may be easily affected, it is also strong enough to resist feelings of hatred towards others.

You spare the life
This phrase can be interpreted as someone being merciful or showing leniency in a situation where they could choose to be harsh or vengeful.

And as a set don't shatter
Referring to a group of individuals or a community, the singer is urging them not to fall apart or break under pressure or adversity.

Brought the folks out to the street
Something has caused people to leave their homes and gather together in a public space.

All walks of life together
People from different backgrounds or social classes have come together in a shared experience or event.

Put the past beneath their feet
The people gathered together have moved on from past conflicts or issues, leaving them behind as they move forward.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRANDON YOUNG, JONATHAN JAMESON, KELLY WINRICH, MATTHEW VASQUEZ, WILL MCLAREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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