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Delaney
Parisienne singer Delaney is somewhat of an anomaly in the world of single-named musicians. Unlike Melanie, Madonna, Sade and others, she prefers to go by her surname. The 33-year old is equally at home accompanied by either her acoustic guitar or a full backing band and her self-titled 1998 debut (reissued on Pehr and reviewed elsewhere) finds her equally adept at both. Her songs also slide effortlessly between her native tongue and a very accomplished English. Jeff Penczak recently corresponded with Christelle and we are pleased to introduce you to this marvelous new talent.
Neither one. I just catch the chance that Pehr label like my album. I didn’t expect it to be realeased in USA. But I wonder sometimes how the american audience will react to French songs when they can’t understand a single word.
There are a lot of French groups or artists but it’s very hard to break into [the business] because most of the people listen to English or American music and the labels who signed good French music don’t have a lot of money.
I learned to play guitar when I was a teenager, but I only start to compose when I was about 25 years old. At first, just for myself; then I sent a demo to a small French label [Lithium] without thinking my songs would interest them, but by chance they did.
I’ve never played before non-French audiences.
I grew up listening to The Smiths, The Pixies, Sonic Youth, The Velvet Underground, Michelle Shocked, Violent Femmes, etc.… Today, I like Smog, LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, Antony and The Johnsons, Johnny Cash and many more.
I write only to please myself. I try to compose good songs but I really don’t think about the marketplace or stuff like that.
No, I still want to write in French even if I like to have one or two songs in English. It’s not the same thing to sing in French or in English…. The meaning is less important in English so I can sing more freely and use my voice different. But I am always more proud of myself when I write good lyrics in French because it’s harder….
Well I like both.
It depends, sometimes I have the arrangement in mind and sometimes it comes later.
I’ve played with a band most of the time. For the American tour I will play with one guitarist only.
Yes I have new songs. I am now working with someone to compose so it’s quite different. The songs are less folk, more pop. Hopefully you will be able to listen to them soon.
Delaney will be on a month-long whirlwind tour throughout the US from mid-October. Check the Pehr tour schedule for dates near you. It’s a show you won’t want to miss.
-- Jeff Penczak (24 October, 2005)
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