Delon Om – 1 More Time

By starrymag | September 29, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) My sound is a theatre of cruelty. The concept of “cruelty” was created by Antonin Artaud, a member of the surrealist movement. Cruelty, according to Artaud, was a way to wake up the nerves and heart of its audience members. I hope my music makes people think about who they are in this world.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) My influences include visionaries such as Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. All of these singers injected politics of struggle and the hope for a better world in their art form. I hope to do the same.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “1 More Time.”

 

A) “1 More Time” peers into the future, the post-COVID world where long lost lovers and friends can reunite for one last time. The song was written with the understanding that the ones we love most could not be with us because of border restrictions, health concerns, etc. This song is hopeful that we will get back to some version of normal.

 

Q) How did you and co-writer BenAnthony Lavoz come to work together on the track?

 

A) Ben was stuck in Canada due to the pandemic and we had done work with the same producer over the years. We wanted to create a song that was universal because we knew the pandemic affected everyone around the globe.

 

Q) Your goal was to write a song that fans can play over and over again, and you achieved it! What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) Fans connect to the yearning of the arms of the ones they love most even if it’s for one more time. We all experience love and loss, and this song speaks to this sentiment.

 

Q) The video takes place at a poppin’ house party. How does it play into the message behind “1 More Time?”

 

A) We ensured that all safety measures were taken while filming this video and everyone was double vaccinated. The video was really a hopeful projection of what social gatherings will look like in the future.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) Absolutely. Being a guitarist and pianist, it is so important for me to create a composition before I write lyrics.  At the risk of sounding totally lofty, the words come naturally (almost spiritually) when the music is already created.

 

Q) I know you’re not just a musician, but a music producer. So, how much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I make a concerted effort to be involved in the production of all of my songs, otherwise it feels contrived and forced.

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP to come for you as a solo artist or more songs to come with BenAnthony?

 

A) Ben and I are releasing an intercultural album featuring English and Spanish entitled, The Gentleman and The Scholar. In 2022, I will be releasing a solo album entitled, The Theatre of Cruelty.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) Believe it or not, I prefer intimate settings with an acoustic guitar or a piano. There is an unexplainable intimacy in these types of venues that cannot be replicated in larger venues. I find that people are more likely to immerse themselves in the experience.

 

Q) You’ve previously worked on songs with the likes of DJ Alex Gaudino, but who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) That would have to be Bruno Mars. His work with Silk Sonic and his collaborations with Mark Ronson are truly inspiring. Bruno is a visionary and takes music to another level. I feel like we share an outlook on production and songwriting.

 

Q) We loved seeing you on “Canadian Idol.” What advice did you get while on the show that you took to heart and would pass along to upcoming singer-songwriters?

 

A) My father gave me the best advice that even Elvis Presley wasn’t well received by people the first time he performed. My advice to up and coming singers is to live their truth on stage, not to follow trends or be someone they’re not. Authenticity is key to this industry and people want to be inspired.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans? 

 

A) Social media is a double-edged sword. Most of what we see online isn’t real, just a simulation of people’s desires. As a platform, social media can empower, but also exclude and I would want my fans (Even the word fans are very skewed. I would much rather the term friends).

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I would want my friends to join me on my musical journey because I have so much to learn from them as they do from me. For all my friends and supporters, there is so much more than what you see.