By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I never know how to answer this question mainly because I believe in each song having somewhat of its own life and vibe. Trying to pin a sound down to one sentence? I’d say the sound is just an amalgam of influences from my raising. There’s a little bit of a lot of things in everything I do.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) I’m influenced by so many different things it’s kind of hard to nail down individuals. I was raised in an incredibly musically eclectic household, so I pull from so many different people. My favorite artist of all time is Bruce Springsteen if that helps give some sort of answer.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Little Rock.”
A) I went and visited Rocktown Distillery in Little Rock, AR with my band on our way back to Nashville from a show. They gave us a tour and welcomed us like we were family. We had a phenomenal time meeting everyone working there and it was just a great inspiration for a song! Bourbon whiskey and country music go hand in hand.
Q) The song brings the “outlaw energy.” What did you do as a group to bring out that sound?
A) I wish I could answer that because we didn’t have the intent of “outlaw.” We just got into the studio and locked in on what sounded best for the song. When I wrote it I kind of had a Steve Miller Band/Georgia Satellites vibe in my head so we started there and built off that.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) Most of the responses I’ve gotten from folks is that the song just feels good and they like how it’s got that classic rock edge to it. That definitely makes me happy to hear!
Q) The track gives Young Guns/”Billy the Kid” vibes. How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) Well I mean the song is about getting pulled over by a cop, so the lyric video just has an iteration of a ‘60s Chevy impala getting pulled over by a cop. I think that kind of hits it on the head. The message of the song is you will pay the price for doing something stupid.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) My song writing process is insanely sporadic. Usually I have music before I have lyrics but in the case of this song, I didn’t have a guitar on me so I came up with the melody and came up with the music in my head. I wrote that song in ten minutes. Maybe I need to try that more often haha
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) I’m very hands on with production. I have specific visions that I hear in my head that aren’t necessarily standard country sounds. The producer on this project, Jared Stong, and I work very closely together on these songs. It’s been a wonderful experience working with him and I’m excited to continue doing so.
Q) With “Little Rock” out, is this a prelude to a full album or EP?
A) Definitely a prelude to an EP. For sure. The boys and I are definitely excited.
Q) You’ve opened for talents such as Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Jason Aldean. What can fans expect from a live Lucas John & the Delinquents show?
A) Just expect to have fun and have a full musical experience. The band and I have very similar backgrounds in genres like classic rock and blues – bands like Eagles and Aerosmith and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Those kinds of artists had incredibly crafted arrangements that allowed for the music to move people. We want to focus on bringing that back to the country realm. And who doesn’t want to have fun and sing and dance and holler at a live show?
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) We do truly love to play at Category 10 and Whiskey Row in Nashville. Those two places have become a home base for us. We have friends and fans that come to see us anytime they’re in Nashville at those two venues. We love the lights and sound crew there. We love the bar staff and wait staff there. We love the security folks there. We just are grateful to have those places be a part of our story while we continue to build something.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Me, personally, there’s two…I’d love to collaborate with Bruce Springsteen. He’s my musical hero. I grew up singing his songs with my Dad. So, that would be a massive bucket list. The second is Bruce Hornsby. He’s right behind Springsteen for me as a favorite and he’s also from my hometown in Williamsburg, VA. He’s an incredible musician and singer/songwriter. So, to get to create music with a monster musician like that would be such an incredible experience. And we can shoot the breeze on how the hometown has changed. [laughs]
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Been listening to a lot of Treaty Oak Revival. My lead guitar player and best friend, Seth, turned me on to them. They’re just making great music the way they want to make it and I really respect that. They also toe the line between country and rock, which obviously I’m a big fan of.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you. Thank you for listening to the music. Thank you for coming to the shows. Thank you for your kind words and support. It means the world to us and it keeps us going. We can’t do any of this without ya’ll and we’re grateful for you.