Delilah Brao Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Delilah Brao is a incredibly wonderful singer, and I was glad she was willing to visit with us and discuss her recent music, her future, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

So, let's see what happens when Delilah Brao visits Section 36 Music!

Your recent single “Bad Taste” is just wonderful. What can you tell me about it?

“Bad Taste” is a tongue-in-cheek lament about the universal problem of constantly dating the wrong person. You know - someone super emotionally unavailable. Stylistically, it really leans on my Berklee roots. It fuses pop, jazz, and 80’s synth pop into a brooding, self-aware, hooky beat. I wrote and produced the song with Matthew James Hemmer, who has become my main collaborator throughout quarantine. “Bad Taste” was the first song we wrote in quarantine, but there are many more on the way.  

Who/what would you consider to be your biggest musical influences?

Lately, I’ve been so inspired by Taylor Swift. In my opinion, she musically “won” the pandemic. I listened to “folklore” and “evermore” constantly. Not many artists have shown the versatility in songwriting, performance, and genres that she has. Listening to a Swift album is like a masterclass in songwriting. I’ve also been enjoying Charli XCX recently. I got really sucked in with her “Pop 2” album back in 2017 and have been a big fan ever since. She’s another artist that is constantly evolving. 

 

What do you enjoy most about performing in front of an audience?

It’s hard to remember what live performance is even like at this

point! I can’t wait to perform in front of an audience again. I feel like I’m a whole new artist now and want to share everything I’ve been working on during quarantine. 

 

One of the most memorable shows I've played was my last show before COVID quarantine began. It was at a venue in Boston the weekend before we found out classes would continue remotely. Obviously, back then we didn't know much about COVID yet, but there was this underlying sense that things were about to change. It felt like everyone was there to relax about everything and unwind at a live show, while simultaneously being kind of on-edge about everything. The nervous energy made everyone so engaged. I felt like I had such a real spark and connection with the audience during that show. It was like everyone wanted comfort about what was going to happen in the future and was looking to me as the performer to give them some sort of relaxation about everything going on. For those few hours everyone was able to just have fun, dance, interact, and laugh. We didn't know it would be our last show of the year. I can't even imagine how electric it will feel when live performances resume. I had gigs at Rockwood Music Hall and Bowery Electric, among others, cancelled due to COVID. I can't wait to go back to performing with a live audience when this is all over. 

 

You are currently a student at Berklee College of Music. What is the biggest thing that is doing for your career?

The greatest thing about Berklee for me has been the friendships and connections I’ve made there. I constantly feel challenged by my peers. Everyone has something to add to the musical conversation. Being surrounded by greatness makes you want to be great as well!  It really lights a fire under you. 

 

Other than COVID, what would you say is your biggest career challenge?

I think one of the greatest challenges for any artist is finding collaborators who fit your artistic vision. It’s like dating! You have to kind of “date around” with producers, songwriters, managers, designers, engineers, etc, in order to find your team. It can get a little overwhelming and stressful - you think you’ll never find your “soulmate,” but when you find “the one,” it’s all worth it!

 

What are your immediate career goals?

I officially moved to LA and started working on some new

singles out here! Moving to LA was definitely a game-changer for me. I try to do as many co-writes and sessions as possible and just get to know everyone. It’s been a really good experience for me and I’m really looking forward to sharing all the music I’ve been making here!

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I definitely want to hear that new music!

As always, I want to thank Delilah for visiting, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.

I know you’ll all want to follow along with Delilah to see what she's up to. The best way is to follow her online on Instagram, and definitely stream her Spotifty music. They’re great ways to make sure you don't miss a thing! 

You can also visit her Section 36 Music page. There you'll find more links, music samples, and pictures. It's a perfect way to enjoy everything Delilah has to offer all in one place.

Thanks again Delilah, and good luck reaching your goals!