Liverpudlian singer/songwriter Delta Maid may be one of the most interesting artists to emerge from the UK music scene of late. She’s a little bit country…she’s a little bit bluesy…she’s a little bit folksy – she’s unique and she’s different and I find that refreshing. While most young artists from the UK are focused on electro pop (which I also love) or more urban sounds, Delta Maid is beating to the tune of her own drummer. Delta Maid was introduced at an early age to American Blues legends like Son House, Skip James, Bessie Smith and Robert Johnson, and it’s these artists who serve as her inspiration today. Despite the fact that Delta’s influences all recorded music during the early and mid part of the twentieth century, Delta’s sound is completely fresh and modern. Delta even developed her own way of picking her acoustic guitar! For a great sampling of what Delta Maid is all about, check out her stunningly brilliant (and original) cover of The Strokes‘ “Under Cover of Darkness” below. Gorgeous.
Delta Maid – Under Cover of Darkness – Strokes Cover by Delta Maid
Delta Maid’s debut album, Outside Looking In, is due out May 9th on Geffen/Future Records, preceded by first single, the country-fried hipshaker “Of My Own,” due out May 1st. Check out the gorgeous video for “Of My Own” below and witness Delta Maid in all her glory. Vocally she sounds a little bit like Jewel, who’s also been bitten by the country bug and has been doing well following that path. I imagine that Delta Maid would do well over here on the country charts, should she decide to release her stuff here in America.
The album was recorded at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool and co-produced by Delta and Chris Taylor, along with Delta’s brother featured on lead guitar. The album isn’t straight up blues or country. It’s a lot more layered than that. We have rockabilly on title track “Outside Looking In,” tenderness and poignancy on “Footprints,” gospel bounce on “All I Dreamed,” ragtime on “Any Way I Want To” and heartbreak country on “Dance With My Broken Heart,” a Hank Williams cover. Rockabilly, gospel, ragtime, country, blues – Outside Looking In has something for everyone. Make sure you check out Delta on tour this Spring and Summer in the UK and remember that “Of My Own,” her first official single, is out May 1st, followed by the album on May 9th. Delta Maid is an artist you surely don’t want to miss.
Tour Dates:
30th Apr//London//Camden Crawl – Summer Sundae Stage
3rd May//Manchester//Band on the Wall
4th May//London//The Wheelbarrow
8th May//Bristol//Louisiana
9th May//Birmingham//Glee Club
12th May//London//Slaughtered Lamb
14th May//Liverpool//Ink Room at The Masque
17th May//Edinburgh//Sneaky Pete’s
18th May//York//The Basement
19th May//Liverpool//Liverpool Sound City
29th May//Newcastle//Evolution Weekender
5th Jun//Cheltenham//Wychwood Festival
14th July//Salisbury//Larmer Tree Festival