We catch up with Dean of Deltamanic ahead of Belladrum 2024 and ask him a few questions.
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What would be your FFO list?
We’re a bit of a cocktail! Take the old school funk, soul, northern soul and disco sound with artists such as Jamiroquai, Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Brown, Chic, Nile Rodgers, Sister Sledge, The Four Tops, The Jacksons, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars etc etc and mix them all together. We take influences from each of these sort of artists and make our own Frankenstein when it comes to writing our songs. A hard hitting funk and soulful sound that grooves from start to finish with the classic disco elements laced throughout!
Tell us a little about how the band came to be and a story so far.
The band were a Covid baby! A solo project I (Dean) started. I had been writing songs and decided to record & release them to see how I’d get on but when you see the list of influences and the artists themselves, I knew I was never going to manage this own. After a hell of a lot of pleading I had managed to sell it to the rest of the band, 6 members later, Deltamanic was born. Me (lead Vocal & Lead guitar), Boag (drums), Jack (Bass & Vocals), Kyla (vocals) and Benjamin (keys) were all at school together and had all jammed someway or another whether that was school related projects or outside of school but never as a collective.
Callum (guitar) and Ross (guitar & vocals) I had known for years through pals and being in other bands whilst I played in another band. Fast forward a couple years and we’ve found our sound, know what works best for us and also learning the art of sound production so we can fully record, mix and master our own songs, gigging anywhere and everywhere all the while!
As an act, how has 2024 treated you so far?
2024 has been good to us so far, started off the year with a belter in supporting The Cheap Thrills at Legends in Edinburgh back in February. Then we were in HMV – Glasgow for an in-store set, which was really cool! April seen us make our debut in the Clutha Bar in Glasgow which was a load of fun, a great venue. Recorded and released our latest single ‘Do Our Thing’ in May.
Start of June we supported Canadian band – My Son the Hurricane at a new venue in our hometown of Alloa, what a night that was! Start of July we played McChuills In Glasgow, one of our favourites followed by supporting Darnell Cole & the Vibe at Bannermans in Edinburgh – another one of our favourite venues! Next up, Belladrum! The one we’ve all been absolutely buzzing to play since we got asked. Cannot wait for it!
You have three original songs to wow the Belladrum audience, which ones would they be and why?
Only 3 songs is a hard one but the ones that really stand out for me are ⁃ ‘Better Believe It’, I’d describe it as a hard hitting, driving power, funk ballad. One of those songs that makes you want to get up in the morning and take on the world, grooving and bobbing your head all the while. Whilst it’s one of our heavier songs, it still has the old school funk fundamentals in there.
‘Soul Train’, again it’s a hard hitting track but with the groove of Northern Soul driving the track. A duet between myself and Kyla all throughout with even more harmonies and backing vocals during the chorus from Ross and Jack, a wah guitar solo that will have you two-stepping side to side, topped off with a thunderous drum solo from our weapon of mass percussion – Boag. Very catchy and infectious!
And lastly, ‘Find Yourself Lost’. It’s a lot slower than our usual stuff but very much a ballad. It always seems to go down an absolute treat whether people know it or they don’t. A chant along chorus and bridge that always gets caught on to and sung by the crowd which is forever the best feeling! A very soulful song throughout between the instruments and the vocals creating that big power ballad sound!
Festivals are renowned for horrible clashes, which act on the Belladrum line-up would you least like to clash with and why?
Easy, Ocean Colour Scene. Granted they’re the Friday and we’re Saturday but wow. What a live band they are. Seen them twice and both times been blown away with how good they are live! Love them or hate them, get along and see them. You will not be disappointed!
It’s your first time, what Is the draw to playing Belladrum?
First time at Belladrum for us so this will forever be the favourite memory going forward from it! It’s just a brilliant festival, always has a class line up, one of the last few left in Scotland and when it comes to music, us Scots bring the best crowds and atmospheres at any gigs but when it comes to festivals – we excel ourselves!
So to be on the playing side of a festival this time is going to be a hell of an experience and a memory that I’ll cherish forever. First time at Belladrum and first time playing a festival, it’ll always be a very special place for me personally.
Given the Love theme, if you had to create a love playlist with only five songs, what would be on it?
5 songs for me would be, – Loves Train by Con Funk Shun, Ain’t no Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, I Want You Back by The Jackson 5, Love Reign O’er me by the Who, Put On A Smile by Silk Sonic
If you could travel back in time which Belladrum would you like to revisit?
Easily would have had to be 2022 for the simple fact of Nile Rodgers & Chic. The absolute master of disco and funk, one of my biggest influences, seeing it live in person would have been incredible.
In your act’s repertoire, what is the most romantic song you have?
Our most romantic song would be our latest one due for release, it’s called ‘You Give Me Something’ it’s our take on the four tops/temptations sound. Big choruses with a load of backing vocals, I had written chords, then a pre chorus and a chorus for it but couldn’t get verses at all. Said to Jack, our bass player about trying to write something as he’s always wanted to take lead on a song. Sure enough he came up with two brilliant verses that fit perfectly, performed it to a T on the recording and it’s sounding great, cannot wait for it to be released!
What’s on the horizon for you after Belladrum?
After Belladrum we’ll be hoping to release another 3 new tracks (including the one previously mentioned) before the end of the year, we have a few more gigs between now and the end of the year that we’re looking forward to and hoping to get even more on top of that!
Deltamanic perform at the Seedlings stage, 1240 on Saturday and can keep track of the band here.
