With our new music feature Origins, artists get the chance to share unique insights into their latest songs. Today, Delta Spirit reveal two previously unreleased What Is There tracks, “Some Dreams” and “You’re Mine”.
Though robbed of the chance to play out their reunion tour by the pandemic, Delta Spirit soldiered on with the release of their first album in six years, What Is There. Now, the Americana rockers aren’t only ready to retake the road, they’re releasing a deluxe edition that LP appropriately dubbed What (Else) Is There.
Arriving tomorrow, June 18th, via New West Records, What (Else) Is There expands the 2020 album to 17 tracks. That includes acoustic versions of “It Ain’t Easy” and “Home Again”; remixes of “It Ain’t Easy” (by Classixx), “Making Sense” (by Jeremy Black), and “How Bout It”; and two previously unreleased numbers. Ahead of the full deluxe, Delta Spirit are today sharing those latter two songs, “Some Dreams” and “You’re Mine”.
“Some Dreams” is a rolling road song, referencing Delta Spirit’s life on the road and the joy they’ve found there — as well as the struggles. “Found myself in a cage/ Holding onto my anger,” sings frontman Matthew Logan Vasquez. “Somewhere there is a stage/ They will bury me under.”
Meanwhile, “You’re Mine” sounds like a throwback to earlier Delta Spirit records — specifically their 2008 Ode to Sunshine debut — with some The Walkman thrown in for good measure. Piano at the forefront, the track’s drums and bass lay down the beat around which the wistful, romantic guitars dance.
Check out both songs along with Logan’s Origins of each below.
Under all that, you’ll find the What (Else) Is There artwork and tracklist, as well as Delta Spirit’s upcoming tour schedule. Following summer dates with Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, they’ll join up with Deer Tick for a co-headlining US trek. Tickets can be found via Ticketmaster or here.
What (Else) Is There is available for pre-orders via New West.
“Some Dreams”:
Flying J:
Delta Spirit broke down for five days in Oklahoma back in 2008. Our friend Marthe came along for the ride and kind of stranded with us. We became friends and three years later, we hit it off and got married. Anyway the only place to eat was a Flying J across the road from the hotel.
Deserts of the Western United States:
Photo by Robert Murray via Unsplash
Few places can capture your imagination like the desert. Especially around sunrise and dusk. Those long straight drives filled with solitude even if you’re in a crowded van.
Econoline Vans:
Econoline vans are now discontinued, but I prefer them to sprinters, or Ford’s replacement, the transit van. The Dodge van is ok, but the suspension isn’t as smooth. I’ve driven coast to coast at least 20 times since 2005. Other than a tour bus, the Ford Econoline is the most ideal.
“You’re Mine”:
Ode to Sunshine:
Musically, the song was inspired by our earlier work. It was fun to reach back there, but ultimately making a record of songs that sounded like 2007 didn’t spark enough inspiration to take it much further than this one song.
Intimacy:
Intimacy is about knowing your partner. Knowing when they’re struggling even when they can’t see it in themselves. I struggled quite a bit back in 2018… I was just worn out and losing confidence in myself. My wife really pulled me out of it.
Greenpoint:
Photo by Bryan G. via Unsplash
We recorded this song in our studio in Greenpoint. It flooded during Super Storm Sandy, but we rebuilt it, and still convene there to work on new music. The building is sometimes used as a movie and television set. Mostly for period pieces and the occasional bad guy hideout. It definitely has a vibe and a lot of great memories.
What (Else) Is There Artwork:
What (Else) Is There Tracklist:
01. The Pressure
02. It Ain’t Easy
03. How Bout It
04. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
05. Better Now
06. Home Again
07. Making Sense
08. Lover’s Heart
09. Just the Same
10. What Is There
11. Some Dreams (Previously Unreleased)
12. You’re Mine (Previously Unreleased)
13. It Ain’t Easy (Acoustic)
14. Home Again (Acoustic)
15. It Ain’t Easy (Classixx Remix)
16. How Bout It (Double Time Mix)
17. Making Sense (Jeremy Black Remix)
Delta Spirit 2021 Tour Dates:
08/13 — Whitefish, MT @ Big Mountain Ranch *
08/14 — Bonner, MT @ Kettlehouse Amphitheater *
08/15 — Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion *
08/17 — Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater *
08/18 — Napa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre *
08/20 — Park City, UT @ Deer Valley Resort *
08/21 — Grand Junction, CO @ Las Colonias Amphitheater *
08/23 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater *
08/24 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater *
08/25 — Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater *
09/04 — Cooperstown, NY @ BriteVibes Beer and Music Festival
10/24 — Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Music Festival
10/30 — San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park #
10/31 — Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory #
11/02 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre #
11/03 — San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore #
11/05 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox #
11/06 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom #
11/08 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot #
11/09 — Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre #
11/11 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue #
11/12 — Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre #
11/13 — Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre #
11/15 — Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl #
11/16 — Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall #
11/18 — Boston, MA @ Royale #
11/19 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club #
11/20 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer #
11/22 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall #
11/23 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall #
* = w/ Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
# = w/ Deer Tick
