Brat punk Delilah Bon’s music is angry. She’s an artist unafraid to speak out and challenge and she’s gained an army of young female fans, her Bon Bons, who adore her. And that army is growing very fast indeed. There’s a fun element to her live shows too, which makes them such powerful places to be. Gary Trueman chatted to Delilah about those fans, her new album out later this year, and having a song featured on Netflix series The Gentlemen.
You have your bass player and dancer with you, can you introduce your girls to our readers please.
“Sure, there’s Ruena (bass player) and Hela (dancer).”
We intended to ask how was it out there but there was quite a delay thanks to the overnight rain causing havoc. But it worked out in the end.
“It was wicked. I saw people running, like running fast to make sure they made the set.”
There was also some girls on the barrier that are in the festival crew and took their time out to see you.
“You look out and the front row are all my Bon Bons (Delilah Bon fans), they know all the words. Even a song that’s just come out, they know every word.”
Download has a reputation for being purely a rock and metal festival but it’s not any more. Last year and this year they’ve really progressed the booking. What are your feelings on that?
“It’s good because it means I can play, haha! I think alternative music is changing and people are blending new things and trying new things. You have stages where you do have a bit of rap and a bit of hip hop, it makes it more interesting.”
Do you think that’s because of how fans have access to music rather than the old school buy an album and listen to it all over and over?
“Definitely. And you can discover new people at festivals or on Spotify. Everyone that’s found me said they did it on Spotify.”
We were talking to some friends of yours Alt Blk Era. It’s great to also see representation here of women of colour and to see more people of colour generally isn’t it?
“Definitely. Kerrang was asking who do you want to see headline in five years time and obviously I want to do it but I think as long as it’s a woman, a person of colour, something different, bringing in something new and wanted.”
You’re an icon to a lot of very young women. They’re taking a lot of notice of you which is great. But men are also taking notice of what you’re saying too. That’s important isn’t it?
“It is important. It’s always more important to have those young girls look up to me. If men like me then it’s nice but it’s not as important. It’s good that those men support me but I’d do it without them anyway.”
Ruena: “It’s good for men to hear the messages, but this is for the girls.”
Do you think that message is changing at least some men’s attitudes?
“I hope so. I’ve had guys message me asking if they’re allowed to buy tickets for the tour. I’m like, of course you can. Our music is accessible to men as well as women but at its core it’s about our (women’s) experiences. It’s speaking about how we feel and people seeing themselves in us. For men to like it, it’s supportive, but for women to like it, it’s everything.”
Your new album ‘Evil Hate Filled Female’ is coming out in September. Was there anything you changed in terms of the writing process, or was there anything that happened in the world that prompted you to write something that’s within the album?
“A lot was happening in the world at the time. The things that were happening in Iran. I think it’s important as a woman to speak out. I’m privileged that I live in the UK and I can use my voice. So I thought I would take this opportunity to really speak my mind and not be afraid. On this album I’m mischievous, I’m revengeful.”
It’s angry but it’s focussed too.
“Yes. I think I’m quite an angry artist. When we perform live it’s an angry show. But with this album I wanted to show a fun side as well with the melodies. You can dance and sing along. It isn’t just angry screaming…. which I’m known for. Haha.”
Your song ‘I Wish A Bitch Would’ is featured on the Netflix show The Gentlemen. How did that come about? Who contacted you?
“I got an email, and I always think they’re spam. They emailed me asking to use my song on the Netflix series The Gentlemen. So I said yes, obviously. A week before The Gentlemen came out it hadn’t been confirmed. So I thought it wasn’t on there. Then it came out and everyone was like, Oh my God!, your song is on there. I had no idea why I thought it was a fake email.”
When you got the email did you think what context is my song going to be used in?
“They sent me a script where a man is getting choked with a phone cable. So I just thought, Yeah! That sounds wicked, and it is a wicked scene. So Guy Ritchie found my music and must have enjoyed it. It’s a long clip.”
You’re known very much as a DIY artist. You keep everything in house as much as possible. You’re growing at a hell of a rate though so are you having to let other people do stuff for you a bit more now, like PR work?
“I have a distribution label which help behind the scenes but all of the creativity is still me. My sister has been helping me quite a bit with the website.”
Olivia.
“Olivia, yes. Ruena will help with the music videos. Tom who drums for me now, he’s filming them.”
The live drumming addition adds a new dimension too doesn’t it?
“I never wanted a drummer. I thought it would be fine without one and have tracks. But as the songs have got heavier, the live drum element, like with a track people have turned it down but they can’t turn down the drums.”
It’s pretty muddy today, Donington does have a bit of a reputation for it. And you can get sun burnt here easily too. So have you got a festival survival tip for our readers
Wet wipes and bog roll. Definitely bring your own bog roll.
Interview And Photos By Gary Trueman