With a mix of roots rock, heavy blues and country music along with the harmonies of brothers John and Ted Siegel, The Deltaz have made their mark on the Americana-Country genre. Started while the brothers were in their teens, The Deltaz has found success touring across the country and overseas, as well as stared personal tragedy in the face. Being the songwriters that they are, the brothers take their experiences to create vivid storytelling songs, such as their latest single “I’ve Been Rejected,” released on Friday, August 23.
We recently caught up with John and Ted to talk about their upcoming single, the music styles that have influenced them, and more.
CN: As we hit the one-year mark of COVID-19, we hope everyone in your circle is safe and healthy. How are you holding up?
TD: It’s been a tough year for us for sure. This is the first year in 9 years that we haven’t toured. It was difficult to go from regularly performing to no public performances at all. And stream shows just don’t give you or your fans the same kind of experience. Everyone in our immediate circle has been safe and we’re happy to report everyone is doing well. The fortunate part of this year was that with the extra time we were allotted we were able to complete our next studio album.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
TD: We’re brothers John Siegel (Vocals, Drums, Harmonica) and Ted Siegel (Vocals, Guitar). We’re an Americana Blues duo from Los Angeles, CA now based out of Nashville, TN. We’re heavy bluesy, roots-y, harmony driven music.
CN: Being brothers, what genres of music did you listen to growing up? Did your tastes vary or did you both like the same artists?
Ted: We had parents that were baby boomer era. So we both grew up listening to 60s rock and pop music. The Stones, The Beatles, Cream and especially Jimi Hendrix. It led us down a road to their influences and by high school we were listening to roots blues and classic country music. Jimi Hendrix is the reason I play guitar though.
John definitely has listened to more Jazz like Buddy Rich and such. John loves west African percussion like Mamady Keita.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
TD: Songwriters are big for us, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Harlan Howard, Robert Johnson.
Ted: Jimi Hendrix made me want to play guitar, Bob Dylan made me want to be a songwriter.
John: We saw John Mayall play in California one Summer and he was amazing. He had this segment with just him and his drummer, were he played harmonica. It was a jumping point for me with Harmonica and drums.
CN: With blues, roots rock and classic country in your background, how do you incorporate each in your own style?
TD: The blues element really comes through in the harmonica and slide guitar. We write everything from a blues stand point. A celebration of sadness. Classic country is really about the stories and we try to get as much of that in as we can. It’s all an attitude with outlaw country.
CN: Ted, you play slide guitar while John you’re behind the drums and harmonica. Do you play any other instruments? Do you have a favorite instrument to play?
Ted: John is a fantastic piano player. We both love singing.
CN: Your vocals blend into wonderful harmonies. When did you realize you can sing, and sing well together?
TD: We had a gig singing for people table to table at a place called The Old Place in California. Had years to learn and experiment with singing harmony. It seems like the more we did the better it got. Singing the two part in an Everly Brothers song was a milestone!
CN: The Deltaz was formed during high school. At the time, did you think it was just going to be a high school band or did you see it then as going much further than that?
TD: I think we were always sort of determined to make it our life long pursuit. But as soon as we started touring that seemed real.
CN: How did you choose the name The Deltaz?
TD: When we were teenagers we took a trip to the Mississippi Delta to soak up some blues. When we got back from the trip it really shaped us musically and made us more determined then ever to play in that genre. So we took the name and its been with us ever since.
CN: Corey Dawson and Brandon Conway are your other bandmates. How did they become part of this quartet?
TD: They play with us periodically but the core band is the duo. Corey is an incredible performer and went to Europe with us on tour in 2019. Brandon has the best ear of any pedal steel player we’ve played with. They both are part of a band called The Midnights that played around LA. We performed on some bills together and then stole then away to play on some records of ours and do some touring.
CN: Sadly you lost your home and studio in Southern California due to the Woolsey forest fire in 2018, which led to a roadtrip and creating The Secostream Mobile Studio which also was beneficial given the pandemic.
TD: Losing our home in the Woolsey Fire was awful. We grew up there and recorded our last two studio albums on the property there. We knew after the fire that we needed to create a new space to record in. We had read about a famous Airstream recording trailer the LMS designed and operated in the 1970s. We thought it was such a cool idea to have a mobile studio. It was one of the most difficult projects we ever tackled but it was so fruitful. In February 2020 we set out with the new mobile studio dubbed The Secostream (Seco means dry and stream from Airstream). We traveled to Idaho, Oregon and Central California to record our new record. It was a unique experience that we’ll never forget. In Fall of 2020 we towed the Secostream to Middle Tennessee to permanently relocate to the Leipers Fork area. Check out The Secostream Mobile Studio at www.secostream.com
CN: On April 23 you will be releasing your new single “I’ve Been Rejected” which was born after a night of drinking and recorded in the wine country town of Templeton, CA. Can you share with us the background of this song?
TD: We’ve always wanted to record something in the outlaw country idiom. When we had that night of drinking and partying it just sort of led us down that road. Sometimes it just takes the right life experience for you the write the songs you always wanted to write.
CN: Can you take us through your songwriting process? Do you tend to write together, or prefer to write solo?
Ted: John primarily writes music, riffs, melodies and drum grooves. I’m the primary writer, I do all the lyrics and chord structure stuff. I’ll take a song anyway I can get it. I think its all about just showing up. When the song hits you, you got to be there to field it. Sometimes its melody, sometimes a lyrically idea, sometimes it’s a set of chords that inspires me.
CN: If you had the opportunity to collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
TD: Living – Neil Young, Dead – Jimi Hendrix
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
TD: Resilient. We’ve been through some interesting situations over the years and we keep ticking.
CN: Where can fans find you either at the show or online?
TD: We play Puckett’s Leipers Fork and Kimbro’s Franklin monthly. www.thedeltaz.com
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you?
TD: We’re going to release a series of new singles over the next couple of months and by the end of Summer our new album should be out. Excited to put out the first single from the new album “I’ve Been Rejected” April 23rd!
“I’ve Been Rejected” is available streaming and download here.
For more information on The Deltaz, visit their website www.thedeltaz.com the follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.