Singer finds new sound after moving to Europe
North Delta-born and raised singer-songwriter Delta Jackson dropped her debut five-song EP this week. It’s streaming on her website deltajackson.com, and will be released on AWAL as part of a double EP project.
The artist hails from Vancouver, but recorded her album at Peter Gabriel’s famed RealWorld Studios in Bath, England, in September 2017. A second EP was recorded at Puerto Records in Spain.
Here are five things to know about Jackson’s first part of her double-EP:
1
Name talent
Is all over this session, which was produced by produced by drummer Jeremy Stacey (Sheryl Crow, Noel Gallagher HFB, King Crimson). Among the familiar names are: guitarist/producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne); guitarist Paul Stacey (Oasis, Black Crowes); bassist and vocalist David CatlinBirch ( World Party, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Williams); and keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco).
2
Willin’
The opening track is a cover of Little Feat’s seminal song Willin’. Written in 1970 by Lowell George, the song became an anthem for both hippies and truckers with its lyric of hitting the highway and living your own freewheeling way. The song sets the tone for the rest of the songs in that they all favour a ’70s California flavour in their twanging tone. Think Linda Ronstadt or early Bonnie Raitt and you’re on your way.
3
Juno nominee
Wait. How can a debut artist be a 2016 Juno Award nominee too? That’s because Jackson is a rebranding of jazz vocalist Jaclyn Guillou. She had four albums to her credit under that name. This Bitter Earth was a vocal jazz album of the year nominee. But Jackson wasn’t feeling it anymore, so she sold all her worldly possession and relocated to Europe to produce her “alternative country meets folk pop” sounds.
4
The name
Delta Jackson is a stage name that combines where she grew up and the nickname that her friends and father gave to Jaclyn — “Jackson.” Her father always told her she would sing country, and her cousin is none other than Surrey ’s Lisa Brokop, who is an established name in Canadian country.
5
It Comes Down
Is the first single from the artist and it showcases Jackson’s considerable vocal chops. You can hear that jazz experience in how smooth her transitions are in the lyrical flow. Few country singers have this kind of ease with nailing every note just so while still giving them all that old-time feel. For my money, it’s the best song on the album.