INTERVIEW: Delaner - "We started to find the sound we'd been chasing!"

Now introducing: Delaner, an up and coming four-piece with a powerful Indie Rock sound. A new force on the scene. Delaner are on a solid run of live performances received by a growing fanbase and portfolio of songs. We were lucky enough to catch the Liverpool band before their most recent gig in The Jacaranda, took a walk over to The Merchant and discussed their origins, future plans, and inspirations behind their developing sound.

Q: Let’s go from the start — how did the four of you find each other and decide to start a band?

A: “I’ll take this one (Charlie). So I’d been playing in bands for about four or five years — some with Flynn, some not — and we were doing gigs in different places, messing around a bit. But when we were about 16, it kind of fizzled out. We couldn’t really find the sound we were after. Then I left school and started at a new one. That’s where I met Liam — but I didn’t even know he could sing at first. We ended up at a few praccies together and I thought, “This could be something.” I said to Flynn, “We’ve got a real chance here,” but he said no at first. Didn’t you? Yeah, I think so. So at that point, we were looking for a drummer, still figuring it out. But then, at a Fontaines DC release party at The Jacaranda, he finally agreed to join. We thought, "We’ve got a real shot at this — let’s give it a proper go." We were all game for it — didn’t really know what that was gonna turn into. It could’ve just been a few open mics and a laugh. But we went for it. We also had a lad on guitar who’d been doing his own solo acoustic stuff for a bit, but he wasn’t really up for it long-term. So I asked Cai — since we’d played in a band together before — to come down and fill in on guitar. And once there were four of us, that’s when we started to really find the sound we’d been chasing. We’re still looking for a bassist, but yeah… that’s how it all started.”

Q: Where did the name Delaner come from, and what made it feel right for your sound or identity?

A: “It’s honestly not the most exciting story ever. Back in the early days — it was just me and Charlie knocking about — and we were really struggling for a name. One day, Charlie’s mum was shouting something, like “The Lane” like Lark Lane and I misheard it. I thought she’d said “Delane” We kind of laughed about it but that didn’t stick. Another band had that name already which didn’t help. We had a few other name ideas floating around, but nothing really felt right. Delaner just kind of settled in. There’s no deep meaning behind it — it just felt right, like it matched the mood of the band. Then we Googled it, and there wasn’t another band called that, so we went for it. Now it’s just become us. People do struggle to spell it, though — no one gets it right. It sounds good if you know how to say it, but if you just hear it out of nowhere, it sounds like I’ve got a speech impediment or something! But yeah, it’s ours now.”

Q: Can you remember a particular moment growing up — a song, a gig, an album — that made you want to make music yourselves?

A: (Flynn) “Yeah — ‘Once in a Lifetime’ by Talking Heads for me. That just hit me in a different way.”

A: (Cai) “I’d probably say ‘Facelift’ by Alice in Chains. The whole album. I’m a massive Layne Staley fan — his voice, the way he delivers lyrics.”

A: (Liam) “Yeah, that kind of stuff — music that tells a story. Lyrics that actually say something. That’s what I’ve always tried to aim for. It’s that thing where you hear a line and think, “That’s exactly how I feel, but I’ve never been able to say it like that.””

A: (Charlie) “Playing live was always a huge part of it too — the energy, the connection. Growing up, we used to go to loads of shows. There was this place called The Social back in the day, before it became Arts Bar. They used to put on big local gigs — like 100, 200 people, all our age, just having a proper good time.

You don’t really get that anymore. There’s not that many bands around now that can draw a crowd like that unless they’re already big. But back then, it felt like anyone could do it if you just had the tunes.”

Q: ‘If You Can’t Have It’ has this gritty, emotional edge — what was the mood or idea behind it when you were writing it?

A: “It’s about being in a relationship where things start to get complicated — not in a dramatic way, just in that real, growing-up way. You hit a point where you and the other person start to realise you’ve got really different beliefs or values, and it becomes this constant push and pull. You’re trying to hold onto something while also wondering if it’s actually meant to last. The chorus is sort of defiant — like, yeah we know it’s not perfect, but we’re still choosing it. It’s not about trying to fix everything or pretending it's all fine, but about finding a kind of power in sticking with it anyway. There’s a lot of frustration in the verses, but the chorus is where that feeling breaks open into something more raw and honest. It’s more of an emotional release than a statement”.

Q: Who are the artists or bands that have shaped Delaner’s sound — whether it’s sonically, lyrically, or just in attitude?

A: “There’s loads — and we all bring different influences depending on what part of the band we’re in. Like, some of us are more lyric-focused, some are all about rhythm, others bring in tonal or emotional stuff. There’s definitely a lot of Springsteen in there — that storytelling through melody. And loads of Folk influence too, like Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The way they use open chords and add these subtle extensions — that’s something we play around with in our own songs, both in the ones already written and when coming up with new stuff. In the rhythm section, it’s all about feel. It’s our job to make the songs move — to give them that bounce or groove or edge. We’re influenced by a mix of old-school drummers like Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and John Bonham, and newer players like Larnell Lewis. It’s not just about keeping time — it’s about bending it, playing with feel, switching up time signatures or throwing in weird little fills to keep things interesting. Vocally, the big inspirations are people like Robert Plant — his control is unreal — and Chris Stapleton. Even though we’re not doing Country, his voice and the way he handles phrasing and runs, it’s just class. You end up picking up little things from all of them and trying to bring that into your own voice. So yeah, it’s all quite varied — but that’s kind of the point. Everyone adds something different, and that blend’s what makes the sound work.”

Q: You’re playing the Jacaranda tonight — how does it feel playing there, and how do you approach a live show differently to the studio?

A: “It feels boss, honestly. The Jac’s a proper Liverpool venue — not massive, but when it’s packed and sold out like tonight, there’s just a buzz in the room. It’s dead validating seeing people actually show up for something you’ve spent so much time working on. We rehearse a lot to get things tight, and when it all comes together live, that’s the best feeling. Writing and recording is great — obviously that’s a huge part of being in a band — but playing to people, seeing them react in real time, that’s what it’s really about. That’s the bit that keeps you going. It’s not even about getting feedback afterwards — it’s just looking out while you’re playing and seeing people proper enjoying it. That connection. That’s the buzz. And yeah, there’s something about the whole day as well. Like, you book the day off work, grab a coffee in the morning, head to soundcheck — it turns into a bit of an event. Then you do interviews or make content, and you know something’s happening. You’re in it. It’s a good way to spend a day.”

Q: What’s the moment in your live set that feels most electric — the song or section that turns things up a gear?

A: “It’s usually when the drums kick in and the guitars go full-on. That moment when everything ramps up and just hits hard. We put a lot of thought into how the set flows, what song comes after what, to keep the energy moving and the crowd hooked. There are definitely moments throughout the set that feel like peaks — the big choruses, the powerful sections. One song, in particular, ‘Burn’ kicks things off with a drum and vocal drop, then the full band comes back in, and that’s always the first big energy boost of the night. It sets the pace for everything else and gets us all hyped too. It’s a good warm-up song — not too complicated so we can all just get into it and enjoy playing.”

Q: What’s Liverpool like right now for bands starting out — are you finding a community? Do you feel like the Liverpool scene is influencing your sound in any way — or are you trying to break away from that local identity?

A: “It’s definitely a massive community. We started the band around November last year and didn’t really know many people in the scene at first. But there’s been loads of support — like Reignmaker has let us use their practice rooms to record demos, which has been huge. There’s also a producer called Pad Who who’s really nice and works with a lot of local acts. Sonny is filling in on bass today, who’s in Bones, has been great too. We’ve been to loads of their gigs — everyone’s just really supportive and welcoming. There’s a real sense of camaraderie with people our age. Everyone’s working towards the same goals, trying to make it happen, and it’s inspiring to be around that energy. You get that feeling of everyone looking out for each other, which is rare. As for influence, I think it comes through naturally just by being part of that community, but we’re also trying to carve out our own sound. We want to bring something fresh, while still respecting what’s come before us.”

Q: What’s next for Delaner after tonight — new material, more gigs, a bit of a reset?

A: “Definitely more gigs — hopefully some big ones. We want to build up to something proper this year, maybe a staple gig that really puts us on the map. We’ve been writing a lot and trying to get the band tight again. There’s a couple things in the works at The Jacaranda, which is exciting. We’re starting to focus more on new tunes and stepping things up a bit. It’s tricky, though — you have to be careful about rushing stuff. You want to get it right, especially with your debut single or EP, because people listen closely to that first release. It has to feel natural, not forced. We’re still learning and figuring things out, like everyone else in the scene. It’s about making the right moves and not jumping in too quick. Over the next few months, we want to get some solid songs together and put out something we really believe in. Then hopefully that leads to bigger shows, more confidence, and more opportunities. Hopefully some songs on Spotify too, that’s the plan, there you go.”

Delaner are a promising group with much more to come in the following months, making 2025 a staple year in the beginning of their journey. If there was ever a perfect time to take note it is now. We’re looking forward to seeing what the band conjures next, exciting plans, exciting sound, exciting future.