DELPREzTON is a multi-instrumentalist hailing from Montréal, Canada. Drawing on influence from a wide range of genres; post-punk, goth rock, electro, and grunge to name just a few, his sound is unique, eclectic, and rather special in my humble opinion. Having recently put out a stellar cover of Joy Division’s ‘Twenty Four Hours’, I was keen to get to know the talented artist a bit better.
Thrilled that he agreed to an interview, DELPREzTON chats with us about some of his favourite bands, how he navigates staying true to his artistic vision in today’s industry, and what he plans on getting up to next musically. So…Without further ado, please give a big welcome to our new friend DELPREzTON!
Hi DELPREzTON, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! I can’t wait to introduce you to our ever-expanding audience! Before we get into the nitty-gritty, could you tell us a little bit about your musical journey? Who is DELPREzTON and when did your love affair with music begin?
Delprezton is the name for this solo musical project of mine. Fans of Wayne’s World 2 will know where this name comes from haha! The musical journey as you call it began less than a year ago actually. At the time, I had finally decided to use the Audiobox I’d had for years that was still in its box and I began to mess around, playing with old ideas of riffs and melodies. Soon, and much to my surprise, I had enough material for an EP, which I released in late September last year!
Now…onto your cover of Joy Divison’s ‘Twenty Four Hours’. As a die-hard fan of the band myself, it’s a tune that I know and love well. What drew you to the song and how did you approach putting your own spin on it?
What a great song, isn’t it? It’s just my favorite one of them. I stumbled upon their BBC version at some point and it’s just been in my regular rotation since then. It’s so powerful. Everything is there and each of the members is in full control of their art. As a guitar player, I’m more attracted to this instrument and I must say that Bernard Sumner is just killing it with this one. And Stephen Morris is at the top of his game on drums.
I didn’t want to make another cover song actually. I did ‘Snap your fingers, Snap your neck’ by Prong earlier this year already, but a fellow musician, Perpetual Midnight, asked a couple of people if they were interested in covering their own versions of a JD song, and I was just brought into this interesting offer!
Now, I know this is a toughie, and possibly like asking you to pick a favourite child, but which tune of yours are you most proud of to date, and why?
Nahhh it’s not so much of a toughie man, and my back catalog is not that big anyway! I’d have to say that I have a soft spot for ‘Piper Perabo’, which is on my EP ‘Dead Parrot Sketch’. I’m proud of the groove and all the synths on that one that culminates in something interesting at the end, as well as the guitar part sitting more at the end of the song. Also, for the lyrics, it’s a song that represents a lot to me and goes deep.
You’ve mentioned that your music will appeal to fans of Joy Division, New Order, Killing Joke, The Sisters of Mercy, ACTORS, and Depeche Mode. I’m wondering if you grew up listening to these bands or whether your tastes and influences have changed over the years.
These all are great bands I listen to a lot to this day and are definitely present in my influences. Sometimes more electro-oriented acts like New Order, and sometimes more with heavy guitars like Killing Joke. My dream is to compose a song that could include all these great sounds and moods.
Growing up, I was more into the classic rock thing like The Rolling Stones and The Who, as well as metal, like Megadeth and Slayer and grunge bands Later, I discovered electronic music and hip-hop. Really, I cannot pinpoint any style I enjoy more, but it seems that I always go back to the 80s aesthetics when I compose my songs.
How do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and adapting to changing trends in the music industry?
It can be tough sometimes to adapt and play in the actual model, where there is so much music being released every day. It’s a really good thing though and it allows me to discover a ton of great artists in a way that was beyond imagination a decade ago. But, as an artist, I feel the danger is to fall into a “performance trap” where you feel obliged to produce new songs now and then to stay “visible” and not have to start again each time, in terms of engagement. It’s a sort of dilemma that might be conflictual sometimes between your craft and how the model operates.
Which of your lyrics would you like to see printed on a T-shirt?
Ohh that’s a great one! I would NEVER put my lyrics, nor my face, on a t-shirt. I don’t have enough confidence yet in what I write. The lyrics or even the singing part are not what I spend the most time for a song. It’s more a complement, an accessory. Who knows, one day maybe.
Alright, DELPREzTON, desert island time! You’re allowed to grab 3 albums before being stranded on an island. Which do you choose?
Hahaha ok… I would definitely bring ‘Remain in Light’ by Talking Heads, ‘Yield’ by Pearl Jam and ‘People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm’ by A Tribe Called Quest.
3 albums that are easy to listen to that I’ve listened to hundreds of times and that I know I will listen to until the very end. So, I guess, they are good choices for such an event.
Thanks again for taking the time DELPREzTON! It’s been great getting to know you a bit better. Before we say farewell, what comes next for you musically?
Thanks to you! I’m working on new stuff right now and will probably drop 1 or 2 singles later this year!
