Matt LuceyIntro to delicate Steve
Delicate Steve, AKA Steve Marion, is an American musician who has gained attention in recent years. Steve, born in New Jersey, was planning his career in music from the start. Before leaving high school, Steve had already signed his first recording deal. From there, he would go on to release a series of studio and live recordings. The album After Hours would become a big success online, growing his fanbase. Steve would not only go on to release a number of great albums, but collaborate with some great musicians. One of the most interesting collaborations was in 2015, when he played on Paul Simon’s album Stranger to Stranger.
Sometimes, you get the opportunity to stumble upon something amazing by accident. While scrolling through videos online, I heard Steve’s playing and was mesmerized. The relaxing tone was hypnotic and I knew that I would be a fan. That song, “I Can Fly Away“, remains my favourite song of his.
Leading up to this EP
In the weeks leading up to this new EP, Steve had been posting teasers and behind the scenes footage of the music on his Instagram. Clearly Steve knows the benefit of communicating with fans to drum up excitement. The teasers and pre-releases have, so far, been met with a very positive reaction. People have come to rely on Steve for his unique and reliable sound. In addition to this, the community on YouTube and Spotify have already been enjoying Overnight Delivery .
Exploring the EP
The EP was released on April 10th under the record label Have Fun Thinking. This new effort, like Steve’s previous works, were self produced. While he recorded and mixed, the mastering was done by Ian Sefchick. Overnight Delivery follows a similar sound to what we’ve come to expect from Steve, with a relaxing, almost repetitive sound.
“Overnight delivery”
This song opens with a descending bassline and the backing to the song. It feels clear that the song is waiting for the main focus to come in. The guitar tests the water, just playing small, short licks. The tone is clean and fun. It feels like Steve is just playing around over the track. His short, quick licks make up the core of the song. Instead of a fast paced, fiery playing I tend to gravitate towards, this is a breath of musical fresh air. The lack of vocals is another draw here. The guitar is the spotlight and nothing takes away from this, with the other instruments just making a platform for it. I find that this kind of music is great for relaxation, driving or just filling the background while you work. I found this to be slightly more structured and musically progressive than previous releases.
“Raft to freedom”
“Raft to Freedom” is another interesting track in this pre-release taste of the EP. We start off here with a soft melody, setting the tone. Again, nothing here wants to take any focus from the star of the show. The bass and a quick guitar lick add some texture and an acoustic guitar fills out the background. When the guitar does join in, it feels almost like vocals. Again, a clear, precise sound marks Steve’s style. The trills and licks feel almost like they mimic the vocal melody you would expect here. From timing to intonation, the ability to step into the gap left by the vocals is incredible. This idea is made even better with the introduction of the synth, which is almost choir-like. This would be a great driving song.
Conclusion
Delicate Steve isn’t an artist for every moment. There are specific times when I’m in the mood for it, but when you are, it’s perfect. If you haven’t listened to Steve before, check it out! I look forward to hearing more.
