Delta Rae
{{short description|American folk rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Delta Rae
| image = Delta Rae.jpg
| alt =
| landscape = yes
| image_size = 400
| origin = Durham, North Carolina, United States
| genre = Blues rock, country rock, folk rock, roots rock
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = Valory Music Co., Sire/Warner Bros.
| website = http://www.deltarae.com
| current_members = Grant Emerson
Elizabeth Hopkins
Brittany Hölljes
Eric Hölljes[http://www.deltarae.com/photo/eric-h-lljes-taking-us-church-14891 Delta Rae - Eric Hölljes Taking Us To Church] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414134806/http://www.deltarae.com/photo/eric-h-lljes-taking-us-church-14891 |date=2015-04-14 }}, Retrieved Apr. 9, 2015.
Ian Hölljes
Mike McKee
}}
Delta Rae ({{IPAc-en|r|eɪ}} {{respell|RAY}}) is an American folk rock band formed in Durham, North Carolina.Williams, Erin (January 23, 2012). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/click-track/post/delta-rae-on-witch-trials-and-keeping-music-in-the-family/2012/01/18/gIQAdViOLQ_blog.html Delta Rae on witch trials and keeping music in the family]", The Washington Post. Retrieved April 14, 2012. The band consists of three siblings Ian Hölljes (vocals and guitar), Eric Hölljes (vocals, guitar, piano and keys) and Brittany Hölljes (vocals), as well as Elizabeth Hopkins (vocals), Mike McKee (percussion) and Grant Emerson (bass guitar). The band feels that they do not fit into a single musical genre, but have described their sound as "gospel-tinged country-rock, sensual blue-eyed soul and harmony-laden Americana."{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/07/03/meet-delta-rae-indie-band-unexpectedly-launched-fame-by-taylor-swift-scooter-braun-feud/|title=Meet Delta Rae, the indie band unexpectedly launched to fame by the Taylor Swift-Scooter Braun feud|last=Yahr|first=Emily|date=July 3, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=November 13, 2019}}
History
= Hölljes siblings =
Three of the members of Delta Rae are siblings and members of the Hölljes family. They grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where their parents instilled in them a love of music, reading, and education.{{Cite web|title=Delta Rae: An education in harmony|url=https://lancasteronline.com/entertainment/delta-rae-an-education-in-harmony/article_c06dd8dd-4d10-5ffe-8e6c-867db510b5e4.html|author=Jon Ferguson|website=LancasterOnline.com|date=12 July 2012 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-13}}
Ian and Eric Hölljes began writing music together when they were 12 and 10 years old, respectively.{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Elizabeth |date=3 October 2012 |title=Delta Rae: Modern Folklore Music |url=https://www.wbur.org/npr/161696636/delta-rae-modern-folklore-music |access-date=2020-05-14 |website=Wbur.org |language=en}} The two of them write most of the songs for Delta Rae's music today.{{Cite web|title=Americana band Delta Rae have 4 vocalists and an enormous sound|url=https://www.vox.com/2015/4/25/8489807/delta-rae-interview|last=McKinney|first=Kelsey|date=2015-04-25|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=2020-05-14}}
The siblings grew up hearing stories of folklore, mythology, and mysticism from their mother, a Montessori school teacher.{{Cite web|title=Interview: Delta Rae's Ian Hölljes on the Band's Witchy Ways & New Album 'The Light'|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/drtl-delta-rae-2020-interview-the-light-album/|date=2020-02-19|website=Atwood Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-14}} She would read Greek mythology to them and often make up melodies and music to accompany the stories. The band's name hails from a fictional story the Hölljes' mother wrote about a Southern girl named Delta Rae who summons the Greek gods to earth.{{Cite web |last=Fichera |first=Dawn Marie |title=antiMusic.com: Delta Rae Interview |url=https://www.antimusic.com/reviews/12/Delta_Rae_Interview.shtml |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=antiMusic}} Their mother is currently writing a book about this southern heroine.
The three Hölljes siblings joined a teen a cappella group as middle schoolers in San Rafael, California, called 'Til Dawn where they learned both how to write musical arrangements and how to sing as a group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waltermagazine.com/art-and-culture/delta-rising/|website=Waltermagazine.com|access-date=2020-05-14|title=Delta rising|date=30 September 2013}} In this a cappella group, they also met and became friends with their future Delta Rae bandmate, Elizabeth Hopkins.
= Band formation =
The band debuted at Duke University in October 2009. Ian graduated from Duke in 2007; Eric graduated from Duke in 2009.{{Cite web|title=Ian Holljes '07 and Eric Holljes '09|url=https://alumni.duke.edu/magazine/articles/ian-holljes-07-and-eric-holljes-09|website=Duke Magazine|date=30 November 2010|access-date=2021-08-02}} After Brittany graduated early from University of California, Berkeley, also in 2009, and Liz had graduated from Fordham University, the band members all moved into a big house in the woods in Durham, North Carolina, and officially became a band in September 2009.{{Cite web|title=5 Questions: Delta Rae's Liz Hopkins|url=https://www.dailytarheel.com/blog/dive/2010/06/5_questions_delta_raes_liz_hopkins|website=The Daily Tar Heel|access-date=2020-05-14}}
In 2010, the band added Mike McKee, who graduated from Campbell University,{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Isabella |date=22 March 2021 |title=Orange Owned Spotlight: Drum Team Collective |url=https://blogs.campbell.edu/orange-owned-spotlight-drum-team-collective/ |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=Campbell University Blog}} and Grant Emerson, who graduated from University of North Carolina Wilmington.{{Cite web|title=UNCW grad plays bass in rising act Delta Rae|url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20120726/News/605043626/WM?template=ampart|website=Star News Online|access-date=2021-08-02|archive-date=2021-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802170754/https://www.starnewsonline.com/article/NC/20120726/News/605043626/WM?template=ampart|url-status=dead}} The 6-person formation is still in place today.
Career
Their self-titled debut EP was released in 2010,{{Cite web |last=Melzer |first=Ashley |date=2010-06-09 |title=Delta Rae's self-titled debut |url=https://indyweek.com/api/content/4e16cca2-ced8-5f7c-a2e4-3f2acb41bc5a/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=INDY Week |language=en-us}} after which they signed to Sire Records in 2012.Lawrence, Jordan (February 3, 2012). "[http://www.indyweek.com/scan/archives/2012/02/03/durhams-delta-rae-signs-to-sire-records Durham's Delta Rae signs to Sire Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113030400/http://www.indyweek.com/scan/archives/2012/02/03/durhams-delta-rae-signs-to-sire-records |date=2015-01-13 }}", Indy Week. Retrieved April 14, 2012.Dickens, Tad (February 2, 2012). "Music all over the map", The Roanoke Times, p. 6. Their debut album Carry the Fire was released on June 19, 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://music.mync.com/2012/04/delta-rae-signs-with-warner-bros-to-release-new-lp-june-19/|title=Mync.com|date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221009/http://music.mync.com/2012/04/delta-rae-signs-with-warner-bros-to-release-new-lp-june-19/ |access-date=16 May 2022|archive-date=2016-03-03 }} It included the singles "Morning Comes", "Dance in the Graveyards" and "Bottom of the River" which received airplay on VH1.
On November 19, 2013, they released the EP Chasing Twisters which included a new version of their single "If I Loved You" featuring Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/if-i-loved-you-radio-version/id604302406?i=604302650&wmgref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deltarae.com%2Falbum%2Fif-i-loved-you-feat-lindsey-buckingham |title=Archived copy |website=iTunes |access-date=2014-06-09 |archive-date=2015-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216234643/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/if-i-loved-you-radio-version/id604302406?i=604302650&wmgref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deltarae.com%2Falbum%2Fif-i-loved-you-feat-lindsey-buckingham |url-status=dead }} Delta Rae toured in support of this release for much of 2014, including a set at Lollapalooza.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lollapalooza.com/2014-lineup/ |title=2014 Lineup | Lollapalooza 2014 | August 1-3, 2014 : Grant Park : Chicago, IL |access-date=2014-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531164350/http://www.lollapalooza.com/2014-lineup/ |archive-date=2014-05-31 |url-status=dead }}
The band performed with other musicians at the 29th annual Farm Aid event, which was held on September 13, 2014, at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh, North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.farmaid.org/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150410005656/http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.9206747/k.FA80/Relive_Farm_Aid_2014.htm?msource=twitter|url-status=dead|title=Farm Aid - Keep America Growing|website=Farmaid.org|archive-date=10 April 2015|access-date=16 May 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.deltarae.com/tour/raleigh-nc|title=Delta Rae Live at Farm Aid - 2014-09-13 21:00:00|date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414134019/http://www.deltarae.com/tour/raleigh-nc |access-date=16 May 2022|archive-date=2015-04-14 }}
Delta Rae released their second album After It All on April 7, 2015.{{cite tweet|number=553288997368115201|user=DeltaRae|title=NEW ALBUM. AFTER IT ALL. APRIL 7. |date=8 January 2015}} It was preceded by the single "Scared" in addition to an East Coast tour.{{Cite web |url=http://www.deltarae.com/news/new-video |title=NEW VIDEO! - Delta Rae Latest News |access-date=2015-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413073445/http://www.deltarae.com/news/new-video |archive-date=2015-04-13 |url-status=dead }}
In April 2015, they played their first Australian dates as part of the Byron Bay Bluesfest, which included Counting Crows and Jurassic 5.
The band relocated to Nashville and signed with Big Machine Label Group in February 2017 after a personnel shake-up at Warner.{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Jessica |date=3 February 2017 |title=Valory Music Co. Signs Delta Rae |url=https://musicrow.com/2017/02/valory-music-co-signs-delta-rae/ |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=MusicRow}} They quickly followed up with a couple of EP releases, A Long and Happy Life and The Blackbird Sessions.
From September through December 2018, they held a weekly residency in Nashville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigmachinelabelgroup.com/news/experience-delta-rae-revival-fall|title=EXPERIENCE THE DELTA RAE REVIVAL THIS FALL|date=17 July 2018|website=Bigmachinelabelgroup.com|access-date=16 May 2022}} Cheap Trick performed on the opening night.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecountrynote.com/in-the-news/delta-rae-summons-folklore-passion-in-sold-out-first-night-of-revival/ |title=Delta Rae Summons Folklore & Passion in Sold-Out First Night of Revival - the Country Note |access-date=2019-09-21 |archive-date=2019-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921023413/https://www.thecountrynote.com/in-the-news/delta-rae-summons-folklore-passion-in-sold-out-first-night-of-revival/ |url-status=dead }}
In July 2019, Delta Rae announced they would be leaving Big Machine and a Kickstarter campaign was launched for a double album project - The Light and The Dark.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deltarae/the-light-and-the-dark-delta-raes-first-independent-release|title=The Light & The Dark: Delta Rae's First Independent Release|website=Kickstarter.com|access-date=16 May 2022}} The campaign passed the $30,000 goal immediately, making $60,000 within the first hour the campaign was live.{{Cite web |last=Zimmerman |first=Lee |date=2020-03-17 |title=Delta Rae Looks to 'The Light' To Find Their Way Forward |url=https://americansongwriter.com/delta-rae-the-light-album-success/ |access-date=2020-05-09 |website=Americansongwriter.com |language=en-US}} It gained a significant boost as Taylor Swift's fans reacted to her comments on the Big Machine buyout.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/taylor-swift-big-machine-delta-rae-new-album-855342/|title=How Taylor Swift Accidentally Helped Delta Rae Fund Their New Album|first=Jon|last=Freeman|website=Rollingstone.com|date=3 July 2019|access-date=16 May 2022}} The overwhelming response raised over fifteen times the original goal and saw them become the fifth biggest music Kickstarter campaign.{{cite web |last=Delta Rae |date=30 August 2019 |title=$451,457 pledged. 1504% funded. 5,160 backers. 0 seconds to go. And so begins a new chapter for us all. You are the most brilliant, generous, magical partners we could ever imagine. We love you with all our hearts. Thank you. |url=https://twitter.com/DeltaRae/status/1167487092617895942 |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=Twitter.com}} The first installment of the Kickstarter, titled The Light, was released on March 20, 2020.
Eric Holljes has worked as a producer on other projects, including the upcoming album from Carrie Welling entitled High Heels and Heavy Things. Welling was scheduled to be part of Delta Rae's 2020 tour, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dark, a sister album to The Light, was released in 2021.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Sales |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| US ! width="35"| US Sales ! width="35"| US Heat ! width="35"| US Folk |
| scope="row"| Carry the Fire
|
| — |192 | 11 | 13 | |
| scope="row"| After It All
|
| 152 |76 | 3 | 10 | |
| scope="row"| The Light
|
|— |45 |— |— | |
| scope="row"| The Dark
|
|— |25 |10 |23 | |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
=Live albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:14em;"| Title
! style="width:18em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Live at Lincoln Theatre
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details ! colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Sales |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| US Heat |
| scope="row"| Delta Rae
|
| — | |
| scope="row"| Chasing Twisters
|
| 8 | |
| scope="row"| A Long And Happy Life
|
| 24 | |
| scope="row"| The Blackbird Sessions
|
| — | |
| colspan="7" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Single !Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="50" | US AAA |
| 2012
! scope="row"| "Bottom of the River" | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| Carry the Fire |
| rowspan="2"| 2013
! scope="row"| "If I Loved You" (featuring Lindsay Buckingham) | 5 |
| scope="row"| "Run"
| — | align="left" rowspan="1"| Chasing Twisters |
| 2015
! scope="row"| "Scared" | — | align="left"| After It All |
| rowspan="2"| 2017
! scope="row"| "A Long And Happy Life" | — | align="left" rowspan="2"| A Long And Happy Life [EP] |
| scope="row"| "No Peace In Quiet"
| — |
| colspan="9" style="font-size:8pt" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
=Videography=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Director |
|---|
| 2011
! scope="row" | "Bottom of the River" | rowspan="1" | Lawrence Chen |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
! scope="row" | "Morning Comes" | rowspan="1" | Martin Roe |
| scope="row" | "Dance in the Graveyards"
| rowspan="1" | Dirty Robber |
| 2013
! scope="row" | "If I Loved You" | rowspan="1" | Justin Coloma |
| 2015
! scope="row" | "Scared" | rowspan="1" | LAW |
| 2017
! scope="row" | "A Long And Happy Life" | rowspan="1" | David McClister |
| 2018
! scope="row" | "Do You Ever Dream?" | rowspan="1" | Lawrence Chen |
| 2018
! scope="row" | "Hands Dirty" | rowspan="1" | Eric Hölljes and Delta Rae |
| 2020
!scope="row" | "All Good People" |Delta Rae |
| 2021
!scope="row" | "No One Will Miss Me" | rowspan="1" | LAW |
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Artist |
|---|
| 2020
! scope="row" | "Stand-Ins" | rowspan="1" | Carrie Welling |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delta Rae}}
Category:2009 establishments in North Carolina
Category:American blues rock musical groups
Category:American country rock groups
Category:American folk rock groups
Category:Culture of Durham, North Carolina
Category:Musical groups established in 2009