Interview: Eliza & The Delusionals @ The Fillmore Silver Spring (10/26/24)

Eliza & The Delusionals (Photo Credit: Nick Maguire)

Australian indie rockers, Eliza & The Delusionals, visit Silver Spring on October 26th opening for The Front Bottoms. They are touring for their second album, Make It Feel Like The Garden (via Cooking Vinyl).

From Queensland, Australia, they started out in 2016. The band is comprised of Eliza Klatt (vocals), Kurt Skuse and Ruby Lee. They have released three EPs prior to releasing their first album, Now and Then (via Cooking Vinyl), in 2022. They won Rock Song of the Year with “Just Exist” at the Queensland Music Awards in 2020, and were nominated for Best New Artist in 2023 at the Rolling Stone Australia Awards. So Australia already really likes them, so now it is our turn in the US.

The new album was conceived on the road during their 2022 North American tour, with Kurt and Eliza writing the majority of the songs at their DIY studio in Napa, California. They returned home and recorded the album with producer Oscar Dawson.

Eliza describes the process of creating their new album, “It was interesting to see how working in a different part of the world, outside of the comfort of our home studio and Australia in general, has influenced our writing and the process of demoing the songs. Recording the album with Oscar Dawson was an incredibly collaborative experience. He continued to push us out of our comfort zones which led us to feeling really free creatively. I think this also made us write in our most honest and genuine form.”

The band graciously took a moment to answer a few lighthearted questions over email.

A DC Journey: What has been your favorite experience so far as a musician/artist?

Eliza & The Delusionals: Having the opportunity to play shows across North America has been really special for us as a band, we’ve made so many great memories and played amazing shows over there. We’re super excited to come back.

ADCJ: If you were standing near where you were about to perform, what would you tell those walking by to encourage them to come experience your show?

E&TD: Please come and watch us play.

ADCJ: Which of your songs would you feel happiest about hearing in a public space? (like in a restaurant or grocery store)

E&TD: Really tough question but I would have to say “Falling For You”, it should be played in public spaces more often if I’m honest.

ADCJ: Are there any local to Washington, DC bands/artists that you are currently excited about?

E&TD: We’d love some recommendations of bands from Washington DC that we should listen to!

(Editor’s Note: I would respond back to them with the following DC bands as a starting point: Flowerbomb, Mystery Friends, Milo in the Doldrums, and Pretty Bitter. But there are so many good options, please comment if you’d like to add a few more.)

ADCJ: What was the last song you couldn’t stop playing on repeat?

E&TD: “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” by Good Charlotte

Here is “Falling For You”. They are right, it should be played more. Enjoy this earworm!