"In the final analysis, art becomes, for Delopoulos, a vehicle for fleeing the darkness and capturing some taste of the divine—that warm, elusive, beckoning glow.(Paste Magazine)
"Steven Delopoulos summons the best of Dylan's eerie imagery, Cat Stevens' strange cadence and Josh Ritter's Biblically epic evocations...an authentic, Biblical artistic voice would surely be distinct from the clamor of falsely pious "Hallelujahs" and "Praise Jesuses". Straightjacket steers clear of such patronizing shenanigans, yet it is apparent that it comes from a deeply personal (and, one might add, deeply real,) faith." (T.Clair, intothehill.com)
"From thoughtful spirituals and ballads to Steve Goodman-like bittersweetness, the songs are like three-minute novellas. And despite his background, [Straightjacket] cannot in anyway be considered a 'gospel' album–this is folk rock boys and girls." (Todd Smith, sharkbitten.com)
"American folk in the vein of Harry Chapin, Woodie Guthrie, and early Bob Dylan, but bearing Delopoulos' unmistakable Greek folk stamp...lyrically rich, exceptionally played, delicately produced, and oftentimes plain beautiful."(Christianity Today)
"Steven Delopoulos is a complete mystery to me. His music is full of a transcendent wonder and poetic grit that I don't hear coming from any other contemporary artists. Straightjacket is a strange journey of language and melody that I never seem to grow tired of revisiting...I'm still completely baffled as to how he does it." (Derek Webb, singer/songwriter)
Take the vocal distinctness of Cat Stevens, cross it with the storybook songwriting of Harry Chapin and the eclectic instrumentation of Paul Simon, and you've got the framework of Steven Delopoulos. Boasting a diverse range of musical influences including Tom Waits, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Don McLean, and Greek folk music, one could try to imagine how all these threads could create an artistically consistent whole. Blending folk, pop, gospel, and orchestral elements, Straightjacket (Eb+Flo Records) offers an astonishing fusion that brands his signature sound.
Growing up in Monmouth County, NJ in a distinctively Greek family, Steven absorbed the cadence of the Greek language and the spirit of the culture that has infused his music with its ethnic/world vibe. He first came on the music scene in the late 90's as the lead singer for the critically acclaimed, award-winning band Burlap to Cashmere. In 2003, Delopoulos released Me Died Blue, a poignant solo album that Paste Magazine called " a boisterous and deeply moving blend of acoustic folk-pop".
Audiences have always gravitated toward Delopoulos' sophisticated musicianship as well as his painterly imagery and provocative metaphors. Straightjacket offers listeners a continuation of his whirlwind musical journey: "May I Always Keep My Feet Upon the Ground" is a rowdy piece that sounds easily at home on a soulful gospel record. "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound" is a cover of the Tom Paxton classic featuring legendary guitarist Duane Eddy, and the album even contains an interlude reminiscent of a vintage New York jazz club. The opening track "Ruin of the Beast" begins with chant excerpts from a Greek monastery Delopoulos encountered on a visit to Greece. Despite the artful incorporation of various mediums, Straightjacket is a folk record steeped in spirituality: the work of an artist who's still coming into his own, getting better and better with each new release. Like its predecessor, it's sure to be cherished by anyone bold enough to discover it.
Here's the trailer for an incredible project called Sons of Lwala, a documentary about two med students in America who return home to Kenya to finish the health clinic their father started before he died of AIDS. The film features music from Steve, Jars of Clay, Thad Cockrell, and others. More importantly, all from the film ticket and sponsorship proceeds benefit the clinic (with the potential to fund more than a year of operation). Click here for tickets and more info.
Steven...Have had your song, "She held my hand" on my player for a while, and just wanted to tell you what a blessing it has been to me. You have a special gift. Would love to hear back from you some time. God Bless, Christi
FYI, your music continues to be a blessing and inspiration to me, and is definitely being included in my wedding reception coming up in Alabama this month.
Hi Steven~I hope all is well and that you're looking forward to Spring's blessings. I notice the March 16 NYC gig isn't listed on here anymore. I look forward to a possible other NYC show and/or Philly are. Cheers! Lisa
