Nashville-raised pop artist Dela Kay takes the finesse of Ellie Goulding’s electronic anthems with the unabashed attitude of Tove Lo to carve out a space for herself. After releasing debut single “9 Out of 10” in 2016, Dela Kay is following it up with a new EP, Empty. It’s streaming exclusively here at No Country for New Nashville ahead of its official release on May 26. The EP includes 2017 singles “Empty” and “I Like You” in addition to two unreleased tracks “Joker” and “Holding Me Under.” Learn more about Dela Kay, listen to the Empty EP and be sure to catch her at The Back Corner tonight, with special guests Jonie and LUKR.
Dela Kay teamed up with Nashville-based producer Femke to produce Empty. Themes revolve around relationship expectations and striving for great things with a strong sense of ambition. Dela Kay says, “Ambition is a wonderful word. I think without ambition in my life, I would be lost. It keeps me moving and dreaming, always reaching for something more. One of my biggest successes in my life thus far, is keeping my ambition alive and well while staying rooted in my identity.”
Creating the Empty proved to be a self discovery process for Dela Kay. She explains, “It’s the closest I’ve gotten to really finding out who I am as an artist thus far, and I’m even more excited for the music coming after it. I’m discovering more and more about myself as an artist and as a human being in this crazy world. The electronic style speaks to me, and I feel like the dark pop nature truly lives in my bones. All of these songs speak to the ups and downs of my relationships with a fun, quirky and edgy feel. I think people will really like these songs because we all have gone through these types of love and loss and want to feel something to remind ourselves we are all connected.”
Though raised in Nashville, Kay was born in Chicago and later returned to the city to study musical theater at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at the Theatre Conservatory of Roosevelt University. Songwriting brought her back to Tennessee, but with a newfound sense of independence. “My Chicago roots keep me bold & independent while the southern side of keeps me grounded and connected to nature & people,” she says.
Listen to the Empty EP below, and catch Dela Kay tonight, May 19 at The Back Corner with Jonie and LUKR. Doors are at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $12.
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