Aaron Delahunty
London, England, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
Newcomer Aaron Delahunty likes to mix things up to create a compelling brew of fresh new pop. Check out for example the video for his new single "Never Happen Again" which is a wildly unorthodox tune featuring catchy vocal melodies interspersed with spitfire rhymes that are layered over a progressive fusion of dubstep, pop, gypsy rock and hip hop. Delanhunty's music feels vintage at times but sure is forward in its execution.
Born and bred in Gypsy Hill, South London, Aaron grew up singing along to whatever music was playing at home. At 15, inspired by the boom of the nu-metal scene, he picked up a guitar and hasn’t put it down since. Throughout his life, hip hop was Aaron’s passion, in particular the early '90s East-West Coast hip hop scenes that became an outlet for the "hardships of his childhood," a press release describes.
Delanhunty turned struggle into opportunity and decided to pursue a career in music as a teenager. At 18, the budding artist moved to East London's Bow to study at the British Academy of New Music. Bow is considered the center of London's grime scene, which had a deep impact on Delahunty who was quick to incorporate that moody, grinding and straight up attitude in his music.
But as lover and scholar of music, Delahunty has recently also experimented with honky-tonk, classic swing and gypsy jazz to create a vintage style that has not influenced his music, but also the overall aesthetic of his performance. Delahunty is magnet for fashionistas with his unique Vaudeville meets Victorian gentleman look that is a perfect fit for his musical cross-over stylings.
Watch the video for Aaron Delahunty's "Never Happen Again" after the break. Make sure to follow Delahunty on Facebook and Twitter. - Arjan Writes
Aaron Delahunty from Gipsy Hill, South London, is a rather unique chap. Dressed in swanky attire that makes him look like he's walked out of the Victorian age, but with piercings, sharp hair and a swagger that would've made the Victorians spit out their afternoon tea, I really didn't know what to expect from this boy.
Then, as soon as he starts strumming and drumming his acoustic guitar, you realise it's not just fashion that he's mashing up from different eras. Here he is, recorded live in session at our very own Maida Vale studios:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuhSA7CX_qs
Fusing vintage styles like honky-tonk, classic swing and gypsy jazz with bold lyrics and a feisty delivery, you need an enthusiastic, talented band that can keep up, and Aaron has chosen his live act very wisely. I watched them record this Maida Vale session together, and saw their performance on our stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend, and noticed both times how genuinely happy they all looked playing together.
The drummer constantly had a cheeky smile, the guitarist and bass players were sinking effortlessly into their grooves, and the lovely pianist added all the delicate touches at the right moments. At the end of the day, if the band are up there having a party then the crowd have no excuses to sit out!
Aaron's music definitely has that happy-go-lucky get up and dance vibe, and having been influenced by everything from acid house to nu-metal you can see why. It's the hip-hop core of Mr Delahunty however, that really makes him stand out from the crowd. He spits lyrics that reflect where he comes from, what he believes in, and real honest observations of his London suroundings. Intertwined with all the fun and games of his music are words with meaning and substance.
Having studied at the British Academy of New Music, living in Bow ('the heart and home of grime') , and taking inspiration from everything that comes his way, he summed it up nicely by saying "naturally over time my influences and tastes began to merge and... well... here I am!"
- BBC Introducing
Discography
Never Happen Again - Single - released Nov 22nd 2011
Photos
Bio
Well as you've guessed my name's Aaron Delahunty. Born November 1987, from Gipsy Hill, I’m through and through South London born and raised. With that, I've soaked up a whole lot of culture and been heavily influenced by the diversity of my hometown.
I was born into the tail end of the acid house scene and brought up on the soundtracks of Britain on its early 90's comedown!
As I grew up, I always sang along to whatever was playing in the house as most do but it weren't until the boom of the nu-metal scene of the early 00's that I really discovered my voice. In 2003 I picked up a guitar… and have failed to put it down since!
Throughout my life and friendship circles, hip-hop was always a constant that saw me through a lot of tough times. Spittin' lyrics always seemed such a good way of venting all the pent up feelings I'd built up through the hardships of my childhood and I could have easily lost my way without it.
As time went on I grew from strength to strength and really began to realise that this was what I was born to do. No one else in the fam’ had any real musical ability so it was kind of a lonely time at home when it came to the understanding that I wanted to be a musician. Plenty of that "well you should have something to fall back on" kinda talk. But as time passed, that way of thinking morphed into real support and has remained that way to this day.
When I was around 18 I moved up to Bow in East London. I became familiar with the area after studying at the British Academy of New Music. Living in the heart and home of Grime really inspired and influenced me as an artist.
Over the last several years I have really engaged more vintage styles such as honky-tonk, classic swing and Gypsy Jazz.
This has had a profound effect on both my artistry and my outlook on fashion. I draw a lot of my inspiration from a collection of particular eras such as the industrious age of the late 1800's, Vaudeville, pre/post-war Europe and the early 90's east/west coast hip-hop scenes.
As you can imagine, naturally over time my influences and tastes began to merge and.... well... here I am!
Peace!!
Website: http://www.aarondelahunty.com/
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