Prescott listeners received a special performance Thursday evening November, 21st at the acclaimed Raven Cafe from Arizona’s freshest new indie band – The Delics – showcasing music from their debut album, Dot Pop.
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The Delics Release Dot Pop and Share Insights on Their Creative Journey
The Delics, a fresh sonic amalgamation drawing inspiration from iconic groups like The Grateful Dead, Mild High Club, and Khruangbin, have officially released their debut album, Dot Pop. Engineered at Old School Studios in Jerome, AZ, under the skillful hand of Jon Margulies and mastered by Dylan Ludwig at Raven Sound Studios, the album is now available on all streaming platforms.
The band—comprised of Caleb Makai (vocals and guitar), Henry Peterson (bass), and Jared Silverstein (drums and vocals)—celebrated their album release at The Raven Cafe, a fitting venue given the album’s ties to Raven Sound Studios. Fans can catch The Delics live at The Spirit Room in Jerome, AZ, on February 7th from 7–10 PM.
Caleb Makai: Songwriting, Recording, and the Meaning Behind Dot Pop
For Caleb Makai, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for The Delics, the creation of Dot Pop was a deeply rewarding journey marked by creative breakthroughs, personal growth, and profound collaboration. Reflecting on the process, Caleb shares:
“For me, the journey of creating this album was so rewarding, and the completion of it is such a landmark! Some of these songs were written years ago, and they have tried to be captured before. However, the conditions were never quite right, not like they were in June of 2023 when Jared Silverstein and I stepped into Old School Studios in Jerome, Arizona for the first time. This studio is a gem.”
The historic Old School Studios, once a classroom in a high school that closed in the 1970s, provided the perfect environment to bring Caleb’s vision to life. Guided by the expertise of recording engineer Jon Margulies, the band laid the foundational tracks of drums and rhythm guitar in just one day. However, completing the album required months of dedication and collaboration.
Caleb recounts the pivotal moment when bassist Henry Peterson returned to the band six months into the process:
“These songs were never ready to be captured because the right people were never in my life to make it happen, until now. I have so much respect and gratitude for these two incredible musicians—Jared Silverstein and Henry Peterson—along with the knowledge and skill of Jon Margulies. They greatly helped me make these songs come to life.”
Exploring Themes of Spirituality and Union
Central to Dot Pop is its exploration of spiritual themes, particularly the interplay between the sacred and the secular. Caleb explains:
“One of the overarching themes of this album is the merging of the religious and the secular. More specifically, the union of the spiritual path with the lover relationship.”
The album’s opening track, “Cloudless Sky,” draws from Buddhist teachings, comparing the lover to the vast, clear nature of the mind. The theme deepens in tracks like “Kamala,” inspired by Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. Caleb describes the song’s significance:
“The song ‘Kamala’ is about this woman. More broadly, it is about the power of the feminine to teach the secrets of union between lovers—secrets that reveal the very essence of reality.”
Bridging Traditions Through Song
Religious motifs continue in tracks like “The Narrow Road,” inspired by Biblical and Vedic scripture. Caleb highlights the universal resonance of these themes:
“The similarity between these verses is so uncanny that it makes you wonder if the authors were talking about the same thing despite their vastly different cultural traditions.”
“The Narrow Road” presents an existential crossroads, challenging listeners to embrace both the joys and sorrows of life for the sake of humanity.
Lighthearted Joy in the Mystery of Existence
Balancing these weighty themes are tracks like “10 O’Clock Sun” and “Cloudless Sky,” which bring a sense of lighthearted joy. Caleb elaborates:
“The experience of life isn’t always so serious, and we wanted the listener to be reminded of this through the intensity of the mystery of existence.”
The album’s title, Dot Pop, captures this essence. Inspired by a quote from Tibetan meditation teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Caleb explains its meaning:
“There is a good dot in the sky, and that very dot is primordial, unconditioned basic goodness. This is the essence of Dot Pop: a musical expression of human joy and the discovery of our primordial existence.”
For Caleb, Dot Pop is more than an album—it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, the depth of human connection, and the beauty of life’s journey. As he concludes:
“We hope people can relate to this music and remember they are not alone in this journey. There is so much love to be found. We hope to pass it along to others and let inspiration move them brightly.”
Henry Peterson: Bass Lines and Brotherhood
For bassist Henry Peterson, joining the recording process for Dot Pop was both a unique challenge and a rewarding opportunity to reconnect with his bandmates. Reflecting on his role, Henry shares:
“So the other guys had started recording prior to myself getting on the record, so the process went a little different than maybe it usually does. I was really excited to get back into playing with the guys, and the process of preparing a song for recording means a lot of in-depth practice and solidifying lines.”
A Different Approach to Recording
Unlike traditional recording sessions where the rhythm section is often laid down first, Henry added his bass tracks to pre-recorded material from drummer Jared Silverstein and guitarist Caleb Makai. While unconventional, the process allowed for meticulous attention to detail:
“It was a whole different experience to be listening back to what was just played and being able to adjust minute details, as opposed to the instant feedback of playing live. It gave another level of gravitas to the project and a deeper appreciation for the music we were recording.”
Working at Old School Studios in Jerome with engineer Jon Margulies further elevated the experience. Henry notes Jon’s professionalism and the valuable insights he provided during the recording process.
A Creative Evolution
As a musician with a background in notated music and popular covers, Henry found working with The Delics to be a refreshing creative outlet. The group’s emphasis on original material gave him the freedom to contribute his own artistry:
“The difference with this group is that everything has been original, and so it leaves a lot of room for my own creativity to come through in the bass lines and other parts of the songwriting process.”
This creative freedom, coupled with the camaraderie of working alongside close friends, made the experience deeply meaningful:
“These guys have been my best buds for years now. Making music with them is so important to me, and I just count myself grateful to get to hang out around such cool, intelligent, and talented guys as my bandmates.”
The Labor of Love
For Henry, the process of recording Dot Pop was more than just a technical endeavor—it was a labor of love and an expression of gratitude for the opportunity to create music with kindred spirits. He reflects:
“It’s always been a labor of love, and with enough of the love it’s easy to forget that it’s a labor. It is an amazing thing to have the opportunity to express myself through music and through improvisation alongside my favorite people.”
As The Delics look to the future, Henry is excited for what lies ahead:
“I wait with eager anticipation for what is to come.”
Through his contributions to Dot Pop, Henry Peterson not only brought depth and creativity to the band’s sound but also strengthened the bonds that make The Delics more than just a musical group—they are a family united by their shared passion for music.
Jared Silverstein: Finding Creative Freedom and Transcendence in The Delics
For drummer Jared Silverstein, joining The Delics was the start of a creative journey unlike anything he had experienced before. Meeting Caleb Makai at a jam session in 2021 marked the beginning of their musical collaboration, and soon after, bassist Henry Peterson completed the trio. Jared recalls his first impressions:
“Ever since meeting Caleb back in 2021 at a jam session in Arizona, I knew we had similar musical minds and were probably onto something together. Here was a guy who wore his heart on his sleeve and wrote authentic stories about his own experiences and philosophies while paying homage to the craft of poetry – which I must say – is a rare thing these days. Shortly after we met, Caleb introduced me to a bass player he was playing with at the time, and that was Henry Peterson. Once I met Henry and I saw his RUSH 2112 poster, I was like, ‘Oh yeah. We’re gonna be a trio right here.’”
Jazz Meets Indie: A Fresh Creative Outlet
Jared’s musical background in jazz, coupled with the creative spark of The Delics, opened new doors of inspiration. Reflecting on this transition, Jared explains:
“Having previously performed mostly jazz in NYC, The Delics for me was an exciting new opportunity that lit up my creativity for music where I really never felt it before. I remember hearing projects like Crumb and The Beths and how much of a mood they created with their songwriting, lyrics, and sound choice.”
Fascinated by the sonorities of indie music, Jared brought a meticulous ear to the recording process, paying close attention to how the drums were tuned, recorded, and mixed.
“Listening to indie projects like this, I would pay close attention to the different sonorities of the drums from band to band – the creative choices for how to tune, record, and mix the drums. I felt like I could get lost in that – there is magic in that. The sound creates a feeling and mood for the listener.”
Collaboration and Refinement
Recording Dot Pop with Caleb and Henry at Jon Margulies’ studio was both a creative and collaborative experience for Jared. Over the course of a year, the band honed their sound with a balance of fun experimentation and deliberate refinement. Jared cites shared influences as a key part of their process:
“One of my biggest influences in this genre is Little Dragon, and with Caleb loving bands like Mild High Club and Pearl and The Oysters, we knew we wanted to incorporate synthesis elements and make music that was fun and catchy while also being an expression of our love for jazz harmony and improvisations.”
A Deep Passion for Songwriting
Beyond drumming, Jared sees his role in The Delics as an extension of his passion for songwriting and music as a whole. Playing with Caleb and Henry has been a deeply rewarding experience, filled with moments of inspiration:
“We have moments when we’re playing where I feel we are tapping into the spirit of a band like Weather Report or Tony Williams Lifetime during their live performances. Sometimes I listen to what Henry is playing on the bass and I’m in disbelief.”
For Jared, The Delics represent not just a band but a creative force that pushes boundaries and fosters transcendent moments:
“Here’s to more music, travels, and moments of transcendence.”
Through his drumming and songwriting, Jared brings a dynamic energy to The Delics, creating a sound that is both innovative and deeply rooted in the band’s shared passion for musical expression.
Experience Dot Pop
The Delics’ Dot Pop takes listeners on a profound yet joyful journey, merging spiritual themes with lighthearted jazz-pop elements. Whether through tracks like “The Narrow Road” or the ethereal “Cloudless Sky,” the band delivers a rich tapestry of sound and meaning.
Catch their next performance at The Spirit Room in Jerome, AZ, on February 7th. Don’t miss the chance to experience their transformative music live!
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