Delilah Wood – “take my hand”
Photos by Crystal Reed Stokes
Los Angeles-based artist Delilah Wood debuts on the blog with “take my hand,” a dark and folk-tinged slice of indie rock.
The vibe is initially set by orchestral swells beneath some melancholic strums of electric guitar, and it is immediately apparent that this will be a journey through introspection. Arrangement-wise, if you can imagine something pulled from the No Need to Argue era of The Cranberries, that’ll get you halfway there.
It is Delilah Wood’s vocal performance that clinches the deal for us, as she’s been blessed with a voice that ticks our PJ Harvey boxes—it’s dark and brooding and pulls us right into the track. As far as subject matter is concerned, “take my hand” draws on the difficult reality of trying to love someone when neither person is entirely sure how to navigate the relationship.
Wood has the rare ability to soar in her upper register in a way that reminds us of the work of Jeff Buckley. Perhaps this comes from her experience as a jazz singer; perhaps it comes from some magical place in the universe. The arrangement gradually expands to include a steady rhythm that propels the listener forward as confusion and vulnerability continue to intertwine.
Layers of backing vocals find their place, guitars start to get grittier, and by the time we near the end of its five-minute runtime, “take my hand” is as much a reflection of the contents of our hearts as it is an epic listening experience. And it’s yours today with the press of the play button.