Delilah (musician)

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Delilah
Background information
Birth name Paloma Ayana Stoecker
Born (1990-09-23) 23 September 1990
Paris, France
Origin Hackney, London, England
Genres Pop, electronica, R&B, trip hop, ambient, soul
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, piano
Years active 2007–present
Labels Atlantic, Warner Music Group
Associated acts Chase & Status, Wretch 32, Skream
Website delilahofficial.co.uk

Paloma Ayana Stoecker (born 23 September 1990), who records under the mononym Delilah, is a British singer-songwriter. Born in Paris, France Delilah moved to Hackney, London, England at an early age where she later attended City and Islington College. After sending demos to Island Records she caught the attention of industry executives at major record labels and signed to Atlantic Records at the age of seventeen.

In 2011, she collaborated with Chase & Status on the single "Time". Her first solo song "Go", was officially released on 25 September 2011,[1] whilst previously being available for digital download. Her debut album From the Roots Up was released on 30 July 2012 and peaked at five in the UK.

Early life

Delilah studied at City and Islington College.

Delilah was born Paloma Stoecker, on 23 September 1990 in Paris, France.[2] After her parents separated when she was still young, Stoecker moved to North London with her mother where she then grew up. Her mother has English, Cuban and Nigerian[3] heritage, while her father is of French and Spanish descent.[3] Stoecker's mother had involvement with the MOBOs during the 90s[4] Her late step-father was a DJ, who also owned an independent record label named Shakedown Sounds promoting British bands and a night club showcasing live music.[4][5] Stoecker began taking singing seriously following the death of her step-father who died in a car crash in 2002.[6] The singer's first instrument was the piano where she wrote her first song at age 12.[7] She also has a half-sister called Tabitha Stoecker

Stoecker attended Portland Place School for secondary school before continuing schooling at City and Islington College, studying Entertainment Law with Music Technology, Theory and Performance. She stated her choice for the college saying “I didn’t want to go to somewhere like the BRIT school, I didn’t want to be that structured.”[8]

Career

2008-11: beginnings and breakthrough

In 2008, Delilah chose a Tottenham studio to work on a college project, where she paired with a local producer to record four tracks.[8] A friend who was associated with Choice FM heard the songs and sent them to Island Records.[9] Stoecker caught the attention of industry executives at major record labels. She spent the following weeks arranging interviews, until she was eventually signed to Atlantic Records.

Stoecker was signed to Atlantic Records at the age of 17[10] and upon the three years to her debut release, gathered a large back catalogue of songs.[11] the singer supported British drum & bass/dubstep act Chase & Status during their two year UK tour, ending in 2011. Stoecker featured a support vocalist, performing Time and Heartbeat, by soul singer Nneka. The duo claimed after hearing one of her tracks, they thought the singer sounded "fantastic".[12] Stoecker co-wrote the track "Time", along with fellow artists Chase & Status and Plan B, she also provided vocals on the track. The single "Time" was released on 21 April 2011, where it peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. Her writing credits were added to the track "Don't Be Afraid", on Wretch 32's second album Black and White.[13]

Following the success of the tour with Chase & Status, Stoecker later joined Maverick Sabre as his main support act on his 2011 Autumn tour throughout the UK and Ireland.[14][15] She was also amongst one of the many artists featured on the BBC 1Xtra live tour.[16]

2012-present: From the Roots Up

Delilah's debut studio album, From the Roots Up, was released on 30 July 2012[17] The record features production from Syience,[18] Balistiq and Hyperdub label signee LV.[19] Stoecker also serves as a co-producer on the album. . In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart[20] The album also debuted in the top twenty of the Scottish Albums Chart[21] peaking at seventeen. The lead single from the album, "Go" was digitally released on 6 September 2011. The track peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.[22] The single features a vocal sample interpolation from Chaka Khan's 1983 hit "Ain't Nobody", plus original writing from herself. Chaka Khan has since heard the track, labelling it "genius".[23] The follow-up single "Love You So" was released on 19 December 2011 through Atlantic Records in December 2011. She announced that her fourth single from the album will be a cover of Minnie Riperton's "Inside My Love".[24]

The singer released her first mixtape, 2-4am in February 2012 as a free download from her website.[25][26] The 8 track compilation features unreleased material, including a remix of 2011 single "Love You So", by Joe Goddard of Hot Chip. Her third single "Breathe" was released on 14 May 2012.[27]

The singer sang with Emeli Sandé at London’s KOKO as part of MTV’s Brand New for 2012.[28] Throughout the spring of 2012, Stoecker enrolled on her first headline tour which began 14 April 2012, in Glasgow’s O2 ABC 2. The tour ended on 24 April 2012 in London's KOKO venue.[29] Stoecker opened a number of tour dates for Grammy Award-winning artist Prince on his 2012 Australian tour in May.[3][30]

Artistry

Stoecker cites that her album debut From the Roots Up, is influenced by the contemporary music scene, with genres ranging from dub, dubstep, acoustic and drum & bass. On describing her sound the singer says her music is dark, soulful, melodic pop.[31]

Delilah has been described as the missing link between Sade and The xx. She has also been influenced by and compared to Canadian singer Alanis Morissette.[6] Speaking of her influences in an interview the singer credits Buena Vista Social Club, Portishead, Ella Fitzgerald, Metalheadz, Nine Inch Nails, Chaka Khan, Roy Ayres, Aaliyah and Sade Adu as some of her musical influences.[32] They, along with others, played a big part in her musical upbringing and this influences the songs she writes and co-produces.[6]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[33]		 SCO
[34]
From the Roots Up 5 17

Mixtapes

  • 2-4am Mixtape (2012)
  • Delilah & Bass - The Mixtape (2012)
  • Camden Palace Mixtape (2012)

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[33]		 UK R&B
[35]		 BEL (FLA)
[36]		 DEN
[37]		 SCO
[38]
"Go" 2011 17 4 — 9 21 From the Roots Up
"Love You So" 118 — 73 — —
"Breathe" 2012 87 — — — —
"Inside My Love" 60 — — — —
"Shades of Grey" 119 — — — —
"Never Be Another"
(featuring Devlin)		 167 — — — —
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
UK
[39]		 UK DAN
[40]		 BEL (FLA)
[36]
2011 "Time"
(Chase & Status featuring Delilah)		 21 6 14 No More Idols
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ↑ "Delilah's 'Go': Music video - Music Video". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  2. ↑ Duff, Seamus (2012-02-22). "SeamusDuff: Delilah". Seamusduff.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Delilah In The UK Spotlight". GRAMMY.com. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1
  5. ↑ "Introducing: Delilah". Mixmag. 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2
  7. ↑ "Delilah | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1
  9. ↑ Burton, Charlie (2012-03-26). "Delilah interview on From The Roots Up - GQ.COM (UK)". Gq-magazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  10. ↑ Susannah Butter (2012-05-17). "Oh Delilah: Introducing London's hottest pop singer - Music - Going Out - London Evening Standard". Thisislondon.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  11. ↑ "BROKE N ENGLISH – The Parklife Weekender June 08&09 2013". Parklife.uk.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  12. ↑ Saul Milton (of Chase and Status): "We heard one of Delilah's tracks and thought her voice was fantastic and agreed to work with her" dailyrecord.co.uk.2011
  13. ↑ "Wretch 32: rap's rising star | Cambridge News | Whats-on-leisure | Choice". Cambridge News. 2013-03-29. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  14. ↑ "Delilah on tour". Disorder Magazine. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  15. ↑ "Chase & Status Collaborator Delilah Confirmed as Support for Maverick Sabre Tour - Stereoboard UK". Stereoboard.com. 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  16. ↑ "Newsbeat - Front Page". BBC. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  17. ↑ "Delilah unveils album artwork, tracklisting - Music News". Digital Spy. 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  18. ↑ "Delilah Unveils Official Artwork, Tracklisting For Debut Album 'From The Roots Up' « Monica Mania:// The Suga Mama Of Music Blogs". Monicamania.blogdrive.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  19. ↑ "Delilah New Single 'Breathe' Released Today - Listen Now - Stereoboard UK". Stereoboard.com. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  20. ↑ "Archive Chart". UK Albums Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2012. 
  21. ↑ "Archive Chart". UK Albums Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2012. 
  22. ↑ "2011-10-08 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". Official Charts. 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  23. ↑ http://www.pyromag.com/music/12411/delilah-interview/
  24. ↑ Murdoch, Mark (2012-05-30). "Mahogany Minute with Delilah". The Mahogany Blog. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  25. ↑ "Free Mixtape: Delilah". Mixmag. 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  26. ↑ "Download A Free Mixtape From Delilah - NME Blogs - NME.COM - The world's fastest music news service, music videos, interviews, photos and more". Nme.Com. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  27. ↑ "G-SHOCK BLOG: Delilah: Breathe (Video)". Hattiegshock.blogspot.co.uk. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  28. ↑ "Etc North East | Interview with singer songwriter Delilah - Etc North East". Etcnortheast.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  29. ↑ http://www.pyromag.com/events/19916/delilah-announces-april-uk-headline-tour/
  30. ↑ "Cool Accidents, Oh Hi This Is Prince, Is Delilah There?". Coolaccidents.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  31. ↑ "Introducing Delilah | Interviews | News". 4Music. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  32. ↑ "Interview with Delilah". Outlineonline.co.uk. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Peak positions for singles in the UK:
  34. ↑ Peak positions for albums in Scotland:
  35. ↑ Peak positions for R&B singles in the UK:
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Belgium (Flanders) Charts > Delilah". www.ultratop.be/nl/ Hung Medien. 
  37. ↑ "Danish Charts > Delilah". danishcharts.com/ Hung Medien. 
  38. ↑ Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
  39. ↑ Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
  40. ↑ Peak positions for Dance singles in the UK:

External links

Delilah
Studio albums
Singles
Featured singles
Related articles
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