Detroit's Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas Perform On 'Late Show With David Letterman'
It's always exciting when a Detroit band gets to shine on a national stage. Detroit's own Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas will be doing just that, tonight on CBS 62, as the featured musical guest on the Late Show with David Letterman!
Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas are currently on tour, supporting their debut album, Secret Evil. The album blends the Motown spirit of soul, with folk rock and jazz – add in Jessica's powerfully passionate vocals, and you have a great homebrewed record!
Jessica took time from her tour schedule to chat with CBS 62's Detroit Proud about her music, Detroit's music scene, her parents' restaurant, and her favorite bowling alley – check it out:
Tell Detroit Proud how you were drawn to music!
I grew up in singing in choir and theater – I thought a future in music was a bit unrealistic. I went to college in Chicago to study fashion design. A lot of people in my dorm were studying music – people in my dorm were studying to become producers and engineers, and I think, one day, I was just goofing around, and one of the guys heard me singing. He asked if I'd sing and help him with a school project, and I did – more people asked me to sing, and eventually, I was asked by some guys to be in a band.
Is that when you knew you wanted to do music full-time? Tell us how you decided to pursue a musical career.
Two years into college, I knew music was what I wanted to do. I dropped out of school and moved to Kansas City for a year, and I used my school refund to buy a guitar - I focused on writing songs and learning how to play instruments. A year later, I moved in with my family, back in Detroit.
I moved in with my parents and played piano and was singing with local musicians. My first big break performing was in 2009 at Dally in the Alley. They offered me a headlining spot if I had a full band – I lied and told them I did. I gathered up local musicians I knew from Wayne State for the show...and never stopped!
Who were your early influences?
I listened to powerhouse female vocalists - Maria Carey and Aretha Franklin. My parents listened to a lot of Motown and old soul music – I listened to that a lot. As I got older, I listened to country artists Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, and Wanda Jackson - Dolly Parton is my idol. She can do it all. She sings, acts, writes, and performs her own music, plays ten instruments, and has her own amusement park.
LETTERMAN! Very exciting - what was it like when you found out you'd be performing on the Late Show with David Letterman?
Yes, very exciting! We got the phone call (last) Thursday that we were set to perform – we're going to perform 'Sorry I Stole Your Man'. It's really cool because Dave is retiring soon and we're getting a chance to appear on his show. Feels good to have Detroit getting exposure.
Tell us about The Deltas!
They're great guys. We've been touring and experiencing all of these things together. We were all in the van when we got the call that we were going to be performing on Letterman – it was really exciting. They're all from Wayne State so we all from the same place – it's very cool that we're all from Detroit.
How has being from Detroit shaped your sound?
I started just playing the piano and had a simple folky singer/songwriter vibe. It wasn't until I started playing with the guys from Wayne State who had a ton of instruments that I started wanting brass instruments and electric sounds. It really shifted my songwriting. I started to include horns, organs, and creepy guitar lines. We were all aware of Detroit's music history - the MC5, The Stooges - and what comes from a city with such big musical influences.
What's been the most memorable stop along the tour so far?
All the towns are different – they've all been great. We're opening for St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and 80% of the shows have been sold out. It's been great exposure to a new and large audience.
How would you describe Detroit's music scene?
Authentic. It's a lot different from other places. Cities usually have one type of sound, and that's all you hear – bands all playing the same type of music. Detroit has roots in so many genres. The electronic music scene is huge, and Detroit still has room for a garage scene.
Detroit is unique because there's great support for all types of sounds - in Detroit, you'll see an electronic group open up for a rapper. It's open, it's not categorized into a box.
Who are some other Detroit artists you'd suggest Detroit Proud readers check out?
Mexican Knives, El Dee, and Jamaican Queens are all friends of ours. They're all super talented.
What are some of your favorite Detroit venues to see other bands when you're in town?
The Magic Stick was the first place I started going to see shows, and I went to Saint Andrews quite a bit too. I like the Lager House a lot. When I'm not touring, I like going there because it's laid back – it's nice to go there and hang with friends.
Your family owns Armando's in Southwest Detroit – what's the best thing on the menu?
*laughs* Oh, I don't know – everything is good! My parents lived above the restaurant before I was born - I've been eating there forever, so it's hard to just pick one thing. The steak fajitas with cheese are really good. Our most popular thing is the Burger Nacho – everyone loves that.
When you're back home, what do you like to do during your downtime?
We'll go bowling! When we want to party, we'll go to the Garden Bowl. My parents also own the Mexicantown Bakery - we hang out upstairs in the loft and use that as a practice space. We used that space to start Detroit Soup (a monthly dinner, funding micro-grants for creative projects in Detroit). In the summer, I like to go to Belle Isle.
What's on the horizon for Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas?
We're just trying to stay focused right now - we've been working hard on tour to support our debut album Secret Evil. We've been so busy writing and performing – trying to reach as big an audience as we can. Music is such a crazy thing to do full-time. We're just trying to reach people to sustain this creative lifestyle.
Find music clips, photos, and tour updates on Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas' Official Facebook and Twitter pages. Get ready for tonight's Late Show with David Letterman performance and CLICK HERE to preview the new music video for "Sorry I Stole Your Man." (You'll want to play it on repeat - you've been warned!). For more on Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas, CLICK HERE to check out their website.
Don't miss Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, TONIGHT on the Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS 62!
