Francis of Delirium
Wading - EP
Dalliance Recordings (2021)
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ALBUM COVER
Born out of a bedroom, Francis of Delirium was created by 18 year-old Jana Bahrich (Vancouver, CA) who later invited drummer/producer, Chris Hewett (Seattle, USA) into the fold. Based in Luxembourg, together they synthesize grunge and Gen Z indie rock to deliver a powerful sound that works to reinforce Jana’s high energy, unsparing vocal delivery and her genuine passion to connect with each member of the audience; intimacy, vulnerability lie at the heart of her lyrics. Now at 19, Bahrich has the innate ability to write songs that are overtly personal explorations of her inner monologues with an intensity of emotion in her songwriting that is just vague enough to allow these songs to transpose themselves into something universally relatable.
Speaking to her process with producer and bandmate Hewett, Bahrich expounds on the experience, and pitfalls, of self-growth as salient to someone in their 30s or 50s as to someone in their late teens. Wrestling with self-doubt Bahrich’s songs are a process towards self-actualization and letting go; of detrimental intrusive thoughts, self-critical moments and the overwhelming sense of failure that comes so naturally to so many. Bahrich understands that this process is just that. The process, of songwriting and growth, is a sisyphean one. Each time that rock falls back down, sometimes crushing you in the process, there’s something new gleaned and the act of letting go begins anew.
“Lakes”, the first song on Francis of Delirium’s Wading EP sets the tone with it’s detailing of the tectonic shifts in one's self-identity that occur alongside massive changes in life, community and discovering different facets of oneself when stripped of the people and things that anchor us in place. “The main idea in “Lakes” is that we are all fed by other people (or other “rivers”) to eventually form who we are, one large lake fed by other water streams” Bahrich says. “We are essentially the amalgamation of hundreds of people rather than one singular person. A lot of my self identity was tied to the people in my community at school so once those relationships shifted as I left school my identity was challenged. That anchor was no longer there, that structure was gone. The question I sort of pose throughout the EP is who am I now as these relationships morph.” On the standout track “Let It All Go” Francis of Delirium writes self-confessionally about the death of a relationship, and the process of grief and acceptance that come with it. Sung in a stream-of-consciousness speak-singing cadence it’s an emotionally jarring and intimate track that “feels like this vertigo, justifying and grappling and releasing”, according to Bahrich. “Trying to take back your anger from before, that how someone hurt you doesn’t matter and you can move past it, “I’m so sorry I was overbearing and I’m so sorry I thought this meant something”. Eventually there’s this acceptance, you have to let go. Although removing yourself is the healthier option, you also descend into a space of isolation.”
First appearing in January of 2020 with the instantaneous track ‘Quit Fucking Around’, they followed it up a few months later with the more reflective but equally potent ‘Circles’ (“An incredibly powerful catharsis, a controlled yet palpable expulsion of pain,” The Line of Best Fit). During this time however, world events have meant that Francis of Delirium haven’t been able to tour but determined not to be held back, their debut EP Wading is coming out on April 9th on Dalliance Recordings (Gia Margaret, Wilsen, Common Holly) with a firm promise to hit the road as soon as it’s deemed safe for them to do so.
Francis of Delirium On Tour
For more information, please contact:
Daniel Cooper
daniel@luckybirdmedia.com