Delta Fire Keep Chasing Freedom on Love Stops First

One thing my creative journey has given me, besides a few grey hairs, is the chance to meet people who keep creating while the world shrugs, yawns, and asks when the “real job” starts. Yeah, right. The tiny funeral they hold for your dreams while you’re still standing there, full of ideas and already planning the next challenge.

Then Delta Fire arrive from Glasgow with Love Stops First, leave all that behind, and turn it into a rallying cry for anyone chasing what they love.

Glasgow Grit On A Real Band

Delta Fire means Kieron McManus on vocals and lead guitar, Liam McLaughlin on vocals and rhythm guitar, Aidan Spencer on bass, and Andrew Knox-Watson on drums and percussion. They already introduced themselves with Lady Danger and Eyes Burn Gold, and now return with Love Stops First, another chapter from their upcoming album.

Things become interesting from several angles. Delta Fire have put in the hard work, found their own sound, and probably share a laugh every time another “get a real job” comment comes in. They returned to Chem 19 Recording Studio, worked again with engineer Derek O’Neil and trusted Pete Maher with the final mix.

Looking at these four, you can almost see why they went back to the same team. When you find people who understand what you’re doing, why start from scratch? They also made the most of the studio’s vintage equipment simply because that’s how they enjoy making music.

Love Stops First, But the Fire Doesn’t

I’ve met too many people who gave up because somebody else decided their passion wasn’t worth the effort. Delta Fire see it differently, and one line says everything I wanted to hear: “When the love stops first then you got to give it away.“

There’s freedom in there, but also pain. For me, everything comes back to one question: “So don’t you ever want to be free?” Once you hear it, the rest of the song starts making even more sense. Meanwhile, we hear those guitars leaning into 70s and 80s, we feel the blues-rock breeze and that psychedelic backbone.

The Journey Continues

Delta Fire are independent, and I mean the good kind of independent. Self-funded, free to make the music they want, and answerable only to themselves. With Love Stops First now out in the world, Delta Fire head to Loose Wire on 29 August, Glasgow’s first all-day multi-venue music festival, joining an exciting line-up of emerging artists from across the UK.

Do like me: start exploring Delta Fire here before your sensible side starts talking again. Sensible people have caused enough damage already.