Eliza & The Delusionals are an Australian Indie Rock Band.
Interview conducted on March 09, 2020
By Dan Locke
“The goal has always been to play huge shows,” says singer-guitarist Eliza Klatt, who founded the Northern New South Wales/Gold Coast band in 2015.
Over the past few years, that dream has slowly become a reality as the group’s sweetly snarling, anthemic brand of indie rock has led to supports with artists such as Grinspoon, Nothing But Thieves, Dear Seattle, and Killing Heidi, appearances at landmark festivals such as BIGSOUND, Falls Festival and Canadian Music Week, and major radio support both locally and internationally.
What was your upbringing?
Eliza Klatt: I grew up in a small coastal town called Pottsville in NSW, Australia. I’ve always loved living there because it’s really small and relaxed and the food is really good. My parents listened to a lot of rock music like Led Zeppelin and Bad Company so I’ve always been surrounded by some sort of music.
How did you discover music?
When I was in primary school, I signed up to play bass in the school band. I had no idea what bass guitar even was until my mum bought me an electric bass for my birthday. Shortly after I really got into Coldplay, and she took me to see them live which was my first concert. I felt so inspired, I knew that that’s what I wanted to do for a career. I shortly after started learning guitar so I could write songs and start a band.
What are your musical roots?
As a kid, I grew up listening to my dad’s music – Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd. Then I started to find my own genres that I really liked. Coldplay was a huge one for me. I started listening to bands like Radiohead, Blink 182, and Paramore shortly after.
Tell me how you got your first guitar and do you still have it?
Yes – I’m super sentimental. I have my first ever Peavy bass guitar, my acoustic guitar that my mum bought when she was 16, and my first ever Strat my dad got for me.
How did you get the band together?
I started the band in 2016 (I think), and when I started booking my own tours around the east coast of Aus the guy that was filling in on guitar decided he wanted to do his own things, and luckily, I knew Tex through a mutual friend at University. He jumped on super last minute and the rest is history. Kurt and I actually grew up together – there are photos of us in school as kids. We went to different high schools but got reconnected through the music scene back at home. Ruby is the most recent addition to our band; she was playing bass in an opening act at one of our shows back home and it was perfect timing as we were looking for someone new to play bass.
Why did you decide on your name?
Delusionals comes from a line from a Blink 182 song.
How was your first gig as a band?
Probably terrible!
Tell me about the filming of your first video?
I think the first one we did was for ‘Salt’. It was in the rehearsal space we were going to at the time and we just basically had a friend come and film us playing the song.
You are in the middle of a US tour right now. How is it going?
It’s been really great. We were lucky enough to open for Silversun Pickups and the band and their touring crew are the kindest and most welcoming people ever. They’re like family to us – so we’re still having a bit of post-tour depression from that.
What is the best thing you have seen in the US?
The cool thing about the US is that every state has so many iconic landmarks and food and things you can see. The scenery between drives has been really cool, and visiting places like Phoenix and Aspen have been amazing because it’s so so different from home.
What are your feelings about the Coronavirus while you are touring?
It’s actually quite scary. It’s hard to understand the actual threat level because I feel like social media has sent everyone into a frenzy. Toilet paper has been sold out everywhere back at home… It’s really sad to see SXSW canceled. We were really looking forward to it. And I think the scary part of it all is what the impact will be on future gatherings and music festivals in the next few months.
How is it different to tour the United States vs Australia?
It’s extremely different. Back in Australia every major city is at least a 10-hour drive between each other, so it can be very draining and expensive to tour if you’re just driving yourself around. Here there is so many places to stop and visit in between cities. It’s really cool.
Tell me about your new EP? Do you feel there is a theme in the songs?
Definitely. The EP is wrapped up with the title ‘A State of Living in an Objective Reality’ – a lot of it was written about my state of mental health and my relationship at the time and how I really felt like I didn’t have control over my own life or over myself. It was a really difficult time, so it’s nice to have these songs finally put together and released so I can continue focusing on the next phase of writing for us.
How do you see yourself in five years?
Still doing this, but on a bigger level.
Anything you like to close with?
Thanks to everyone in the US who have been listening to our songs!
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