{"id":6942,"date":"2025-04-15T15:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/?p=6942"},"modified":"2025-04-15T16:07:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T15:07:36","slug":"issue-162-delta-trish-keenan-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shindig-magazine.com\/?p=6942","title":{"rendered":"Issue #162 – Delta + Trish Keenan Exclusive"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the \u201990s, and a new dawn for indie bands awaits as all things Britpop are about to usher in an era of commercial success that had previously eluded many underground acts of the \u201980s. The recently defunct Sea Urchins wasted little time in re-grouping with a new name and a change in style. DELTA seemed primed to take it to the next level. What could possibly go wrong? <\/strong><\/p>\n

PAUL RITCHIE speaks to singer James Roberts and ex-comrades Robert Cooksey and Louis Clark in the second instalment of our exclusive story<\/strong><\/p>\n

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As the main record collector, Robert Cooksey was very much influencing the early direction of Delta. The original concept was to have three songwriters contributing material in a Crosby, Stills & Nash vein but the two brothers\u2019 dominance soon took over, sidelining any contributions from Robert, who didn\u2019t receive a single writing credit, much to the guitarist\u2019s chagrin. It would prove an inauspicious start for Robert, whose guitar playing defined the early Delta sound. The funky fluid guitar of \u2018Sugared Up\u2019 was a departure from the ramshackle indie sound of The Sea Urchins. They were initially heavily influenced by West Coast bands, Moby Grape and Spirit, which set them apart from their contemporaries. \u201cWe were swimming against the tide in terms of modern musical styles,\u201d reckons Robert.<\/p>\n

Guy Sirman was a Sea Urchins fan who kept an interest in what the band were up to. \u201cWe were always wondering what the members were up to and there was only the one demo cassette in circulation. After Sugared Up had come out I knew that the label had no immediate plans to release another record so a friend just phoned James up and asked if I could put out their next single. Astonishingly they said, ‘Yes\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n