Daniel “DELA” Delacruz, a saxophonist, composer, arranger, and producer, is also Slightly Stoopid’s horn section leader and a key contributor to their last four studio efforts. He’s put that skill to a debut record of his own that he co-produced with Karl Denson titled Opening Night. The Aggrolites back the live music to his production along with a slew of guest appearances, including one with Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid that we’re giving away FREE…
You can download Dela & The Aggrolites new song “Who The Bruthas,” featuring Slightly Stoopid for FREE on our home page under the MP3 Leak of the Week on the right hand column! This Download will only be available until Saturday, Nov 25th, 2017.
Dela & The Aggrolites – “Who The Bruthas” (ft. Slightly Stoopid) — Download HERE (on The Pier homepage)
Dela & The Aggrolites “Who The Bruthas” Background:
On November 3rd, Dela & The Aggrolites released Opening Night via Stoopid Records through Megaforce/Orchard. The album is 11 total tracks with guest appearances by The Aggrolites own frontman Jesse Wagner who sings on the albums second song “Sonrie, Armor.” Angelo Moore of Fishbone is on track 4’s “Atlantic And Smith” which was the albums first single with a cool music video that you can find below. Rebecca Jade can be heard belting out her vocals on two songs with track 7’s “Rejoice” and the albums final track, “This is Goodbye”.
In addition to co-producing the record, Karl Denson is featured on track 5’s “Way About Ya” which is a heady reggae track, heavy with the flute by Denson in the beginning before a melodic reply from Dela on sax, spending the rest of the song speaking with each-other, grooving for over five minutes — Easily one of the best tracks on the record next to the Chali2na of Jurassic 5‘s feature on “Loose Screws” and “Who The Bruthas” with Kyle of Stoopid.
With “Who The Bruthas”, DELA tells The Pier: “The original version was one of the first songs I ever wrote. It was strictly an instrumental and had no bridge originally. I kept it in the archives and when we began production of Opening Night, I thought it’d be a perfect time to dust it off. I came up with the idea for the bridge after watching The Godfather for about the millionth time. I just love that main theme and how it versatile it is.” DELA continues, telling The Pier: “As for the vocals, Kyle and I have worked on lots of music over the years and I love his flow. When I played the stuff we were working on he immediately gravitated towards Who the Bruthas. He definitely added some fire to the song. To match his energy we decided to modulate the song a couple of times to build even more energy.”
Much of the album is a musical ensemble of various instruments telling a story, speaking to each-other and what I like to think instruments do on their own in a room when no ones around. This is a long album coming in at just over an hour with a mix of jazz, blues, soul, hip hop, reggae — including that signature dirty reggae sound we know from The Aggrolites and Roger Rivas present on the keys/organ. The arrangements from top to bottom don’t make this feel like a long album and before you know it, you’re out of bourbon & you’ve rolled 3 blunts. It hits you with a bite yet goes down smooth.
You can stream DELA & The Aggrolites Opening Night or own it via iTunes by clicking HERE!
Dela & The Aggrolites Background:
Boston born, San Diego resident Daniel “DELA” Delacruz is a saxophonist, composer, arranger, and producer. He starting touring with Moon Ska Satellite recording artist Johnny Too Bad and The Strikeouts from 1995-1997 while pursuing a degree in jazz performance from Berklee College of Music. After disbanding in 1997, DELA was accepted into the jazz program at William Paterson University, where he graduated with a BM in Jazz Studies in 2001. Towards the end of college, he began playing jazz with various groups and under his own name all over the New York/New Jersey area. In mid 2001, DELA joined the American roots reggae institution and Easy Star Records artists John Brown’s Body. He appeared on their 5th studio effort Pressure Points, where he aided in writing and arranging many of the horn parts on the album.
In early 2006, JBB was invited on tour with Southern California’s rising stars Slightly Stoopid. At the end of that tour DELA was asked to become a full time member of Slightly Stoopid, and now over an 11 year tenure, “DELA” has become Slightly Stoopid’s horn section leader, as well as a key writing/arranging contributor on their last four studio efforts. DELA has also spent time touring with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, appearing on his Stoopid Records release New Ammo.
The Aggrolites are a Los Angeles based original Ska/Reggae/Funk ensemble who were originally signed to Epitaph records by Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and proved the strong backbone to the tracks on Opening Night.
Most notably, DELA has appeared on stage with: Snoop Dogg, Sly and Robbie, Cypress Hill, Ivan Neville, Jeff Coffin, Rashawn Ross, Collie Buddz, Don Carlos, Karl Denson, Ozomatli, G. Love and Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter, Marlon Asher, Angelo Moore, and Chali 2na.
Related Links:
Dela & The Aggrolites Website
Dela & The Aggrolites Facebook
Exclusive Slightly Stoopid Blog
Huge thanks again to Dela & The Aggrolites for allowing us to share new song “Who The Bruthas” featuring Slightly Stoopid to post up for FREE download. Free music is a privilege that we’re grateful for and we appreciate the work these artists do! Please feel free to download this song for FREE and spread the awareness to your friends!
Enjoy the FREE track on the homepage!
Article By: Mike Patti
Watch: Dela & The Aggrolites – “Atlantic & Smith” (ft. Angelo Moore of Fishbone