Sufferwell by Delaney Young
Thoughts about an EP from a promising new folk artist.
Hi Pal,
Delaney Young is a singer-songwriter based in Washington DC who writes and creates music in two of my favourite genres rarely seen together: indie folk and alternative jazz.
I've always been captivated by the immersive quality of her music, and I've followed her work for years. It's exciting to finally have her debut EP, Sufferwell, to delve into, and I'm delighted to guide you through it.
The first track, “Into Your Hands” is a piano ballad that acts as an intro. It is loosely inspired by scriptures like Psalm 31:5 and Psalm 23:5. The lush strings interwoven with the warm keys reflect much of her classical roots and prepare the listener for the journey ahead.
“Prodigal” is inspired by the parable of the Prodigal Son from scripture. It combines indie folk with slight elements of piano jazz and subtle progressive undertones — provided mainly by the strings. Delaney’s voice soothes and stirs in near-equal measure as the lyrics cut through. It is sung primarily from the perspective of the Father as the most prominent words are,
…I can love you best when you’ve got nothing left…
It’s a potent reminder of the place of surrender in redemption. More often than we are willing to admit, we exhaust all our options before finding God.
Conversely, the song also beautifully portrays the Father's unwavering love and commitment to us, even when we are not actively seeking Him. This sentiment is most expressed in the second verse.
Tell me no, say you're done
Tell me you don't know who I've become
Just come home, I'll be there
How far you've roamed, I don't care
I'll run to kiss you
And say I've missed you
“Yet” was released sometime in September 2024. At the time, I did not know it would be part of a future project, although Delaney Young was already quickly becoming a standout artist in the Christian indie scene for me with her chamber folk sound - a rarity in this genre.
This song perfectly captures everything I love about chamber folk, and it brings to mind some of my favourite artists who create this type of music. Lyrically, it is a song of encouragement and a reminder of Christ’s faithfulness in trying seasons.
It begins with her asking some poignant questions.
When my well is broken
Will your water still run through?
When my hands can't open
Will your mercy still come new with the morn?
When I'm your forgetter
Lord, would you remind me who you are?
When my heart is bitter
And your word don't taste like honey anymore?
It ends with a conviction of the Lord’s faithfulness.
Yet I will rejoice
My strength and salvation are on their way
I will find my voice
And sing hallelujah
To the maker of my days
And gardener of my heart
Whose faithful, patient love I could not afford
The one who's making peace out of all my wars
Emmanuel shall save, renew, and restore
The title track “Sufferwell” is the quintessential expression of her expertise in fusing folk with jazz. Musically, it is my favourite of the three songs and for good reason. It marries the unpredictable improvisations of jazz in the song arrangement with the calming emotive foundations of folk music. The result is a song that gives the listener the best of both worlds.
The message of the song is also the most relevant to me in this current season of my life. I know that is a bias but in the end, music is both objective and subjective in its experience. The simple words, ‘…show me how to suffer well so I can like you…’ have haunted me since I heard them and I believe the entirety of the lyrics are intended to drive the listener to meditation and prayer.
The EP concludes with “Into Your Hands (Outro)”, a melodic B-side to the opening track, echoing many of its lyrics. The piano arrangement on the outro is both simple and beautiful, creating an anthemic quality.
Going into this EP, I expected a project that would stir me up emotionally and spiritually, because I was already familiar with her approach to composition and lyricism. What I did not see coming was the sheer musicality of her art and how much I would come to appreciate the subtle nuances and choices that make this a truly special record.
I’m not sure when next we are going to hear from her, but I believe I am going to be listening to her for years to come.
Genre(s): Indie Folk, Alternative Jazz
Listen Here:
Spotify:
Connect with Delaney Young
Instagram | Website
That’s it for today.
Catch you soon!
Feel free to leave a comment. Also, I am always open to hearing from you so feel free to send an email to me at stismavo@gmail.com