Interview by Naomi Esezobor, written and photographed by Uchechi Adeboye
Delilah Bon has had a whirlwind year, taking the stage at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, including Glastonbury and Reading. For her, this journey has been surreal, almost like a dream. “This year has been unbelievable. We’ve been able to perform at nearly every major festival. It’s hard to even process sometimes,” she shares, reflecting on the unexpected twists that have brought her to this point. The Reading Festival, for example, was a last-minute addition to her schedule, and the way it happened still makes her smile. “They asked me live on the radio if I wanted to play at Reading and Leeds. I thought it was a joke at first, but here we are.”
Delilah’s passion for music began early. “I’ve always been a show-off as a kid,” she says, laughing. “I was into Britney Spears and loved watching her on TV. I’d get dressed up and make my mum and dad watch me.” As she grew older, music became more than just a childhood hobby. It became an outlet, especially during her teenage years when she struggled with bullying and a sense of not fitting in. “A lot of my music comes from those experiences—feeling isolated and having a lot to say with nowhere to put it. My style evolved from my personal experiences, driven by the anger I felt as a teenager.”
While Britney was a major influence in her early years, Delilah’s musical tastes evolved as she did. “I got more into punk music, so my style changed. I got into heavier rock and was really into bands like Bikini Kill and Nirvana. Pink! was also a big influence on me as a teenager.”
Delilah’s music is known for being unapologetic and unfiltered, and she understands that it can sometimes be perceived as extreme. But for her, the persona of Delilah Bon acts as both a shield and a powerful medium. “There are days where I feel insecure, and I think, ‘I need to be more like Delilah Bon,’ even though I am her,” she explains. “Delilah is this confident character I can embody on stage to speak my truth without holding back. Before, I probably didn’t do that as much, but now I have this platform, and it feels like a responsibility to use it.”
Empowerment is the heartbeat of Delilah’s music. She frequently receives messages from fans, particularly young girls, thanking her for giving them a voice. “Some of my fans are the quietest girls you’ve ever met, and then they come to my shows, and they’re screaming in the crowd,” she shares. “I think sometimes people don’t have a place to put their anger. With what I do, my main goal is to empower people and make them feel valid. ‘It’s okay to be angry. You’re rightfully angry.’ I believe my music gives people a voice.”
Interestingly, the name Delilah Bon came from an unexpected source—a game of The Sims. “I love The Sims; I played it all the time. A few years ago, I downloaded it again, and I was playing with my characters. My baby was born, and I called her Delilah Moon Bon. I made her a rockstar in my game.” When it came time to name her music project, the name stuck. “I had a few different names, but this one kept sticking in my head. I told my mum, and she was like, ‘It sounds good though!’ And then I thought, maybe there was a reason that I played that game and named it that.”
As she prepares for her upcoming European tour in September, Delilah is eager to reconnect with her fans. “It’s the biggest one we’ve done so far. We’ve missed the fans. When I’m in a room full of people who know my lyrics, they’re so loud,” she says, smiling. Her bandmates agree, recalling their last performance in Paris, where the crowd’s energy was so intense it led to a riot. “We sang ‘Wish a Bitch Would’ for our encore, which is about anti-police. And the crowd was chanting… your music has fuelled them, and now they’re protesting.”
When asked what color represents her music, Delilah quickly responds, “I always make it pink or red.” However, she also feels a deep connection to green. “People meet me, and they say, ‘Oh, I imagined you’d be angrier.’ But I think as a person, I’m quite outdoorsy, like I’d run away into the woods at any time.”
Delilah’s new album, set to release in September, promises to surprise fans. She teases the final track, “Committed a Crime,” which features a court trial scene with various characters—all voiced by her. “It’s like my haters, but I play them all,” she reveals. Her bandmate Hella chimes in, “It’s brilliant. One of my favorites on the album.”
As Delilah Bon continues to push boundaries with her music and persona, she remains grounded in her mission to empower and uplift her fans. Her journey is one of transformation, both personal and artistic, and she shows no signs of slowing down. Her upcoming tour and album are just the next steps in what promises to be an extraordinary career.
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