Dehlia Low at The Grey Eagle
Jeremiah enjoys an evening of the best in Appalachiagrassicana, and later, compelling glimpses into their world.
Asheville - Drawing from their Appalachian bluegrass heritage, Dehlia Low has captured the attention of music lovers both young and old. Described by band member Greg Stiglets as “Appalachiagrassicana”, the blending of Americana, Country, Folk, and Bluegrass accompanied by original song writing and a creative thirst, gives Dehlia Low a new sound with a nostalgic underlining. It’s a place where past meets present meets future.
33: Can you share with us your musical background and influences?
Aaron Ballance: I started playing electric guitar in high school, playing in rock and blues bands. I then got into bluegrass guitar in college and later switched to the dobro and that’s what I’ve been up to since.
Bryan Clendenin: I was a big fan of music before I started playing. I started out playing the guitar for about six months before moving to the mandolin, which I have been playing ever since.
Anya Hinkle: I played violin as a child and sang in church. In high school I lived in southwest Virginia and met up with some folks that played bluegrass and old time music, so I started getting interested in the guitar at that time. Then I didn’t play for about seven or eight years but came back to it learning fiddle styles from old time music. I then decided to move to Asheville and give up everything to be a bluegrass musician.
Stacy Claude: I started classical piano training at six and voice shortly after. I picked up the guitar in college learning folky things. When I moved to Utah, I met a friend who turned me on to bluegrass fiddle. She introduced me to a lot of bluegrass artist I had never heard of which started me in this direction.
Greg Stiglets: My mom taught me how to play the Stars War theme on an air organ, I think in 3rd grade. In 4th grade I learned the guitar. In 6th grade I quit. Then in 8th grade I figured out that 
girls liked you if you play guitar. I didn’t play bass or even own one until I was asked to join this fine group of musicians.
33: Describe your musical philosophy?
AB: I love music. I love listening to it. I move by music when I listen to it. When I play it, I’m trying to access a place within myself so I can express my deep love of it. It’s a relationship between me and my instrument. I give and it gives.
BC: Music is a powerful object. It doesn’t matter if I am in a good mood or a bad mood or stressed out; I can always listen to music and access that or play music and almost automatically forget about everything else.
AH: Music is such an interesting art form because it can form the soundtrack for your life and different periods. Kind of like smell can bring you back to a strong feeling; I think sound can do that as well in a different sort of way. Of course it’s great to experience that as a listener, and as a musician being able to create something that people can enjoy, is an honor. It’s a fun art form to be able to explore.
SC: When I was a young girl, I always played something but only because my parents made me and my sister. As I started playing more with other people, I realized that even more than just listening, you can be involved.
GS: I remember back in Jackson driving this kid in my car and asking him, “What kind of music do you like to listen to?” He looked at me and said, “I don’t like music.” I remember this; I stopped the car and said, “Get out of my car.” You can’t, not like music; it’s kind of like food.
33: Do you find the creative process challenging in an area where creative boundaries are always pushed?
SC: You have the opportunity to play with some really amazing musicians in town at different jams, and not only go see local, but also great national acts that come through. I think it’s an amazing place to be. It keeps the bar high too. I can’t think of a more conducive place to be for what we are trying to do right now.
BC: It’s totally inspiring too because Asheville is very eclectic. You have such a variety of genres that you can relate to.
33: Asheville is known for having a thriving music community, what has been your experience with collaborations?
GS: It quenches a thirst when you play with other bands. You get something you can’t get from one band. I know guys in town that are in six bands. That’s just crazy.
AB: It’s a tight knit community. We’re all friends and work with musicians in other bands to share ideas and support each other.
33: Do you classify yourself as a traditional bluegrass band?
AB: We’re all imports to bluegrass. We grew up listening to different types of music so we bring those influences into it. It’s not constrained to this old traditional idea, although it is highly influenced by that. It’s also a derivative of other styles that traditional bluegrass doesn’t nod to.
SC: It’s kind of like we all play the instruments we play and make the music we like. If I played electric and he played drums, we might play the same songs but with a totally different feel.
AH: Bluegrass gives us the foundation to start from and also try to contrast with so we can do something new.
33: How are you as a band expanding the bluegrass genre?
SC: We play all original music and there is collaboration on the arrangement. It’s about what’s best for the song. We look at it like trying to construct a song as opposed to constructing a style.
33: Describe what it’s like being on stage?
AB: Try to control and be in your place. There’s a special place you can get to when you’re performing and it’s very energizing on stage. There’s this feedback between you and 
your instrument and you and the audience, and everything lines up. You want to find that place because that’s where the good stuff starts to happen. I’m always looking for that.
BC: Don’t mess up, concentrate! One of the things I like most is the relationship I have with everyone on stage and the circular energy with the crowd, which sometimes can be challenging depending on the crowd. It’s nice to see when all five of us and the crowd are 
enjoying the song and making the most of it every time.
AH: Performing on stage has been a learning experience. When we first started I was self conscience, but now it’s about balancing everything that you have to focus on and incorporating the big picture of what we are trying to do. It can be easy to look inward, but you get the most satisfaction and probably the best performance when you look outward, and the focus is on the people who are listening.
SC
: Performing for me is about listening to the other musicians on stage. You’ll see me a lot on stage with my eyes closed because I am listening for what my role is and trying not to step on anyone. I can easily be distracted. Beyond that, it’s about creating an experience for myself, which in turn creates one for the band and the audience…hopefully a good one.
GS: The goal is, to put what you are physically doing with your instrument on auto pilot and listening to what’s going on around you, filling in and doing what you need to do to be a part of it. The less you focus on the problems you are having on your instrument, the more you can enjoy it, which makes it better for everybody.
Dehlia Low’s latest album, Ravens and Crows, has been finding it’s way in to CD players and digital drives as fans grow. Sticking to their philosophies and roots, its set list forms a broad appeal to be appreciated for its diversity and respect of tradition and exploration.
Jeremiah Greer is jack of all trades. From internet radio personality to writer, graphic designer to editor, it's all to feed his creative drive. Currently, Jeremiah resides near Asheville, North Carolina, enjoying the up-and-coming music scene. He has hosted and produced over 200 radio shows interviewing more than 250 different guests on topics from music to alien abductions. He has a huge passion for life and the experiences that come with it. You can listen and even join in to his weekly radio show at TencityRadio.com and also at JeremiahGreerLive.com. Jeremiah is "The Uncensored Voice!"
