Pittsburgh rocker DiLisio’s new album "Make It Go Away" is out now and it’s bursting with hard rocking songs full of fun and introspective lyrics. “Oklahoma Strut” is a cautionary tale about a guy who threw it all away for something new.
DiLisio recently spoke with WYEP's Joey Spehar.
What's your music history up to this point?
I started my career in 2017, at the ripe age of 30. My "Saturn return,” if you will. Back then I recorded a bunch of songs on a whim with my now good friend Matt Very (at his Sharpsburg studio), which is where I met my drummer Garrett Grube, and we've all been collaborating ever since. (I also officiated Garrett's wedding recently, so needless to say that recording session went a long way!) Between 2017 and today, I've released over 50 tracks: three albums, two EPs, and some singles here and there, not even counting this upcoming record.
How do you describe your sound?
Alt-blues garage rock. I'm beholden to The Black Keys and The White Stripes, the two bands with an aesthetic and sound I became obsessed with in my college years. I've also been incorporating more avante-garde sounds into my current music, thanks to a couple of my favorite indie artists Bon Iver and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
Tell us more about the song "Oklahoma Strut." What inspired you to write it and what does it mean to you?
First off, I always wanted to write a song called "Oklahoma Strut." I just thought it sounded cool haha! Lyrically though, it's a story about a guy who becomes obsessed with a girl he meets at a bar, so he ditches his stable life and runs off with her, only leading to his ruin at the end.
I wanted the song to be a fable for how I feel about my music career these days. Once I started releasing music, I suddenly became addicted to things that I never cared about before. Stream counts, social media followers, critical acclaim, respect from other bands, you name it. To the point where it was wearing me down, burning me out, and making me lose respect for myself. And only thanks to my wife and newborn son did I thankfully realize that I don't want to neglect their love and needs so that I can run off and pursue rock 'n roll superstardom, mistakenly thinking that only that will make me truly happy. It won't and never will. What does and will make me happy has been right at home all along.
What was the first album that really changed your life?
"Magic Potion" by the Black Keys. It's not their best or most acclaimed record, but it's my favorite of theirs because of its raw, fuzzed-out sound. These days I find myself gravitating back to that guitar-and-drums formula, and I've enjoyed gigging my songs with just a drummer backing me up. It feels honest, cutting out all the fat of my songs and distilling them down to how I went about writing them, which was simply with guitar and drums. Plus gigs are way easier to plan for that way lol.
Who are some other Pittsburgh artists you think more people should listen to?
Warren Commission (indie-rock band featuring my old bandmate and good friend Evan Lawrence), and My Favorite Liar (pop-punk band featuring old bandmate and good friend Leo Rogers)
Any other super interesting things we should know?
I'm headlining the Thunderbird on Sat., July 12! It'll be my Make It Go Away album release show and I can't wait. Playing that venue will be a goal achieved. Also, I'll be planting tomato plants in my backyard later today!
Band members:
Mark Jeffries, with hefty contributions from Garrett Grube (drums) and Matt Very (production)
