A Nashville native, Della Croce grew up steeped in the city’s culture and learned her craft by the light of some of music’s most iconic performers. She is the third generation of her family with the music business in her blood, honing her craft around such influential artists as Vince Gill, John Oates, Ralph Stanley, the Beach Boys and Leann Rimes. Such familiarity enabled her to absorb a wide-range of song craft and musical styles without being swept up by the larger-than-life personalities. Della Croce has forged a style all her own with her latest project.
Illuminations is a blend of folk wisdom with Americana heart and a truly alternative soul. The record is rooted first and foremost in Della Croce’s poetic lyrics. The 12-track album is comprised entirely of original songs and highlights her unique vocal texture, songwriting brilliance and sparkling musicianship.
Della Croce’s newest single, “Rebecca Henry,” is a sweet, lilting ballad to a forbidden crush. In our interview below, Della Croce mentions that the songs on Illuminations are among the first she wrote, and I have to wonder if this is a punched-up version of a song channeling pre-teen love. It tugs in a way that any queer millennial understands — it’s not just the ache of unrequited love, but also the complex emotions of never being able to express that crush for fear of repercussions. It’s warm, tender, and sad — just like middle school.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
While I strongly believe that there is no such thing as a perfect song, I do think the best any artform can accomplish is total resonance with its listener/viewer/etc. These days, one of those songs for me is “Marie” by Lori McKenna. Her lyrics accompany the listener so warmly, and “Marie” is full of incredible stanzas such as, “Marie turned 13, two weeks after / daddy sat us down said your mama’s died / and it took me years to realize / she wasn’t out getting groceries / I was waiting on a resurrection / saved by my disposition / our grandfather crying in the kitchen / couldn’t bear the sight of me and Marie”.
I am also currently in awe of “Mother I Sober” by Kendrick Lamar which is a striking indictment of patriarchy and domestic abuse among other things. In addition to the brilliance of his writing in this song, I admire Lamar for making the decision to tackle such serious themes at a time when more people are listening to his music than ever. It’s true artistic bravery.
Explain the title of your album.
Illuminations as a title was drawn from the concept of Illuminated texts in theology, but through the evolution of the record, it really comes to mean “to light up” in the more literal sense. The album is composed of some of the first songs I wrote, so many of them are a decade old, and you can see my evolution as an artist and person over the course of the record.
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
I believe very strongly in the power of opening creative channels within oneself. Many people will suggest cultivating a daily writing habit, which is often the perfect tool for honing a craft. But I think that for some people (myself included) that this sort of manufacturing approach to music can become less of a craft and more of an exercise in commercial production. Every creator and medium is different though. For me, the music emanates from an emotion that is so overwhelming that it begs to be expressed in poetry and sound.
What’s the best way a fan can support you?
One of my favorite ways to support artists I love is by purchasing merchandise directly from their online store. Even if they’re not touring in my area any time soon, it’s a great way to vote with my dollar, and it goes a long way compared to streaming revenue that artists receive–but definitely keep streaming too 🙂
How do you feel your coming out journey plays into your music?
My coming out journey is integral to my music, because it has been integral to my development as a person. If there’s anything I want to take from the process of coming out, it’s a fearlessness and authenticity. I feel like I get the chance to live a life that I only imagined growing up, and in that way every day is a gift. That doesn’t mean it’s always
easy, but I want to bring that lightness and joy to my work because it’s just as real as the struggle.