Among the key players for the Memorial Day Weekend was, of course and as always, Delano Smith. Chicago born and Detroit raised, has has consistently been one of the earliest and earnest contributors to Detroit DJ culture and music since 1978.
Since then, Delano has become world-renowned as a primary influence in both House and Techno, and among fans there’s a shared consensus that he is one of the city’s first House DJs, and one of the last still standing in a quick, digital, and sometimes over-saturated market.
His reputation precedes him in the way that 2024 artists can only aspire to, and just as consistent as his presence has been in his local circuit over the years. This year, he tells The Knockturnal, that has a duplicity of meanings.
“Every year, they kind of rearrange it,” he explains. They rearrange a lot of the set pieces, relocate the stages and add some different decor here and there. But it’s always, always very festive and lively, even.” Within the first few hours of the multi-day festival’s opening at Hart Plaza, musical acts and lovers alike can feel the anticipation of what’s to come.
For Delano, what was to come was his first time ever collaborating with anyone on stage. On May 24 he dropped his new EP, Play, with fellow Detroit artist sillygirlcarmen, and followed up the occasion with a performance of one of their new songs at the end of his set. “It’s the first time I’ve ever produced a vocal track, let alone had someone perform it,” he tells The Knock. “So I’m very excited to see their performance on the main stage.”
Delano Smith and sillygirlcarmen perform at Movement. (Photo by Danyyil Nosovskiy)
Long story short on Delano x sillygirlcarmen?
If you missed the performance over MDW, you missed out. “She just started DJing about three or four years ago, Delano explains. She’s already progressive, very good, and when I give her beef to write to she always comes up with very interesting vocals, and her vocal arrangements are very good.” Not to mention her style, dance fail and artistic inclinations, which Delano has seen grow from the very beginning. “One of my best friends is her father,” he adds.
“It’s my first time working with someone in this capacity and I saw her DJ career from the very beginning, and I’ve seen it and nurtured her throughout. Now she’s at the point where she can fly on her own, and I’m very proud of her, and we’re going to do a lot more projects together, but I’m happy with this one.”
His happiness, as it turns out, is something that these days extends well beyond the confines of Movement. “I was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and two years ago it started getting very bad,” he recalls. “I didn’t know if I was going to ever get to DJ again, but for the last two years,I’ve been undergoing a new form of our cancer treatment, and along with some holistic healing, I think I turned the corner on this thing.”
Fresh off his performance, he says this year means all the much more to him. “For a minute I was in a very dark place. I just thought thatI’d have to give up the love of my life, my profession, my music career.” That dark place is something nobody should have to fall into at all, let alone alone. That belief and value in hope is exactly what has Delano motivated to make music, coach up its future and create a community where vulnerability is valuable–on and off the record.
“That’s why I took my story public,” he tells The Knockturnal. “So if I could help and inspire someone with my struggle, I’ve done my job, and this is something I don’t wish on anybody.. I went through the chemo, I went through the radiation, and it takes more of a toll on your body than the actual cancer does.”
Knock on wood, as Delano and I said, he’ll be making a lot more movement in 2024: “Doing a series of late night events in Detroit, called “Midnight Hours,” and I will be showcasing a lot of my DJ talent from around the country, hopefully around the world. There’s nothing to do after 2 am in Detroit, so I think this is a point that needs filling. I’m going to try my best to
If you want to see Delano live and are having Movement FOMO (like I know I am!), he’ll also be going out on tour for the first time in three years, including at Public Records in New York City this July, where you’ll be able to see him front and center. Moreover, if you want to help ensure that his musical journey keeps grooving forward, you can head here to support fundraising efforts towards Delano’s continued cancer treatment.
PHOTO CREDIT: Danyyil Nosovskiy.