Here's Farmhouse's interview with Delta 88's Danny Kline, Alex Anest, and
not-so-serious John Sperendi.

FR: When and how was Delta 88 formed?

Danny Kline: Around 1998 through a knock at a wrong door.

FR: What are the main songwriting inspirations?

Danny Kline: Life, family, travel, women, motorcycles, art, aches, pains, nature, and the pursuit of happiness.

FR: How does the songwriting process go? Who writes what and how much does the whole band contribute?

Danny Kline: I write the majority of the songs for Delta 88 with Alex contributing his share. The ideas for the songs are generally well developed before the band gets ahold of them, but one of the core strengths of the band is each member's ability to put their own moves on the step.

FR: How or was each member musically trained?

Danny Kline: I have no formal musical training at all. People who work with me get dumber because of me. I am an education eraser, coming to your town just to dumb it down. I am a blind monkey with one finger.

Alex Anest: I studied jazz and classical guitar at Bowling Green State University, but like most musicians I learned how to be musical by gigging as much as possible.

John Sperendi: I was once a monkey from natbar who played music in the national natbar circus. Later in life I was banished from my home planet and sent to Earth to be a bass player

FR: Why are you in music or what do you hope for your music to accomplish?

Danny Kline: Music gives me the opportunity to express most of what I'm feeling and helps me document and keep ahold of moments in my life that I feel are worth remembering. I also like the ability music has to create an atmosphere like how different light can affect a room's mood, music can surround you with an influential presence.

Alex Anest: I have felt compelled to make music since I was very young. As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a guitarist. I think that music is the best way for me to express myself. I can't draw or paint, I can't act, and I'm not suited to having a nine-five job. I need to get my insides out, and music is the method I employ for that end.

John Sperendi: I play music so I can continually be poor.

FR: Long term musical or life goals?

Danny Kline: Make the rent with the music, live in a big, old house, travel, travel, travel.

Alex Anest: Make my living playing music, continue teaching guitar, but cut down the total number of students, and expand my musical understanding and philosophy.

John Sperendi: One day I hope to take life a little less serious and work on my sense of humor or become president.

FR: What do you want the listener to get from this album (Delta 88)?

Danny Kline: I didn't really go into the record with a conscious intent for the listener, but I guess it would be nice if they were able to connect to the ordinariness of the record. It's not about anything more than what most people deal with on about any given day. The songs aren't about opening a can of fruit cocktail or things that common place, but each of the tracks are simple reflections on the kind of thoughts are always there, maybe just sitting back and off to the edges, waiting out the busy, flashier ones. The record itself is the same way. It can't compete for your attention, to hear it , you have to be ready to.

Alex Anest: I think Danny put it well from a philosophical point of view. As far as the music goes, I'd like to think that our record's strength is in its subtlety. The bass part in a song like Stone Quarry, or the interplay of the guitar and dobro on Truth is a Whisper are things that don't jump out at you, but if you listen, they are very musical and add a lot to the mood of the record.

John Sperendi: I hope people, especially youngsters realize that music is for fun. Just because some of are songs are about killing or being killed, getting stabbed in the ear or getting eaten alive from flying piranhas doesn't mean you should try this at home. We shouldn't be responsible.

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