Amplifying Voices- Delta 7 and Disability Representation in the Music Scene

By Vanesa Simic

“Music is a power of life”. -Mikey Reynolds, percussionist and singer in Delta 7.

For hundreds of years, new doors have been opened by people of underrepresented identities and backgrounds through one of humanities’ most important modes of expression: music. One rising music group is Delta 7, a post-punk rock band developed in East-Sussex, England in 2014 entirely composed of musicians with learning disabilities, with every member having either Autism or Down Syndrome. The band has been featured in two documentaries, DELTA 7EVEN and We Rise, both directed by Rosie Baldwin, and the former of which received a nomination for a BAFTA award. Over a decade since its formation, the members of Delta 7 continue to develop their musical talent and serve as an “uplifting and powerful voice for everyone who feels a little outside of ‘mainstream’ society”.

Delta 7 was formed in 2014 as part of an Arts Connect music course, which offers people with disabilities the opportunity to try out new activities. Despite not initially intending to continue the band past the duration of the ten-week course, Delta 7 has been making music for 11 years. The band is composed of David, who plays keyboard, vocalists Craig and Harry, guitarist Elliot, Fraser, who plays drums and provides vocals, Mikey, who is the percussionist and provides vocals, and guitarist and drummer Underdog. The band is currently funded by The People’s Health Trust, an independent charity that raises money through lotteries and distributed grants. Delta 7 also enjoys support from hundreds of fans, having 350 followers on Spotify and performing at several music festivals across the U.K. a year. Their most recent and third album was released in 2021, titled The Lockdown Sessions, which concerns their thoughts and experiences during the isolation of the pandemic. Particularly as a post-punk band, Delta 7 expands the punk genre to incorporate other genres such as rock and country. Delta 7’s vocalist, Craig, cites Johnny Cash as one of the band’s influences. Delta 7 has successfully established itself as having a unique sound, but what particularly stands out in Delta 7’s music is their lyricism, with the band uniquely arranging words to convey ideas and feelings central to the human experience, putting their own twist on it. Mentor to the band, Tom Cook, regarding the band’s unique lyrics and how at first read they seem unrelated to each other, said “You suddenly see it more afterwards”. 

Their song “Everybody Needs Human Rights” features the lyrics:

Food and shelter for all

Love

Resilience

Football

Marry me

Food

Shelter

Love

Delta 7 advocates for human rights for all through repetition of the key necessities to human life, doing so in a way that is both approachable and relatable. The contributions of each band member to the songwriting results in a cohesive piece that conveys the shared ideals of hopes for the future of humanity. Many of Delta 7’s songs feature this same playful lyricism while expressing a concern or observation on the state of the world.

During the pandemic, a time when many people experienced frustration over being isolated and worried for the future, Delta 7 worked on their album The Lockdown Sessions. Their song “Lockdown Song” conveys these same anxieties:

I feel like hermit crab

Stuck inside my own shell

Forced into retreat

Just gotta keep the be

Delayed but not deterred by the emotional toll of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the members of Delta 7 continued expressing themselves through music. Due to the lockdown restrictions in the U.K during the pandemic, the band was unable to meet as a group and instead each member recorded their own song, putting their own twist on it and pulling from different genres. As a result, their third album marks a departure in sound from the previous albums, reflecting the unique musical interests of each member. 

In 2016, one of Delta 7’s mentors, Tom Salway, sadly passed away by suicide. Carrying Tom’s legacy, the band continued making music through grief, allowing for the band members to express their feelings in ways that regular conversation wasn’t necessarily conducive to. The band continues making music to honor his memory, with members noting that they are “doing it for Tom”. Elliot Gaygill, the guitarist for Delta 7, adds that “you don’t find it quite as difficult when you play music than when you’re actually talking with someone face to face”. Delta 7, in addition to creating music for others to enjoy, provides an outlet for the band members to share their feelings and thoughts on the world through a medium that allows for greater expression than a regular conversation. Delta 7 broadens the barriers of communication, utilizing both word and sound to express themselves. With hundreds of fans, and more to come, Delta 7 is ensuring that their voices are heard, and that the music industry continues to make space for those of diverse backgrounds and identities.