Snakes Made of Light, the debut collection of all-original songs by the Memphis/North Mississippi roots psychedelic band Delta Stardust, was released on January 24, 2025, on Robot Distro, a division of Golden Robot Records. Snakes Made of Light features 10 songs that “go for transcendence, but also long to be from somewhere; the whole push/pull, yin/yang thing,” according to Michael Graber, the band’s chief songwriter, in an interview with the Memphis Flyer. The album was recorded at Seahorse Studio and co-produced by Graber and John Kilgore (engineer and band member).
“Thank You” kicks off the album with a celebratory tone. Next, “Memphis Tattoo,” a song about healed gunshot wounds, shifts the mood. “Owl in My Backyard” conveys a shamanic trance-like download, followed by the bliss of “Feelin’ Good Blues.” “Two Questions” starts with a reverb-drenched pedal steel and whips into a fury. “Having a Ball, Y’all” offers Southern hospitality for festival seekers. “The Great Spirit” pays homage to a mentor of blessed memory, while “Cakewalk My Shadow through Town” and “What the Fuck Did You Put in My Drink” keep the musical carnival rolling. Finally, “Sister Freedom” stretches out into the musical stratosphere.
Delta Stardust’s members include Michael Graber (guitars, mandolins, autoharp, bass, vocals), John Kilgore (mellotron, synths, guitar, vocals), Andy Ratliff (guitars, bouzouki, mandolins, vocals), Carlos Gonzalez (bass, charango, fiddle), Scott Carter (electric and acoustic percussion), Jesse Dakota (drums), and Julia Graber (vocals).
The release show was held at the New Memphis Psychedelic Festival. The band’s only other show so far was opening for Acid Mothers Temple.
Listen on your favorite platform: https://orcd.co/snakes-made-of-light
About Delta Stardust
Delta Stardust began as a studio project, seeking an alchemical, earthy psychedelic sound by blending acoustic, electric, and digital instruments. The goal is to capture a haunted, mystical Memphis/North Mississippi vibe even as the music—its song forms and sonic undercurrents—continues to expand. They call their genre Roots Psychedelic music. Their first album, Snakes Made of Light, was released by Robot Distro, a division of Golden Robot Records.
