From Pain to Power: DELA on Becoming a Warrior

Get to know DELA, the powerhouse vocalist whose single “Krieger” showcases what epic,

emotional pop can sound like. Blending Italian roots, English pop influences, and German

lyrics, she turns vulnerability, healing, and self-worth into big, cinematic songs that stay with

you. In this intimate interview, DELA talks about her journey from law school to the studio,

the alter ego that helped her find her voice, and why she wants her music to remind people of

one thing above all: you are not alone.

HERE'S THE FULL INTERVIEW

Thank you for meeting us! Let’s get straight into it: Can you describe who DELA is in three words?

DELA: Authentic, epic, and family-oriented. Family-oriented because I recorded a song with

my dad and I love talking about my mom in my songs and the advice she has given me. Epic,

because I want my songs to sound big, I love “big songs”. Authentic, because that is exactly

what I want to be in my music.

When you are not making music, where can people find you?

DELA: I love going for walks with my headphones on or having coffee with my girls and my

family. When I am not doing music, I really cherish that time to myself.

If you could write your own headline, what would it say?

DELA: “The Voice of Germany Talks About Her Career and Her Future.” I do not want to

sound arrogant, but I am truly convinced that I have a God-given voice. That would be my

dream headline.

You recorded a song with your father. Would you say that music runs in your blood?

DELA: Yes, 100%. My dad is very musical, my mom, and I say this with love, not at all. We

listened to a lot of music together on the way to school, but my dad was the key influence:

Tupac, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Amy Winehouse. My biggest inspirations

come from him. He has a God-given voice, too, but sadly never did anything with it. I definitely

inherited it from him. And I recently found out that my grandmother, whom I am named after,

also sang very well and loved to sing. So yes, it runs in the family.

You have Italian roots but sing in German. Where do you feel most at home musically?

DELA: Very much in Italy too. I often come to the studio with Italian references, because the

arrangements, productions, and vocals there are very big. German is also a home to me because

I live here and speak the language. But German is quite a hard language, while Italian is very

poetic. For one German word, you almost have six ways to say it in Italian and can describe

your emotions much more precisely. I also feel very at home in English, because I grew up

listening to both English and Italian music.

What does a typical studio day with DELA look like?

DELA: I walk into the studio and first think about the direction I want to go with the songs.

Most of the time, it turns out completely different in the end. Recently, I was about ten weeks

into a situationship and wanted to create something “warrior-like”. Then I sat in the studio and

thought: No, I want to talk about this situationship. So, we sit down, talk about how I feel, often

with songwriters in the room. Then we start with beat production; after that, we work on the

toplines and melodies, and then it is writing, singing, and performing. For me, it is always:

feelings first, then the beat, and from that we decide on the song's genre.

Your latest single is called “Krieger” (“Warrior”). How did this song come about?

DELA: The inspiration came strongly from Italian music. I wanted to create something

Germany had not really heard before, epic, but still very easy to grasp. I play a lot with my

voice in this track, with harmonies, with big choirs. I went into the studio with the motto:

Today, we are going full Viking vibes. It also matched how I was feeling at the time, but the

song was not necessarily about a man; it was actually about a female friend. I was in this

mindset: "It is okay if you are not there; I am strong on my own." I love working with mood

boards: I bring in a specific image that captures the vibe, and my team, who thankfully know

exactly how I work, builds on that.

What do you want people to feel when they listen to “Krieger” or to your music in general?

DELA: Freedom. I would add “free” to the three words from earlier. I want people to think, “I

am not alone,” when they hear my songs. That is my motto. No matter what feelings you carry

around, you are not the only one. I want people to feel understood. Francesca, my private self,

really needed that feeling growing up. That is what DELA is supposed to give now.

Would you say you are also healing your inner child through music?

DELA: Yes, 100 percent. That is also true for my stage performances. I was ten years old when

I first stood on stage in front of a thousand people. It was during a one-man-band show; they

called me up and I sang a song. I felt all the attention on me and thought,

“This is my life.”

Hannah Montana honestly shaped me a lot. That moment on stage was my first turning point.

Later, I studied law and made music on the side. At some point, I got to a place where it was

either-or. My heart beats for music, so it was pretty easy for me to decide to leave law behind

and do music full-time.

Did Hannah Montana shape you musically or more as a person?

DELA: Not so much musically. But as a character, yes. The idea of living in two worlds is

very familiar to me: Francesca in private and DELA as an artist. Also, the way she stopped

caring about what others think and did what felt right to her, whether it was always “right” or

not, is another question. That attitude really shaped me.

So, you separate between your private self and your artistic persona. Are there any boundaries for you in what you share through music? What does that mean in practice?

DELA: For me, music is entirely intimate; that is exactly where I can let everything out.

Francesca is a very sensitive person; she used to be the pushover, the girl who said yes to

everything to make people happy. DELA is the stronger version of her. In my songs, DELA

says what Francesca never felt allowed to say. That is why I do not set any limits for myself in

music.

Is there a specific lyric from one of your own songs that you are especially proud of?

DELA: From “Krieger”: “Ich danke Gott für jeden Tag, den du nicht bei mir warst” (“I thank

God for every day you were not with me.”). That line really describes me. Someone claimed

to be there for me but was not. And I am still grateful, because I grew through it. The line right

before that is, “Ist schon okay, war dir zu viel, ich bin alleine stark” (“It is okay if it was too

much for you; I am strong on my own.”) Those two lines are very me.

What is the best part of making music for you?

DELA: People’s reactions. When someone tells me, “Your song saved me,” or “You spoke

straight from my soul.” Or when someone tells me they managed to leave a toxic person thanks

to one of my tracks. I love writing my feelings, but the most beautiful part is realizing that I am

helping others by doing so.

What would you like to tell people who are reading this?

DELA: Never stop believing in yourself. Fight for yourself, but only as long as it benefits you.

The moment you realize something is hurting you, let it go. That does not just apply to romantic

relationships; it also applies to friendships and family. That is often where the biggest issues

lie, because it is hardest to walk away. I am someone who took that step and from that moment

on, my life got better. It hurts and it takes courage, especially when you have experienced a lot

of rejection. But do not give up, and do not let toxic people or situations define you.

For our THE UNSEEN playlist, we ask each artist to submit five tracks. Which songs have shaped you and absolutely need to be in there?

DELA: “Krieger” by myself. I still listen to it a lot because it makes me feel strong. Then

“Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse, which I adore. “Where’s My Husband” by Raye is

another favorite. I also listen to “Frieden” by KAYEF a lot. And then anything by Ultimo, an

Italian artist I love. I could put all his songs in your playlist.

Frederike: Great, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us!

DELA: Thank you!

LISTEN TO DELA'S NEWEST SINGLE “KRIEGER” HERE:

LISTEN TO OUR ARTIST RECOMMENDATION PLAYLIST HERE: