We shed old skin in order to evolve and move forward. We let go of who we were in the past and embrace who we're meant to be now. The Deslondes have taken such steps as not only bandmates, but as brothers. The New Orleans quintet—Dan Cutler, Sam Doores, Riley Downing, Cameron Snyder, and John James Tourville—have weathered ups, downs, and everything in between only to strengthen the bond between them. Infusing everything from saxophone, flute, and synth to string arrangements and a full drum kit for the first time, the group naturally progress and evolve in real-time on their third full-length offering, Ways & Means [New West Records].

The Deslondes revealed their self-titled debut to widespread tastemaker applause during 2015. However, they really hit their stride on Hurry Home in 2017. Right out of the gate, Noisey proclaimed, “The Deslondes have found a comfortable sound to create art in, and it serves them well,” while Rolling Stone noted, "The Deslondes' take on country relies on a gritty, grimy mix of early rock ‘n’ roll and lo-fi R&B." In addition to praise from American Songwriter, Paste, The Boot, and more, the record closed out the year on Uncut's "Favorite Albums of 2017." Then, the musicians opted to quietly take a break.

Maybe it was something in the air, but 2021 seemed like the perfect moment for the boys to pick up where they left off. Dan elaborates. "From experience, we realized what we liked and who was good at what. In terms of the studio, it was probably the easiest album we've ever made.

The Deslondes draw on their own familial union to forge a similar connection with listeners. "To us, this is family," John James leaves off. "It's a part of our lives. When you hear our music, I hope you feel like you’re hanging out with us. The band’s back together now, and it just feels good." "Riley, JJ, Dan, and Cam are my brothers," Sam concurs. "We've all been through so much together. I don’t think any of us will have that experience with another group of people again in our lives."

Genre Inspiration: Big Easy, Eclectic Americana, Psychedelic, Lo-Fi Garage Rock, Country Western

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