Johnny Delaware (US)

Johnny Delaware is an American folk-rock and indie-pop singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer originally from South Dakota. He is best known as the co-founder and former member of the critically acclaimed indie-roots band SUSTO; he was also the frontman for the indie-rock band The Artisanals and has built a distinctive solo career characterized by travel-inspired, psychedelic-tinged “cosmic folk.”

While living in Nebraska and struggling to finance his musical endeavors, a tree fell on his old Toyota RAV4. The $10,000 in compensation he received from his insurance company enabled him to move to Charleston, South Carolina, and record his 2013 debut album, *Secret Wave*, with producer Wolfgang Zimmerman.

In Charleston, he co-founded the indie-roots band SUSTO. The band gained national recognition and toured with major acts such as The Lumineers and Band of Horses. He briefly rejoined the band to record their 2023 album before refocusing on his solo career.

In 2016, Delaware left SUSTO to found and lead The Artisanals, a rock band that also undertakes international tours.

He later moved to Mexico, where he blended global musical influences and Spanish guitar sounds with his atmospheric, Laurel Canyon-inspired folk-rock style.