By: Staff
Anie Delgado Unleashes the Powerful Anthem “99¢ Jesus”.
In a world where music often reflects the battles we face, a rising indie artist has stepped into the spotlight with a track that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. This scorching new single is a rallying cry for empowerment, a defiant rejection of toxic norms, and a celebration of breaking free. Combining razor-sharp lyricism with a genre-blending sound, this artist delivers a raw and relatable anthem that challenges the status quo.
With inspiration drawn from everyday life and a sharp eye for societal contradictions, this song is more than just music, it’s a statement. Produced by a renowned talent and co-written with a London-based visionary, this track is poised to ignite conversations far beyond the playlist.
But what’s the story behind this electrifying release? Who is the force of creativity bringing this anthem to life? In this exclusive interview, the artist opens up about the inspiration, the process, and the meaning behind the bold title.
Dive in to discover the story behind the song that’s about to take over your playlists. Read on to meet the artist and uncover the message behind their daring new single.
Begin Interview:
Hello Anie Delgado, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. Your new single, “99¢ Jesus”, is a bold statement about rejecting toxic masculinity. The opening line of this is legendary! “I met Jesus in a Chevrolet/ Turning water into Chardonnay”. Wow! The impact of the statement is incredible.Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the song and how you landed on the metaphor of the “99¢ Jesus”?
A. Thanks! I was raised in a very conservative, Christian community and my beliefs don't align with my upbringing. They haven't for a while but I never took time to dive into it. A couple years ago I thought it was time to dive in and deconstruct and I am so happy I did because it has offered me a more unwaivering sense of self and so much more confidence in who I am and what I believe in. While deconstructing, I thought a lot about how society or at least my little small town in Florida is so centered around men and for women the most valuable currency was male vaidation and attention. I recognized that I spent a lot of my adolescence chasing that not because it was what I actually wanted but because it was what I was taught would give me value in society there. I quickly left my small town after I graduated high school, but those tendencies become engrained in you until you take time to do the work and deconstruct them. When reflecting on all of this I thought of some of the guys I dated in the past and realized a lot of them fell under the same archetype: holier than thou, very mediocre, thinks that men have some kind of power over women, they're usually religious and back up their sexism and misogyny with their beliefs. I like to walk a lot when I am writing and one day I was walking and thinking about this song I wanted to write and I walked past a 99¢ Store (which no longer exist in LA but they were once a beloved discount store) and I thought that's what these guys are 99¢, discount store versions of their lord and savior Jesus Christ. The line you refered to is about one of my first experiences hooking up with this guy I was like so happy to have caught the attention of. We were in his really shitty chevy and drinking cheap wine.
Q. Female empowerment is a recurring theme in “99¢ Jesus”. How do you hope this song resonates with listeners, particularly women?
A. Gosh I really hope it inspires women to leave the mediocre men in their lives. I wanted the hook to sound really euphoric and cathartic because that's how it feels to be free of someone who has been bringing you down. Surely you could relate whether you date men or women but I think women especially put up with a lot because we've been set with this standard of needing a man to thrive in society.
Q. The song captures such raw feelings. How do you feel after performing this song, whether in the studio or live, i.e. is it cathartic or draining and how do you prepare for this emotional result?
A. It has changed from time to time, sometimes the feeling is cathertic glee because I feel like I (mostly) on the other side of this. Like I am currently happier than heaven. Sometimes I really embrace the female rage of it all. I try to prepare by just being present and letting the song take me where it will.
Q. The song blends indie-pop, dance, and R&B influences. How did you approach creating this unique sound, and what was it like working with producer Gary Dillon and co-writer George Gleeson? How did you come about forming these professional relationships?
A. I listen to a lot of different music and often find myself asking producers to merge worlds sonically. Usually it starts with listening to a lot of music and references together. I think Gary Dillon, who produced the record, brings a lot of dance sensibility to the songs we create together which I love because although I am in love with songwriting and telling stories through my music, I always want the listener to be able to dance. I like to describe my music as music to cry in the club to. I think I naturally write melodys with some R&B influence. When I was younger, my older cousins would show me R&B songs that I wasn't exposed to in my own home and I have always loved it. George Gleeson co-wrote the song with me and he offers a really solid indie pop perspective. When I am overthinking a line, he's always the one to say something simple but profound which makes for the best pop music in my opinion. I met them through a company called Grass Fed Music. They helped connect me with a few producers and Gary George and I really hit it off. They're based in the UK and we have mostly worked together online but I actually was able to go to London to write this one with them.
Q. What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, ie the creation, the actual release date, etc?
A. I would say the content creation and roll out can be the most stressful. The songwriting and crafting the project is always really fun for me. As an indie artist, I rely a lot on social media to reach new listeners and build my visual brand and it always feels like I could be doing more.
Q. Breaking up with the “male gaze” is such a powerful concept. What message do you have for women who are struggling to find their voice in a culture that often diminishes it?
A. Thanks! This might sound a little dark but I would just say that regardless of if you find some version of love in life anything could happen and at the end of the day, all you are truly left with is yourself. All that being said, why cater your entire existence to appeal to the male gaze? I myself have mistakenly lost myself to a relationship and at the end I was left with a watered down version of myself that I didn't know or like. I didn't even know what music I liked to listen to anymore. I honestly feel like if you are loud about what you're passionate about and if you reconstruct your life to appeal to your OWN gaze you attract better people too. People really get to meet the best version of you. In my own experience, you're a lot happier too. I do really silly things to get in touch with myself, I have lists in my notes app of my favorite food, I've been experimenting with my personal style, all of that is an affirmation of who I am.
Q. You mentioned that “99¢ Jesus” is part of a larger EP coming out in summer 2025. Can you give us a sneak peek into the themes or stories the EP will explore?
A. Yes! The EP is called hopeless and it's about the manic highs and desperate lows of being a hopeless romantic. It's kind of a twist on the traditional image we have of a hopeless romantic and exposes it for what in my opinion it truly is. I am now happily married but looking back on my optimism and obsession with finding love, I'm like that was kind of insane person behavior. So each song explore different emotions within that experience. There's one about being down to take the fall for someone you know is really horrible because they're just so intoxicating. I have a song that's in spanish called mátame which means "kill me". It's about being so over your ex that you say I'd rather you kill me than seeing you again. Like just wanting to be free of them. dramatic but I really wanted to capture the extreme despiration, obsession, and desire involved in being a hopeless romantic. I am a big greek mythology nerd and I love thinking about those stories when I write because I find them oddly relatable sometimes and for this project I thought a lot about the story of persephone going to hell with hades. That is represented in some of the lyrics and visuals.
Q. In “99¢ Jesus,” you confront men who fail to live up to their own self-proclaimed moral superiority. How do you think the music industry can better support women in addressing these kinds of issues?
A. Yeah definitely! The second verse is a little bit about my experience with some men in the music industry. I think advocating for their female collaborators would be a great start. I really started to have fun in sessions where the male producers i was working with made me feel valued and like they appreciated my collaboration and perspective. Gary and George actually introduced me into the world of toplining and sync because they advocated for me. I got some of my first placements with them. It really made me feel more confident as an artist and has helped me go on to get other opportunities. I think often times young female artists aren't taken seriously as writers, musicians, producers, but with some collaboration can become more confident in contributing to elements of the project they may not always contribute to. I've had producers slow down and show me how they do things in production and that has meant the world because it helps me better communicate my artistic vision when I know what is technically going on.
Q. Many people find it difficult to express anger or defiance in their art without it being misunderstood. Do you have issues with people resisting the messages in your music?
A. I definitely had second thoughts with this song. Like a dance pop bop about breaking up with the male gaze - feels like I'm doing a lot and also alienates men a little but I am putting it out because I think what's authentic always finds it's audience. The goal is to connect with people and make them feel and this song is really authentic to how I feel. What's most personal is what's most universal.
Q. The song feels timely given current events in the U.S. around gender and culture. What role do you think music plays in challenging societal norms and sparking change, especially with young listeners experiencing the same frustrations you outline?
A. 100% the US is about to be run by a bunch of 99¢ Jesues - it's horrifying. I think music has always been political and has always had a history of sparking change. It's a way of communicating our most vulnerable thoughts and new ideas and then sometimes a bunch of other people say hey I feel that way do, we want to do things differently now. Top of mind right now because of the movie are artists like Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. I think music like this can help us find community and feel less alone in these scary times and that is crucial for us to not only survive these times but rise above and create a better future.
Q. You have made some great strides and now are becoming more established as an artist. Do you have any professional advice that you would give your younger self that might have even further fueled the current course your career is now on?
A. Yes! I think listen to yourself and your intuition. I think what has set myself back the most in my career has been taking advice from managers or music marketing gurus. There's so much noise out there. When I started listening to my own voice and taking all the advice in but filtering it and doing what has felt right for my project, that's when I've felt the most creatively fulfiled and have started to see some traction. I also wish I told myself that there is no way around doing the hard work yourself. I think for a while I was hoping a manager would swoop in and give me magic opportunities but the end of the days you just have to keep making great songs until enough people notice.
Q. Do you have a favorite song from your early years of listening to music that you would like to cover in the studio that makes you feel connected to who you are as an artist today?
A. There's definitely a list of these! But right now I think Still The One by Shania Twain. She's such an icon and it's such a beautiful song.
Q. We feel like we have learned so much about you from this one song, and that’s such a great way to connect with fans. But what’s one fun or surprising fact about you that fans might not know?
A. Two of my passions aside from music are food and traveling. Last year, I left LA for eight months and traveled all over the world. I've been integrating some of the dishes I've learned about into my cooking and it's been a lot of fun. My favorite hobbie is cooking for people. I secretly want to post cooking and travel content more but i don't want to distract from my music too much.
Q. Besides the forthcoming EP, what else is next? Can you share the full details on your future projects and what fans should be excited about? We’re hearing about more releases, and we’d love to be the first to announce it!
A. Yes, I can say my next single 1111 is out on Valentine's Day. It's a part of the ep too. There's also going to be a visual for it. I am playing a show in LA in April as well that I'll announce soon. My song stranger from the internet will be on a tv screen near you soon.
Anie Delgado, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Anie Delgado’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
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