Delacey Amaradio is no stranger to creating powerful moments, both as a singer-songwriter and as a champion for women’s confidence.
With a career that includes writing hits for artists like Halsey and Demi Lovato, Delacey’s own music shines with the same raw authenticity she brings to her lyrics. Her journey is steeped in influences from legends like Billie Holiday and Stevie Nicks, combined with her deeply personal, sex-positive approach to life and art.
Now, with the release of her latest song “Trouble” and her upcoming single “French Toast,” Delacey is ready to show the world that she’s only getting better with time, and she’s embracing every bit of it.
Playboy: What was your first experience with Playboy?
Delacey: I don’t know if anyone else has ever said this probably before in a Playboy interview, but it was my Grandma. I remember her very early on introducing me to the Playboy bunnies. I thought they were so beautiful, which honestly? It was a big marker for my life as a woman. My grandmother was showing me Playboy as art pieces and a positive view on women’s sexuality.
Playboy: It sounds like you had a really sex-positive start to your life.
Delacey: I have had such an odd relationship with that sex-positive attitude, it was instilled in me in the weirdest way. When I was young, I didn’t really think too much of it. My Grandma was so sex positive, and so confident as a woman—she left the house in lingerie slips, that was who she was. I looked up to her so tremendously. Sadly it turned into this shameful thing at a certain point, and I hate that, I went to Catholic high school and it’s so crazy what was acceptable. I look back on those years now, horrified. I would be in this Catholic school outfit with the white thigh high stockings and the plaid skirt and I didn’t think of it in a sexual way, but we were objectified by all these men in their 40s and 50s. I was an underage girl, and a male proctor would come around in his golf cart—I’ll never forget it. He’d make us girls turn around for him and he would make sure our skirts weren’t too short. It’s so creepy that I’m just disgusted telling the story, but at the time, it was so normal.
They made us feel ashamed for the length of a skirt or a bra strap showing or wearing too much makeup— for anything that was just us expressing ourselves. It’s messed me up for years in a way that many men don’t ever think about, and it’s all because of the male gaze and we’re scared of being objectified by men. I think a lot of women still struggle with that. I’ve definitely come to a good place ever since I turned 30 and I’m taking the power back and not caring anymore. I lost that sense of confidence because of society, but now I’m going to stop being worried about what people think about me. I’m just being confident in my sexuality and in my body and in my skin.
Playboy: That confidence has been shining through in your work, and you just finished up your first tour. What was it like?
Delacey: I had so much fun up there. I was so free and myself, I danced. I was so in touch with my music, the lyrics, everything and I felt so connected to the audience. I love meeting fans and I met so many young women that said the sweetest things. I met a bunch of cool, confident, cute young, female artists and aspiring artists and girls. I remember being young and looking up to musicians and I hope that I can now be a positive role model for younger women.
Playboy: You also are a killer songwriter and have written for a ton of amazing people. What does that process look like?
Delacey: A lot of the time I can just write music with fellow co-writers and other producers and we send it around to people who are taking outside songs. I also write directly with artists, and that’s when I feel really lucky. We’re in a studio together and I’m just helping them tell their story. It’s a lot of camaraderie and commiserating in the room and we’re all connecting on something and that’s where the magic of the best song comes from sometimes.
Playboy: Do you ever hand off a song and disagree with how the final product turns out?
Delacey: No one has ever asked me that before! It’s tough sometimes because I’m so hands-on with my visuals and creative direction—I’m obsessed with it. When writing personal music, I focus intensely, but songwriting for others feels more like a day job, often with new people. I always pull from real emotions and experiences, though. What’s funny is, as songwriters, we have no control after the day we write. I don’t even get to approve the final mix or master. It’s hard to let go, but I’ve gotten used to it over the years. I’ve barely thought about it, but it is so true, when it has some visuals that I don’t like, I do get really disappointed.
Playboy: What artists and songwriters are essential for you?
Delacey: There are so many, but I’ve always been inspired by the people I idolized growing up. Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star, Stevie Nicks, and Billie Holiday—she’s my number one every year. I’m obsessed with her. Carole King is an idol of mine for being both a successful artist and writer. Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan are huge inspirations, too. Those are my pillars, the ones I’ve always looked up to.
Playboy: We’re going to wrap this up with asking: What’s next for you?
Delacey: What’s next for me is releasing my new album. My next single is called ‘French Toast,’ and it’s super sexy and sex-positive—I’m literally singing about cheering up my husband by riding his dick, and how I’m really good at it. I’m shooting the video soon, and I’ll be releasing music consistently throughout the rest of this year and into next. This album is the best thing I’ve ever made. I feel so proud because women are often made to feel like they age out or become irrelevant, but I’ve made my best work yet. If I can do this three albums in, who knows what’s next? I’m choosing to embrace getting better with age like fine wine. I’m really excited to release this album and my next single.