Music can be used as an outlet to express all types of feelings. Delaney Rivera, a senior studying music with a concentration in music industry, knows this sentiment well. She has been writing songs since she was in eighth grade and started to produce her own pieces during her junior year of high school.
While Rivera’s passion for music began at a young age, her career blossomed when she began college in 2019. In 2020, she released four singles on Spotify: “Cope,” “Placebo,” “Run Away,” and “Blah Blah Blah.”
Adding to this collection, Rivera created “bedtime story,” which was published in 2021. The song references a possible romantic relationship and mentions that she should break off contact with the person in the lyrics, “I know that it’s time to say goodnight.” The piece sounds similar to the style of Ashe and highlights a soft piano accompaniment.
She also featured a collaboration with Noah Freedman on the track “interstate heartbreak,” which was also released in 2021. The acoustic tune focuses on stepping out of your comfort zone as she recalls a tough heartbreak. There are also harmonies between both Rivera and Freedman which compliment the flow of the track.
Rivera also had the chance to debut a song called “hole in my heart,” which was produced on Nov. 4, 2022, and is available on all music platforms. The song has over two thousand streams on Spotify and resembles a lo-fi track.
Aside from her set on Spotify, Rivera is involved in Blue Hawks Records and contributed to the 20th Blue Hawks Compilation Album with the song “Twenty,” which is about finding yourself and balancing life in college. The musical arrangement includes a melodic piano backing and emotional reflection about braving the uncertainty of picking a career.
Though she has countless memories with the organization, Rivera noted that her favorite was the album release party at Monmouth President Patrick Leahy’s house. She was able to celebrate the launch of a record which promoted both her and her peers’ accomplishments. The Blue Hawks Albums are also available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Rivera is also a member of Sea Sharps, the campus a capella group. She and her peers performed at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, which is the same competition featured in the movie franchise Pitch Perfect.
As for her academic courses, Rivera’s curriculum consists of instrumental, chorus, and business classes, which provided her with the knowledge to succeed in the field. Her active social media presence has also enhanced her future music career.
Currently, Rivera is participating in a songwriting challenge on Instagram in which she is in the process of writing 100 tracks about life experiences. Her favorite track she has written so far is called “Therapy,” which she posted on her page in early February. She also posts sneak peeks of future songs on her Instagram.
In addition to her musical endeavors, Rivera created a podcast named “A Lightcast,” which addresses the transition period between undergraduate and postgraduate life. Rivera calls it a “podcast to bring light to your life,” demonstrated in the podcast’s title itself.
While she is not creating and producing, Rivera likes to listen to different genres of music. Her favorite artists range from 5 Seconds of Summer to SZA. She takes inspiration from John Mayer and Harry Styles.
While it can be daunting to write and produce music, Rivera said her best advice for any aspiring song-writers would be to “start with poetry and writing in a journal…that’s always a great way to start writing authentic songs.”
After she graduates from Monmouth, Rivera is unsure of her plans, but she has been looking into different paths and could have a few surprises up her sleeve for the future.
If you would like to keep up with Rivera and listen to her music, you can follow her on social media @delaneyriv and find her page on any streaming platform.
