(Artist Update

Written by: Ginny Gaines

Back in May of 2026, The Deslondes came back with something that felt different from a normal new album. On May 22, 2026, they released Don't Let It Die: Vol. 1, and instead of filling it with brand-new songs they had written themselves, the band decided to tell a different kind of story. They made an album full of songs written by other people; songs they loved, songs that shaped them, and songs they felt deserved another chance to be heard. Now, some folks hear the words “covers album” and think, “Oh, they just replayed somebody else’s music.” But that is not what happened here.

This album feels more like sitting on a front porch late at night with old friends while somebody passes around records and says, “You ever heard this one?” Every song on Don’t Let It Die: Vol. 1 feels like the band is opening up their personal music collection and sharing pieces of their heart. Some folks might listen and not recognize these songs from the past too.

The Deslondes have always been a little different from other bands. They come out of New Orleans, but they don’t sound like just one thing. They mix country, folk, blues, soul, Cajun music, and old time rock and roll together into something warm and real. They are the kind of band that sounds best when things feel natural instead of polished and perfect. And that spirit is all over this record.

The title itself, Don’t Let It Die, tells you what they were trying to do. The band seems to be saying, “Don’t let these songs disappear.” Some of the artists they chose are famous, but many are not household names. The Deslondes wanted to shine a light on musicians they admire, whether they are legends or lesser known songwriters playing small clubs and bars. You can hear that mix right away in the song choices.

They cover music from people like Johnny Cash and Swamp Dogg, artists who helped shape American roots music for generations. But they also dig into songs by newer or lesser known artists like Drunken Prayer, Pat Reedy, Leonie Evans, and Nick Woods. That says a lot about who The Deslondes are as a band. They are not worried about fame or status. To them, a great song is a great song, whether it came from a superstar or somebody playing dive bars on weekends.

One of the album’s coolest moments comes from their version of “Lawdy Mama.” Instead of picking some overplayed classic everybody already knows, they reached back into old Louisiana rhythm-and-blues history and brought a song back to life from guitarist and singer Edgar Blanchard. It feels loose, fun, and deeply tied to the musical spirit of New Orleans.

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