Songs just for the fan – As Cities Burn’s Cody Bonnette discusses Ditty Deli

As Cities Burn made quite a name for itself throughout the aughts with indie rock/hardcore albums such as Come Now Sleep and Hell or High Water.

Since the Louisiana band called it quits in 2009, its members are trying something new with the website, Ditty Deli, formed by drummer Aaron Lunsford and right-hand man/tour manager Brian Holmes. The concept is simple: you, the fan, get a personalized song from your favorite artist.

Cody Bonnette, As Cities Burn’s lead vocalist and guitarist, is one such artist a fan can connect with through the music website. After Lunsford and Holmes told Bonnette about the idea, the singer was intrigued.

“I told them I would be their guinea pig,” he says. “I haven’t written a song in a while so I thought being forced to might get my creative motor going again.”

When prompted, Bonnette will write a song about what the fans wants. The fan and Bonnette will correspond through the website, like a Facebook message thread. For the singer, it was an experiment and more personal way to write a song.

“Maybe only a select few will hear what comes out,” he says. “I am writing to give someone what they asked for instead of what I want.”

Bonnette isn’t sure how those who order a song will respond. So far, he’s written one song for the project, and he says it wasn’t something he would have written out of his own imagination.

“I have been in contact with others who have ordered,” he says. “There are some ideas that I’m inspired by. Others I think, ‘How am I going to pull this off?’”

Since the website is just getting started, more information on how to make orders for your song has been made via Ditty Deli’s website. The cost for Bonnette to write an interested fan a song isn’t cheap, though—it’s $150.

“It’s a personal song,” he says. “For 99 cents, you get a public song. When I was a kid, I paid about that much to be in the MxPx fan club. I received a bunch of swag, and once a year, [I received] an exclusive song from the band just for the fan club. It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth it to the right person.”

Overall, Bonnette is optimistic about the new venture and can provide supplemental income to hard-working musicians who might not be seeing enough dough from the art they create.

“Instead of having to deliver pizzas or whatever, [the musicians] can keep the creative juices flowing while staying in touch with their fans,” he says.