Article Contributed by Pitch Perfect PR
Published on 2026-08-12
Photo Credit: Caity Krone
Today, Deloyd Elze—the project of Florida-born, California-based Jacob Henry Allen—releases a cover of Ry Cooder’s “Drive Like I Never Been Hurt” from the extended version of his March 2026 EP, Nellene, out now via Concord Records.
Cooder is a longtime idol of Elze’s, and he speaks about his relationship to the songwriter’s work below:
“Songs have an extraordinary ability to catch us off guard at the most unexpected moments. My first encounter with Ry Cooder was through Ryan Richter’s rendition of ‘No Hard Feelings,’ then followed by devouring the film Paris, TX. My friend’s younger brother then sent me ‘Drive Like I Never Been Hurt’ from the album I, Flathead, mistaking it for a Deloyd Elze song.
“I was instantly captivated by its bold and bombastic choices, a song released in 2008 by an artist primarily known for his contributions to Alt Country, Rock, and Folk music. The insatiable drum groove, the comedic yet poignant lyricism, and the mesmerizing mariachi-style horn section all contributed to its captivating nature.
“Cooder has carved out his own unique path, leaving an indelible mark on music by refusing to compromise his artistic vision. Ry Cooder holds a special place to me as a musical icon and legend. His enduring influence and distinctive voice continue to inspire me.”
Listen to “Drive Like I Never Been Hurt” (Ry Cooder Cover)
Deloyd himself makes what he calls “digital twang,” music that sounds like it’s been captured on a digicam rather than film, taking snapshots from the places he’s lived his life—from a Florida swamp pontoon, to working on boats and construction sites to scrape by in Los Angeles, to cracking a cold one with that old guy Willie living out back in his mom’s backyard in the doublewide.
Deloyd’s craving to push the sonic form and musical boundaries of country music is what he sees as an exploratory way of writing songs; the touchstone of his particularly Floridian lens on country music.
Beyond Ry Cooder, Elze cites artists like John Prine, MJ Lenderman, Bon Iver, Dijon, and Mk.gee as his biggest influences, and Elze’s music sounds like a natural merger of all of them.
As a Berklee grad with a blue-collar background and multi-generational Southern roots, Deloyd Elze’s form of country music is inspired by the myriad lives he’s intersected with, from the grit of job sites to the inspiration of music scenes to the undersung glory of the swamps of his youth. His songs struggle through finding warmth and a home in this world, with grace for all of its strange turns and deeply twisted characters.
Nellene (Extended) Track List
1. Gatorade & Menthols
2. Rite of Passage
3. George Jones ft. Angela Autumn
4. Dog Will Hunt
5. Queen of Spades
6. Drive Like I Never Been Hurt
Deloyd Elze Live
Friday, September 18 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Hollywood Bowl w/ Orville Peck, Lucius
