ife is about making moves. We count up the cost, make our positives vs. negatives list, and then we roll the dice. Mychildren Mybride is no exception to this rule. They have been making moves, and some tough ones, for the last few years. From deciding to get serious about the message that they carry and therefore having to say goodbye to members, to stepping into the studio and deciding which direction they will head on their latest product. MCMB has not always made the most popular of decisions, but we can be sure that they make the ones that they believe in passionately and wholeheartedly, and that they are always putting us, as fans, in the forefront of these hard choices.
This was definitely the case when they entered the studio last Fall to start the recording of their Sophomore release titled, Lost Boy. In hopes of amping up their live shows for us, MCMB has added elements to their sound that is sure to open bigger pits, have larger dog-piles and better gang chants. If you have been waiting as eagerly as the rest of us for something new from Mychildren Mybride then you can rest assured that MCMB is back, and they are stronger than ever before.
In the past I haven’t seen a lot of stuff on you guys, so talk to us briefly about how you got your start.
Matthew Hastings: You mean you don’t keep up with our Wikipedia page?! Geez... KIDDING! This is kind of like behind the music or something. I’ve never really done this before! (Laughs) Alright let’s get started... MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE started in Early ‘04 with a bunch of random Alabama kids in high school. I
actually got asked to play bass in a band then when I went to try out the singer quit right before I got there, so the guys asked me to sing. I had no idea what I was doing, or how to “scream” at all but they reassured me that I could do it just fine. So we ditched the old name and brainstormed new ones. We all wrote our favorites down and then just picked what we thought was the most original at the time then saved all the runner-ups for song titles. After practicing for months and coming up with our own songs we started playing shows in our local area and venues.
This continued for a while and then our ex drummer Brian Hood started booking us more than just local shows. I remember our first attempt, yes, ATTEMPT at a tour, well it wasn’t even a tour, it was a long weekend, and we had shows booked every day. It went from Alabama to Florida and back! We were so excited. My dad even drove us all down there with a U-HAUL trailer attached to his truck. Young, stoked and living life on the road...UNTIL 3 out of the 5 shows got cancelled! (Laughs) Wow, that really killed our spirits, but we pushed on and finally ended up doing some other weekend “tours”. From then on we just kept progressing, until we were out of highschool and deciding to take this band thing more seriously. A couple members left because of school and more came in. With a few demos and a CD under our belts, we decided it was time for more, so we started touring the full US and here we are today!
A fan wrote in and wanted us to ask if you would ever consider re-recording any of the tracks from Having The Heart For War?
MH: Unfortunately no. I wish that CD never made it on the internet (Laughs). That was when we were in high school, we’re a totally different band now (literally), and I wish we could delete that CD from history! (Laughs) But everyone grows right?
(Laughs) That is fair. Outside of music what influences you to write the sort of value-strong lyrics that you do and make the style of heavy music that you make?
MH: I know this will sound sort of cliché, but honestly my family, my friends and all the people that come to our shows and influence me to uphold the lifestyle I’ve chosen. Since I was younger I was always in little bands here and there, and when this band started I just knew something was different, I knew it was where I was supposed to be and exactly what I was supposed to be doing with my life!
So talk to us about the new record title Lost Boy. What does the title mean to you and how does it tie into the record?
MH: The meaning behind Lost Boy to me is this; Have you ever just woken up one day, after being fired, losing someone you loved, or just after a sucky situation in life, and thought to yourself “what’s next? what do I do now?” You feel lost. Your life isn’t the same, and sadly, probably never will be. Everyone goes through so many different things every day. People die, friends betray you and people you love can just disappear. What Lost Boy is about is that even though you feel like your world may be crumbling around you, there’s hope and you’re never alone. We’re all Lost Boys at least once in life, and that’s what I wrote about, life situations and circumstances that hit us hardest, and what you have to do to make it thought them.
The album artwork is rad, it gives off a real eerie feeling, can you explain more about that?
MH: We wanted something dark, something mysterious to make the viewer interpret what’s going on and kind of make their own meaning for it. One of the major aspects of the new art is the torch icon you’ll be seeing all over our stuff soon. We’re all lights in this world and its time to start shining brighter than ever before.
What’s the biggest difference we can expect musically from Unbreakable to Lost Boy?
MH: Biggest difference huh? If I had to pick anything it would probably be the “catchiness” of the new direction we went. All the songs have a “chorus” now! We wanted to focus on kids singing along more and really getting their money’s worth at our shows. We felt that by adding structure to our heavy music it would just make everything flow more, and make it so much easier to listen to and really dig into the meaning of specific things I have to say.
After sitting down and listening through the final mixes, do you feel like this is MCMB at their best or do you feel like there is still room for growth?
MH: I personally feel that every artist has room to grow. I hope that our old fans and new enjoy the new record as much as we do. I joke around all the time, but I mean it when I say if no one likes the new record, and no one’s listening to it, it will be okay, I’ll still be jamming it every day. I think that we’ve become our own biggest fans after writing Lost Boy.
What’s your favorite track on the new album and why? What is it about?
MH: My favorite track is probably “King of the Hopeless.” I wish I knew how to explain the exact meaning in words. I guess it’s just personal and meant to be interpreted as you read it. In a way it’s about getting over relationships, and as hard as it is, finally moving on. There’s just something about the way that song fit together, it really stands out to me as a direction we could jump into more on the next MCMB record. We really focused on making sure each song was different this record. We didn’t want our fans getting bored listening to the same breakdown and metal riff every single song.
Are we going to see a track like “Headshot” on the new record?
MH: Unfortunately not. To be honest I’m the only nerd in the band! (Laughs) Well I’m the only one that plays Halo, so “HEADSHOT!” was basically my own little anthem. We joked around about putting a song about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the new CD, maybe even have it as a secret track, BUT that idea kind went out the door in pre-production. SORRY GUYS!
You have been at this for a while, and there is a sense of passion that comes through a MCMB final product. What does music, and this band mean to you personally?
MH: Music is my life. I feel like it’s the calling on my life to get up in front of kids and scream the words God has put on my heart. We put a lot of work into this CD, and we’re all very excited to see how kids relate and get into the new songs.
What are the summer touring plans for MCMB?
MH: Haste the Day/Upon A Burning Body hits the full US this June! And we’ll be at all the major Christian festivals this summer! So make sure you come give us a hug and a high five!
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WOMEN OF THE UNDERGROUND | PART 1
*Women of the Underground: Questions Answered by Some of the Leading Women Behind the Leading Men of Today’s Music Scene. *Answers by Jamie Gillespie (Married to Aaron Gillespie of The Almost), Krissi Green (Married to Tommy Greenof Sleeping Giant) and Candice Montgomery (Married to Mattie Montgomery of For Today)
ehind every great man is a great woman. Behind every great musician there is a very understanding, patient and strong woman. We wanted to give the women a chance, the women that stand behind these influential men who stand before us night after night inspiring, encouraging and leading the way. We had three women, who are on the verge of taking the next step themselves, of being that encouragement, that rock at home to their men out there on the road, write questions to three women who are currently (and have been for years) learning what its like to be in this position.
One morning, while packing up their stuff in our Hopecore office, Mattie Montgomery suggested that we put his wife Candice on the cover of the magazine because “she is the amazing one”. From there, the idea of Women of the Underground was cultivated. A big thank you to all six women who contributed to this piece.
How do you feel about boy bands staying the night while on tour at other girls housing?
Jamie Gillespie: I think that being able to travel and do what you love is the best feeling in the world! However I also understand that comes with a price. The price is anything from eating Top Ramen dry for months, long nights in the van and of course wondering where you’re going to sleep, hoping it’s not the van! However I feel like this question can be tricky because most Christian men wouldn’t even stay at a girl’s house if they are married or in a relationship. Others would say that their relationship is perfect and it doesn’t matter. What do I think? I say Satan is evil! And you have to start with the little things in your life and I would say that if you are on the road that would be one thing I would weed out.
Krissi Green: I think it is all about the accountability dynamic in the band and the communication with spouses. As a wife, I would prefer for the band to have another option unless the “girl” is a long-time friend and known well. For the most part Sleeping Giant doesn’t bunk down at single girl’s housing but rather chooses families and any accommodations like that are usually well discussed with the spouses. At least that is how Tommy and I approach that dynamic. Up to this point we haven’t had an issue or even had to address this dynamic.
Candice Montgomery: Because this question requires me to be able to offer a black-and-white set of rules, it’s hard for me to answer. It depends on the people, the spiritual accountability between the members of the band, and the personal conviction of each guy individually. The guys in For Today are focused on pursuing God, so staying at girls houses is never a stumbling block for any of them. I guess I can only speak from my personal experience. I can’t speak for every guy in every band, but I know that it is possible for a group of guys who are burning for the Lord to stay at a girl’s house without any problems.
Do you have fear about income and what you both will do for jobs when the band is done?
JG: No I don’t. I know that UO or The Almost won’t last forever. However God will always provide for us. I have no worries. Aaron is so talented and I know that The Lord will be using us in all different directions in all different ministries. Which is all I ask for as long as we are in His will then I don’t care what’s going on.
When Aaron is home we work with our youth group along side our youth Pastor Jeremiah Smith and his Wife Jenn Smith. IGNITE youth group. Aaron just decided to teach drum lessons, which is going to be really fun! I am starting a dog bakery called Dog Town Gourmet Bakery Online and Local! And we have our clothing line pigclothclothing.com. We also do fly out dates for weekend conferences and acoustic shows. That’s about it!
KG: The majority of our income does not come from the band. Tommy does make money while he is on the road and I maintain a part-time job at home (which is very flexible) but part of what I do is take care of my bonus-daughter while he is on the road and continue to keep our ministry here at home going. We started raising our support last summer so that Tommy could be released from his full-time position with Wells Fargo Bank to tour with Sleeping Giant and be free to establish our ministry base here. Revolution Reality, Inc. (www.revolutionreality.org)
The band is an important aspect of ministry in our hearts. There is an aspect of Tommy’s calling that is being fulfilled through the band as is the other member’s. We view the ministry of Sleeping Giant as an honor and privilege and we are willing to make the sacrifices required for as long as the season may last. If great financial success comes from it, that is awesome, but we are believing for millions of souls to be saved and reconnected to the Creator through the ministry of Sleeping Giant.
CM: When we decided that I was going to go out on tour with Mattie full-time, I had no idea how we would afford to eat, or even what I would be doing. It sounded ridiculous to me, but God had called me to walk in obedience, as He does with everyone that claims to be a Christian. Since then I watched the Lord become my true provider, and I have seen Him miraculously meet every need we’ve had. Because the Lord has proven Himself faithful, I have no fear of our future. I continue to stand on His Word in Matthew 6:25-33, in which He promises that He will meet ALL of our needs, according to His glorious riches.
Do you enjoy touring with band more or do you enjoy staying home?
JG: I really love traveling! I think it’s so amazing to think that I could be in that wonderful place! There are so many people in this world that will never get the opportunity to even go to NY or California or even overseas. And to think that I get to go there, it’s just so exciting to me. So yes I do like traveling with the bands however we have 4 dogs, 2 turtles, a cat and a horse so I am a little restricted but that’s ok because we have wonderful friends that help out a lot! A special thank you to Joe, Lindsay and Adam for all you do!
KG: I love the Sleeping Giant members. There have been times when I have joined them on tour or we’ve had some “family” vacation time. They really feel like family and I enjoy being with them. For the most part I remain at home. Due to whatever circumstances or obligations, I keep stuff rolling at home while they are on the road. Tommy and I would prefer to have the time broken up a bit and that is our goal when looking at longer tours. Our family dynamic is about to change as we are due with our first baby boy in June and we, along with the other members of the band, are trying to figure out ways where we could tour more as a family. We haven’t figured out how it is going to look but we are willing to redefine what the touring band looks like with spouses and small children. This may be a question worth revisiting in the next year.
CM: I think I like touring more than I like staying home for a few reasons. I love being with my husband everyday. Through our willingness to sacrifice having a “home”, we have been blessed to see the world together! We get to make memories in cities to which I only dreamed of going, and we have seen the Spirit of God invade the lives of people all across the United States. Because I tour with the band, I have been able to share in the salvation, healing, and spiritual breakthrough of countless people across the country.
How do you encourage your husband while he is away on tour?
JG: First off I have to say this is the hardest thing to do, even though you would like it to be the easiest. For me the more he leaves the harder it gets. The harder it gets the less supportive I get which I don’t think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. However in all honestly you have to encourage each other. Everyday is a team effort. Even though he may be the one away you are still a team and still need to be a team. As a team we try to keep up on our devotions. I remind him daily how much we miss him. I send him count downs to the day when he comes home. All this stuff lets him know that we are thinking about him. Our youth kids send him random text messages. Once again that’s letting him know we are thinking about him. Men like to know that they are being thought of. Every man is different; most off all just make time for him while he’s gone.
KG: Tommy and I make it a priority to stay connected and consistent with communication. We connect over the phone multiple times a day and take the time to pray together before the band goes on stage. The last conversation is usually a late one with a recap of their set and ministry time. As a wife, it is important to encourage my husband through prayer and the Word. Speaking the Word over him and encouraging him through prayer. Many times I feel more connected to the show and can give him words of knowledge or wisdom or whatever I may be sensing in the Spirit that could aid in the ministry to that particular crowd. But I don’t think that touring should be any different than a full-time occupation. It is vital that we stay connected and speak encouragement regardless of the distance or how the time is spent.
CM: Last summer, on Scream the Prayer tour, I stayed home in Alabama to take care of my mother, as she was very sick with cancer at the time. She had brain tumors that were growing so rapidly that there was nothing the doctors could do. Watching my mom die and being away from my husband was the hardest time of my life. So I would just cling to Jesus and his Word. I stayed in His presence through prayer and worship. While Mattie and I were apart, I encouraged him to continue to preach the Gospel, and to keep doing what God had called him to do.
I had to die to myself daily because I wanted my husband to be home with me, but I knew that there were kids across the nation that needed to hear about Jesus. I knew it was life or death for some of them, so I was supportive of him being there instead of complaining that he was away. I was never alone because I always have Jesus and his Holy Spirit to comfort me. We would send each other scriptures to stay rooted in the Word, and I would intercede for Mattie daily and fight for him in the secret place.
Having grown up in a family of musicians, and having been with a musician who has been on tours before, I am used to the idea of separation. I know that even though you get used to it, it’s still hard no matter what...
*Because of the length and depth of answers we have decided to make this a two part section. Look for the second half of this interview in the July Issue!
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Call To Preserve | On The Road Again...
his music scene is what it is, not because of over-night over auto-tuned bands but because of the hardworking dedicated musicians that hit the road year after year... after year, for months on end in order to live out the values that are the cornerstone of their music. For Call To Preserve this is not a passing fad, it is not about making money or ever playing to thousands of kids. They do this cause they believe in it. They do it cause they are serious and passionate about it. This is what we need more of these days. If you are thinking that music is something you want to do for a “living”, check out a band like Call To Preserve and see if this is something you could survive... Then ask yourself if this is something you still want to do. My hat is off to these guys.
This being our first interview with you guys, fill all the readers in on the meaning behind your name and a little on what you guys as a band are about.
Harbor Partin: We are a hardcore band that wants to play the music we want to play, talk about the things we care about, and play with the bands we want to play with. We started touring around four years ago and since then have had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people all around North America and Europe all while doing what we love to do. That’s what we’re about in a nutshell.
As you went to record your sophomore release for Facedown Records, was there anything that you wanted to do differently on the new album compared to the last?
HP: Overall I think the album is much darker compared to our previous stuff and it has much more of a punk edge to it. Everything is a little dirtier and grittier and every song has its own mood so to speak. I think we just wanted to make sure this time around every song had its own purpose and conveyed what we were trying to say. The album is definitely more diverse than anything we’ve done so far. It’s not just a bunch of heavy songs, but it’s not all melodic stuff either. Every song is all its own.
Talk to us about the meaning of the album title Life Of Defiance...
HP: Most of the songs deal with living in a world where people are manipulative, apathetic and selfish. A lot of what we sing about has to do with resisting that impulse to become those things. It comes from looking around being disgusted with what we see and deciding to never be apart of it. Because of that, much of the lyrics have much more anger behind them then our previous songs.
Having spent so much time on the road you must have a couple good stories, hit us with your best.
HP: We were on tour with Advent last summer and a couple nights in a row we would literally camp out in Wal-Mart parking lots. A lot of bands sleep in Wal-Mart parking lots, but we actually parked our vans in a wagon train circle, stretched a tarp between the two and slept on cots on the asphalt. Advent’s guitar player Mike even bought a hammock and tried to hang it between the vans and sleep in it. I don’t think it worked as well as he thought it would though.
You guys are all straight-edge correct? These days we see straight-edge as a fad in the scene and all too often not taken seriously. What does being straight-edge mean to you?
HP: I always hear about straight edge just being a fad but it’s hardly a fad compared to the crap being sold to kids today under the guise of “hardcore”. Yeah sure some kids sell out and move on, but here we are 30 years later and there are still straight edge kids and straight edge bands keeping it alive. You know what’s a fad? Most of the garbage on Warped Tour that no one is going to care about in two years. That’s a fad. Most straight edge bands aren’t making money. They’re booking their own tours and playing basement shows like they’ve always been.
That being said I’m straight edge because it was the right choice for me. And I made that choice for myself and no one else.
There is a lot of conviction and passion in your lyrics. What are some topics that we can expect and why did you choose to write about them?
HP: We tackle a lot of different topics in this album. One of my favorite songs is called “Functionary” and it deals with someone who only sees relationships with people as a way to fill some need of their own and basically denies the other’s value as a human being. It’s something that weighs heavy on my heart because I see so many people who act so selfishly all the time and in the end they only end up hurting themselves because living like that isn’t fulfilling.
Another issue we deal with is those who take something that’s so sacred to us like our faith and use it for their own ambitions, whether it is political reasons or if it’s just plain selfishness. I think the broad outlook of what we talk about has to do with looking for sincerity and purity in times when it’s so hard to find.
What are your summer touring plans?
HP: In a couple weeks were doing some dates in the south/ Mexico with Take it Back! and Kills and Thrills. Then we’ll be out for a month with a band called Renae and another band called Nothing to Nothing. That tour ends with us playing Cornerstone. We have a few other plans after that that are still in the works.
Come June 8th where can we look for your album?
HP: At Best Buy, FYE, some Hot Topics and your local independent record store. You can also get it at the Facedown Records webstore and I-Tunes.
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Jedidiah Clothing | Working to Change the World
wareness is key. We must continue to look beyond our own lives or else we become closed off to the things that are happening around us and change ceases to exist. We truly are the answer for change in our world. Impress that on your mind. Jedidiah Clothing has been helping us to stay aware of global social injustices since 2001 and helping to facilitate change in a very practical way.
We must all clothe ourselves, this is life. Why not spend your money on a company that is giving away a portion of their proceeds and helping to create awareness about humanitarian issues instead of on a company that is enslaving the very kids that we hope to set free? Until recently I knew the name of Jedidiah Clothing but never really knew what they were about. With one cruise of their website I was hooked. Not only by their product line, but by their mission as a company and the actions that they have put forth. Jedidiah is creating change in our world and inviting us to move forward with them. Read through this interview and then be sure to check them out first hand at www.jedidiahusa.com!
How long has Jedidiah Clothing been around and how did you get your start? Has humanitarian work always been at the forefront of Jedidiah Clothing?
Kahana Kalama: The concept behind Jedidiah was started in 2001, but it didn’t really develop into a collection until 2004. It was right around that time that I started riding (as a sponsored surfer) for them. One of the things that has always appealed to me about the brand is that although it was initially birthed as a surf brand, it’s always had a passion for art, music and, most importantly, humanity.
5% of your time, sales and clothing are going to your new Surfing the Nations program. Tell us more about that program.
KK: Actually, by the time this article comes out its more likely that 5% of our sales will be going to Compassion International’s work in Haiti. In September of 2009 we traveled to Haiti with Compassion to learn about how their different programs work and how we could help tell their story. The 5% that we will give them will go toward their Leadership Development Program that helps train and prepare children for real life jobs.
What can readers to do get involved?
KK: The best way for readers to get involved would be to visit Compassion International’s website (http://www.compassion.com/) and to seriously consider sponsoring a child. They can also purchase Jedidiah apparel from July through September 2010 and 5% of our sales will go directly to Compassion.
In the past you guys have teamed up with organizations like Compassion International and Invisible Children to help raise money. Why are these organizations important to you? Talk to us briefly about these Campaigns...
KK: It is a way for us to put our words and mission into action and over time, it has become the foundation of the brand and is really the reason we exist. As a result, over $375,000 has been raised for our what we call “Hope Collection” partners (Invisible Children, Compassion, etc.).
As far as style in the clothing itself, what sets Jedidiah apart? Who does your designs?
KK: Jedidiah clothing is truly made with care. There is intentionality and purpose behind every piece we create. Every season, we choose a charitable partner to team with. We gather inspiration from their field and we create apparel and graphics based on this inspiration. Our Fall 2010 line is actually inspired by our experiences in Haiti.
The entire brand was formed with the intention of making a measurable difference in the world and we have an amazing team of artists and designers creating art that inspires people.
Tell us about some of the bands that you guys sponsor and what role they play in the Jedidiah family...
KK: Jedidiah has an amazing family of bands, from a wide range of genres. We have purposely kept the group small, as we want to work with artists who care as much about the causes as they do the clothing. We work with a wide variety of locals, but on a national level; Anberlin, Switchfoot, As I Lay Dying, The Classic Crime, Secret & Whisper, Haste The Day, Ace Enders and Ivoryline have all been extremely active and positive people to have involved. Just like our surfer and artist ambassadors, the musicians’ place is really to cultivate interest to help others and tell the story of Jedidiah and its partners.
When you think about Jedidiah 5-10 years down the road, where would you like it to be?
KK: Ten years from now, I’d love to be able to look back and see the effect that our customers have been able to have on the world. We’d love to have quality relationships with even more non-profit partners, and we’d love to be able to have helped them achieve their goals. We would love to have helped create a community of good neighbors: people that not only see the need throughout the globe, but that have the vision to see the need within our domestic borders.
What sort of encouragement would you give to those that have a desire to do what they love to help create change?
KK: The biggest encouragement we can give would be to just never stop doing what you love. When your heart is in anything for the right reasons people will notice and it is then that you will be able to affect others. We’d also really encourage getting involved in some sort of community that shares the same ideals, beliefs and goals as you do. We’ll all be able to make a bigger difference when we’re working together.
Is there anything that readers can start getting excited about that is coming up in the near future for Jedidiah?
KK: We’re currently in the midst of designing our Spring 2011 line, which is geared around raising awareness and support for World Vision’s anti-trafficking efforts in Cambodia, Thailand, and India. In a little over a week, Kevin Murray (Jedidiah Owner) will be flying out to Cambodia with Aaron Chang to document their efforts and to gather more inspiration for the graphics in our 2011 Spring line.
Also, in about a week, I’ll be flying back to Haiti to reconnect with a family that we’ve been supporting through Compassion International. The trip will be for a show on Fuel TV and we’ll be creating a few shorts for our website, www.jedidiahusa.com.
As far as this summer goes, we’re really looking forward to the Switchfoot Bro-Am that takes place in San Diego every year. This surf-contest/beach concert will again benefit the San Diego and Oceanside chapters of StandUp For Kids, a national non-profit volunteer outreach organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids. It’s a great day for the community to come out and connect with the Jedidiah family and all the guys in Switchfoot while checking out some amazing live music performances, beach vendors and live mural art.
As far as the music side of things, there are some big things coming down the line for late summer, but we can not announce them yet, maybe if you come back and interview me again in a few months we will announce them exclusively through Hopecore.com! I can say there are some awesome events being planned in different places around the US, events that mix together every aspect of Jedidiah. The best thing to do is keep an eye glued to jedidiahusa.com for announcements.
Great, we can’t wait! Thank you guys for all you are doing to create change in our world!
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To Speak Of Wolves | Howling With Metalcore Goodness
hillip Chamberlain has been around the block - musically speaking. Starting out in North Carolina’s scene with his brother Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) with a few projects, they both moved down to Florida and began This Runs Through, which was released through Indianola Records back in 2002. They signed with Facedown, but broke up before anything new was released through the label. From there, he went on to Sullivan through Tooth & Nail, and is now calling Solid State home for his latest endeavor, To Speak of Wolves - and child, those wolves are howling with solid, metalcore goodness.
So you obviously have experience working with labels. Let’s see... This Runs Through with Facedown (oh, the glory days). Sullivan with Tooth & Nail. To Speak Of Wolves’ EP with Tragic Hero and now your full length with Solid State. After being somewhat of a veteran in the “field”, can you tell me about some upsides and downsides to the industry. How conducive have each of the labels been towards your creative genius and the development of your art, and why did you opt back into the T&N/Solid State roster after Sullivan ended?
Philip Chamberlain: (Laughs) Yeah man, it really doesn’t feel like its been that long that I’ve been fortunate enough to release records through various labels but this is my 3rd full length and 2nd EP if you combine all the bands I’ve been in over the last couple years. As I think there is with any field you choose to spend time in/make a career out of, there are many upsides and downsides. I like to focus on the positive as much as possible, its an indescribable feeling to play a show and have even one person know the words to our songs or take the time to hang out and get to know us. That being said, if you’re not prepared to lose a lot of money, spend countless months a year on the road and miss out on things “back home” with your buddies, you probably wouldn’t enjoy doing this. The same thing goes with labels, there are many upsides and downsides to labels, just like with any company, some do certain things better than others and vice versa. There’s been a lot of bands pursuing musical careers without the aid of record labels lately and that works for some. For myself I’ve always appreciated what a label can do for my band.
There is so much to this industry that I have no clue about and I learn something new, or try to, almost everyday it seems. After Sullivan ended our short run on T&N, I started TSOW. We met my now good friend Tommy Lacombe who runs Tragic Hero Records at a Sent by Ravens show near my hometown. He heard our demos and offered to release our EP last year. It was an awesome time and he still helps us out a ton, when it came time to do our full length TH was supposed to release it as well, but as a band we felt like we would fit best on Solid State’s roster. I played some of the songs for some A&R guys there and they ended up working out a deal to purchase TSOWs masters from TH and we entered into a new deal with them. Everyone was mutually stoked from all parties and I was really happy to be back at T&N/Solid State. I feel like I kind of know what to expect there and who does what at the label, it was awesome not going in blindly to a new label and having to learn the ins and outs of everyone involved all over again.
I’ve been in North Carolina (home state, correct?) with a band for the last two weeks, sitting in on their studio time, and man... the studio is something I think I had all wrong. Maybe this sounds ridiculous to a dude that’s been recording for as long as you have, but I guess I just never even thought about how vital each and every little string pinch and bend and pedal nob and mix and all of the words that I don’t know that are important are. I’m learning words like “quantizing” and things that blow my mind. Even the producer, you know? I used to just think that any dude could make a recording sound the way just any other dude could make a recording sound. I’ve got this whole new respect for the process.
All of that being said, what did you think the first time you actually got hooked up with a legit place to bring your recordings to life? And, bringing it back to the present, what did you guys go into the studio looking for with this latest release? Who and why did you choose the folk you did, and did they do the album the justice you wanted?
PC: Yeah we all live in central North Carolina, mainly in Greensboro, NC. Yeah dude, the first time we recorded at a really legit place with a producer was in Atlanta, GA. Matt Goldman produced the first Sullivan record and all the things involved kind of blew my mind as well (laughs). Picking the right producer is huge for any band, if you pick the right person they can really bring your songs to light more than just hitting record. We went with Brooks Paschal and Tyson Shipman, actually the singer and guitarist from Sullivan, to record and produce our record. They have an amazing facility in Winter Springs, FL called The Fort and it was so awesome to be able to work with my good friends on this album. We’ve all been friends for so long that it made the experience really laid back and enjoyable. They really helped us see our songs from a different perspective and we came up with some awesome parts that I don’t think we would have in another setting.
I already know your members are from all over the place... how about ya’lls musical taste? What does writing a cohesive record look like with colliding influences and ideas, especially when you go into limited studio time without songs written for the sake of experiment?
PC: Actually we all live in central NC now, the original members were from all over the place but after the EP and a few tours, they slowly were replaced one by one to the lineup we have now. This group of five guys work awesomely together and I’ve never felt stronger about a band and its members in my life. We went into the studio with as many ideas as possible but without anything “set in stone” we wanted to have an open mind when recording and putting the songs together. Sometimes its tough to hear a producer’s opinion on something that you wrote, especially if you have been playing it a certain way for months. We decided to write a ton of guitar riffs and drum ideas and bring them down to Florida, take each part and build them around each other. It was a pretty experimental process but I think it helps the album flow a lot as a whole. We did have three songs mostly written before we got there, but the other seven were all ideas, riffs, drum ideas and parts we wanted to work with that we organized together for the first few days. When we got a song’s skeleton together we tracked scratch tracks to make sure it worked, then started laying down the drums for real and building the songs up from there.
Please forgive me if this is a question about a review that you’d rather not have highlighted, but I’m interested in your perspective. It was said that the only thing negative about your album is that, although it fits the metalcore genre perfectly, it doesn’t branch out of it. My question is: did you ever want to branch out of it in the first place? I’ve talked to a few bands recently that have had negative reviews written about them in light of their “lack of creativity” - but it was never their goal to change the face of music in the first place. Who said you had to transcend your genre, and what is your response to the word “unoriginal”?
PC: I think thats almost impossible to avoid, I’ve read reviews and been in bands where we did change it up a lot on our debut record and people said we “jumped around too much” and “couldn’t settle on a particular sound”, so I think its something where you almost have to have something bad to say about any debut record in one way or another. I don’t let reviews get to me, or I try not to (laughs), we wrote this record because we love playing music like this, we love the songs and we hope that people enjoy them as well. I personally think that there are a few songs on the record sounding completely different than the rest, but thats something that is up to each listener.
So... speaking of recording studios... I’m sitting in Jamie King’s studio right now. First of all, he says “What’s up” and second of all... what’s up with 9 Down? Seriously, let’s hear some Phil C. history...
PC: Man, Jamie King rules! He’s seriously an awesome producer and has done some incredible things for NC’s music scene and recording in general. My band in high school used to play shows with his band, we were trying to be the Deftones. Some history though, wow, I guess the first thing that comes to mind would be when myself, my brother and Tyson (from trt/Sullivan) moved down to Tampa, FL and started touring in a band called This Runs Through.
We put out an EP on Indianola Records and then moved up to Facedown. After a few tours but before our first full length we all decided we wanted a few things different in our lives. Eventually Spee joined Underoath and I was offered and took the position to play in Sullivan. Tyson came to the band once we signed with T&N and we had a great time touring and put a few records out. Thats the extremely condensed version anyways (laughs).
What’s up with the album name? Tell me about it. Myself < Letting Go. I swear I kept on thinking “why the crap does everyone suck at spelling so much? There are typos of math symbols all over the place...” (Laughs) What meaning does the title carry, and what is the album about? Who writes the lyrics? Please talk to me about a few specific lyrical ideas and/or concepts... Are you “a band with a message” or “a band that might maybe have a message somewhere if you want to find it” - if you know what I mean...?
PC: The album name I guess would literally be translated “Myself is less than (<) Letting Go”. Its meaning is realizing that you need to put the things you want to do behind you if it prevents you from doing what’s right. Like letting go of your vices or bad habits if you know they’re wrong/affecting someone else in a negative way. The album is for the most part about that, our lyrics are influenced by our faith, but just like a lot of Christian bands nowadays, we don’t feel the need to force our beliefs on anyone, we’d like for anyone to be able to take a positive message from our album no matter who you are or what you believe. One particular lyric that comes to mind is in “here I go again my resistance wears thin I can taste it”, that line is about knowing that you are sliding backwards into something you shouldn’t be doing and trying to justify doing it, the record is about letting go of that and being what you are meant to be as a person.
A dude named Herbert Bayard Swope once said, “I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.” Your thoughts? What does this look like for you musically and personally?
PC: I don’t think you could possibly say that any better. For me that means do this because you love it and you enjoy it. I’ve said many times the day that this isn’t fun for me anymore is the day that I will stop doing it.
What is the most exciting thing about making music to you - and specifically about your chosen outlet?
PC: Man, its so hard to pick one thing, I love playing live, thats probably my favorite aspect of being in a band. Seeing people at the shows and enjoying this along with us seriously rules!
A person’s background shapes personalities and ideas and visions for the present and the future, and a group of persons in a band shape the same for that band. What do your backgrounds look like? Who do the folk that get into conversations with ya’ll after the show meet, off of the stage and face to face?
PC: We’re all Christians in the band, we all grew up in North Carolina and we’re all fun dudes. I think after the show if you were to come up and talk to us you’d meet some guys that are just so excited and happy to be doing this. We’ll probably talk to you about UNC basketball (laughs), or Chick Fil A being awesome.
Is there anything else that you’d like to add? Anyway us listening folk can help you guys out?
PC: Man, thank you so much for doing this interview! Its stuff like this that helps bands like us survive. If anyone wants to take a second to check out our songs on myspace.com/tospeakofwolves or add/follow us on the various sites that would mean the world to us! Come hang out at a show with us say hi and tell us about yourself!
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Deas Vail | Going International
How did Deas Vail first get involved with Faceless International?
Andy Moore: We first heard of Faceless through our friend Lori Lenz who has been heavily involved with them for some time. She told us about this group that is reaching out to those caught in human trafficking, the modern-day slave trade. We had been talking about how we wanted to make an impact as a community to help free those women trapped in prostitution and the sex slave trade, so when Lori told us about Faceless, we felt that we found an avenue to start effectively working to bring positive change.
What was it about Faceless that appealed to you so much to want to get involved?
AM: It was the shared passion for justice in the area of human rights. We felt that we had found an organized group of people who knew the most effective ways to bring change and hope. Their passion and knowledge in the bigger picture of human trafficking let us know that they had done their homework and had gained experience in what worked. We wanted to be part of that movement and they welcomed us and have been encouraging us to press on.
How important is it for you to use your platform as touring musicians to also spread the word about a cause?
AM: Deas Vail is a community of people who share a common bond not only in the music we create, but in our Faith, which affects all aspects of our lives. We feel that it is important to us as we follow the example of Jesus to help our neighbors and help those who are hurting. At the same time, we have been given a platform that reaches out to others in a moving and spiritual way. As we communicate what is in our hearts through our music and as our hearts are moved to help free the enslaved, it is our hope that what is in our hearts is communicated to our listeners. We hope that their hearts are moved to bring justice to the oppressed, not because a band says it’s important, but because of a desire to help their fellow man.
Do you think that more artists should be behind a cause and actively pursue promoting it?
AM: We were hesitant to start promoting a cause simply for the sake of a cause. We have played a number of benefit shows for different causes and through that we have seen very worthy causes and then we’ve seen some rather poorly thought-out causes. Those experiences had caused us to reconsider jumping behind just any person with an idea to help people. Mostly because some causes may have the right heart, but have not put forth the effort to consider all the angles and what is the best way to bring change. In fact some efforts we’ve seen have even worked against their goals by not being well thought out.
All of that being said, we feel that true artists create from their hearts and if their hearts are to bring about change, we hope that they are clear about it in their art as well as their lives. However, there are those who have no passion to help others and we do not want to put the responsibility of caring on those who cannot bear it. The desire to help others must come from a compassionate heart, not from a negative exterior motivation like guilt or coercion. I hope that more artists’ hearts are to help others and I also hope that those who are passionate will turn that into positive action.
How do you wish to be personally involved with what Faceless does over the next year or so?
AM: For the next year, we are planning to continue collecting toiletries and clothes for safe houses in America. At our shows, we take in what items people bring and when we have enough to fill a box, we ship the items off to the safe houses in need. As Faceless informs us of different safe houses, we will collect items more specifically to fit those needs. We are currently collecting items for safe houses in the South East and this Summer, Faceless is focusing more on a refugee house in Nashville, so we will collect items for them during our Summer tours.
Some people oppose bands getting involved with these types of organizations because of the fear that once a fan gets tired of the band, their interest in the cause may drop off as well. What are your thoughts on this?
AM: I think this sentiment illustrates the importance of the heart being the motivation behind social action. I don’t oppose bands passionately creating change and calling others to join in, as long as it is genuinely from the heart. I do oppose bands using such a platform to gain attention or garner favor with compassionate potential fans. Doing so creates white noise in the already saturated lives of listeners and can be a mockery of truly passionate individuals who want to see change and want others to hear their hearts. I encourage anyone - band member, activist, engineer, janitor - any person with a heart to help others, to go for it and do all that is in their power to help the hurting.
So I’m an average fan at a Deas Vail show, what will I see or hear at your table as far as Faceless goes?
AM: We have informational cards at our table which explain simple ways to alter one’s life in order to help others. Faceless is not only about ending human trafficking, but about living socially responsible lives. The cards explain how to contribute as little as one minute to creating change and how to grow in personal dedication to creating a better global community. At our table, you’ll meet Christie who is not only in charge of our t-shirts and other swag, but is our Faceless representative. She will be able to answer any questions about Faceless and explain the extent of our involvement with them. When the members of the band are at the table, we are always more than happy to talk about Faceless and making slavery a thing of the past.
Where can we see you guys next?
AM: Look for us on tour with O’brother in June, touring through the Midwest and East Coast. We will also be at Summer Fest in Milwaukee and Cornerstone Festival in Illinois. Later this Summer, we are heading South from Albuquerque to New Orleans with Lydia in July and hitting up the West Coast with the Warped Tour in August. We look forward to seeing you there!
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As Hell Retreats | Start The Climb...
s Hell Retreats played a date with us on Facedown’s Young & Wreckless Tour, where we found out that they’d signed to Strikefirst. After watching them play a tech, fast, extremely tight set, we all wondered why they didn’t get signed to Facedown. But then, at Waffle House, we found out that they were still in high school. DUDE! These kids are insane! Just wait... now that graduation is over, tour dates start piling up, and a few people start talking trash about bold, controversial lyrics (because that has to happen somewhere on YouTube to really get arguments flowing and boost the hype up, right?), AHR will get that momentum to start the climb...
This first question is for Jackson: Jackson, why in the world haven’t you dreaded that perfect, curly, fringy dreading hair yet? You’d better believe that I’m going to bug you about it until it happens, and encourage every one of our readers to do the same...
Jackson Greene: I actually busted out laughing when I heard this question. You are so determined about my hair getting dreaded. (Laughs) But the reason why I haven’t done it is because I just didn’t want to deal with the hassle of putting dreads in my hair. It’s pretty much a choice of laziness.
Congratulations on Strike First! I got the chance to see you play live in a really sketchy place in Indiana or something, and your set is tight. Very tight. Very well done, seriously. I can absolutely see why you’ve caught the attention of label’s ears. But I think everyone has that one band they’d just as soon forget about before they find their niche. You know, the godawful one that really shows their growth from the beginning... If you can tell me this without hurting anyone’s feelings... What were the names of your “wow I’m glad I’m not doing that anymore” bands? Please rag on yourselves as much as possible with the funny memories those thoughts bring to mind.
JG: Well, I personally have never been in any band before As Hell Retreats. I’ve been with this band since the beginning.
Trent, our drummer, has also been in the band since the beginning, but he’s got his fair share of having a band that literally changed their name like you change socks. Every week, his old band would have a new band name until it was officially A Tragedy Chosen in Flames. After that band played about 2 shows, they had some change ups and made As Hell Retreats, got me in the band, and the rest is history.
Blake, our guitarist, was in a Nu-metal band called Sevin. They even got to play with Korn back in the day. I don’t know what is more awesome than that. He’s also been in many other local bands that are just way too many to count. He was in this band called Stop Sweet Water County, and they were actually pretty cool. But man, Blake was secretly a “fan girl” for us back then and wanted to be in our band. Now, he is our best friend and a great freakin’ dude.
Taylor, our bassist, was in a band called When War Breaks Out playing the drums. Funny thing I mention that because his old band and AHR back with our old-lineup (Because AHR has literally had over 20 member changes), for some idiotic and pathetic reason, used to hate each other. I think it was just all out of jealousy or something dumb. In the end, we got everything resolved and now Taylor is a bro on the road with us. Tyler, our other guitarist, was never really in bands, just worship bands at different churches. We thought he was pretty good at his stuff, and then he mind-blew us, one solid dude.
What are your thoughts on this second-wave, Spirit-Filled Hardcore-esque thing that’s going on within the scene right now? Did you follow the first movement, and how do you think they compare? I know you’re not exactly a straight “hardcore” band, but it seems to be the culture that you’re diving into, whether you claim it or no, with a lot of heavier stuff nowadays...
JG: That’s a pretty good observation and question. Personally, we all love that kind of stuff. I know most of us have been huge fans of passion-filled hardcore stuff since we all have been in the music scene together. So my thoughts on it are that it is pretty rad to see all these kids now get into good hardcore stuff and finally realizing some awesome talented bands. I would say it’s golden. But everything has been a phase in this music scene, so it will all die down soon enough and some new trend will come into play. But I’m glad people are getting the time to hear this fair share of great hardcore stuff because we have great friends who have been doing this for a while and are now getting recognized for it. We were part of the first movement, if that’s what you want to call it.
We started around the time The Chariot, Norma Jean, Underoath, As Cities Burn, As I Lay Dying, and many other metalcore/post-hardcore was at such a high peak, like ‘04-’06. All the bands I listed were huge influences of music and faith when this band started. How do I think they compare though? Umm…depends. Back then, it was cool to have awesome stage presence and just go buck-wild on everyone, and then just say “we do this for the Lord”, and blah, blah, blah. (I felt like I was completely bagging on the old days of Christian music, which was totally NOT what I was attempting. (Laughs) But nowadays, all kids are just seeing all these sweet hardcore bands be filled with passion and spirit and then that gets the crowd moving and stuff. I mean, back in the day the crowd was sweet as well with its whole tight girl jeans and Youth Large shirts with the hair to the side. But now its tank tops, shorts, shaved head, and all that jazz. I’m not saying it’s bad; I’m just comparing it all. Who knows what the future will bring now. I have a feeling though that A Hope For Home’s new record Realis will bring some new influences and will bring back that post-hardcore feel…but like I said, who knows.
Your song “Contradiction” is a very bold song, lyrically, based around the issue dubbed “American Christianity” - with specific reference towards spending on violence and blatantly ignoring those in need, going as far as to call these issues “contradictions sending us straight to hell”. While I applaud your convictions, these are pretty harsh words. Was there a particular instance or occurrence that spurred those words, or is it a generality? Is it aimed at individuals? Governments? Political parties? What is the solution? How are you being the solution, practically?
JG: Good question. I have seen this song be thrown around out of context on certain websites and blown out of proportion, and I’m glad I’m getting my fair share of what this song really means to me. I wrote this song based on all the crazy stuff that’s been going down in politics and stuff. I’ve been raised in a political household all my life, so I know too much about politics and all the crazy stuff happening in Washington D.C. and such. I mainly wrote this for those who are the so called “Christians” in politics, but yet they go against the morals of it all and love to bring up war in random countries and/or be filled with the greed and lust for power.
It has always been a sick thought to me, and I know of friends who have turned away from religion just because of these kinds of issues. I even come so close every day with believing in a God that has let all of this happen, I’m not going to lie. But then, I talk about this problem in a song off our record called “Poor God”. I’ll leave it at that, since that is a whole different story. Back to the song…I practically spitted out the words at a show “…that’s sending us straight to Hell”, and I kind of like how crazy it sounded, so I put it in the song. But I will say this: with any lyrics, you’re not always going to have the same opinion that you wrote for a song. I say this because since I have written lyrics for AHR, I have not always kept the same beliefs as my past lyrics because I change, just like everyone else in this world. Its reality, we need to deal with it. I mention that whole thing because I sometimes believe that it may or may not send us to Hell. Heck, I sometimes don’t even want to think about Heaven or Hell. I just want to think of the present and think of loving and giving and not think of the outcomes of it all. I realized I just rambled on about that, so I do apologize for taking this question so crazy-like. (Laughs)
How long have you guys been together? Did you petition your record to labels other than Strike First? Did you have to do a showcase or something? What did the whole process look like? What are you most excited about with where you’re at right now?
JG: We’ve been together for about five years now and it has been a long five years. We have always looked up to Strike First/Facedown since we started because some of my personal favorite bands back then were A Love For Enemies and War of Ages. We didn’t really shop out our stuff to anybody, though. Jason just randomly messaged us after we have been messaging him for God knows how long, and he really dug our studio blogs and what we were recording. So… we were like “Of course!” and the deal was done. It has been phenomenal ever since. We are super excited about working with Strike First Records and having them release our full-length. We are super stoked about touring a whole lot now because I’ve been in Middle/High School since this band has started, so I’ve been the reason why we haven’t toured so much. But now I’m graduating and we are hitting the road hard with great opportunities.
What does a writing process look like for you guys? Do you just get together and make it happen, or are there sporadic instances where something happens in life that sparks that burning in your chest that’s like, “Man! I’m pissed! I need to write!” or “Man! I’m so pumped right now! I’ve got to play what I’m feeling!”
JG: Oh man. It’s been lately just Tyler and Blake writing on Garage Band for Macbook and us just learning the stuff. I just write lyrics whenever I do have that “Man! I’m pissed” thought (laughs). But now… we are trying something new for the new stuff we will be writing. But that is something that will be a freakin’ novel if I write out what we are doing for the new stuff.
How is it working with Andy Atkins and Lost Legend Entertainment. He’s obviously got experience within the industry through his time with APFP and knows a lot about the road life. I see that he’s listed as both a manager and a booking contact. Tell me about it.
JG: Working with Andy has been such a phenomenal pleasure. He has done so much stuff for us already that it is unbelievable to me. He’s managing everything quite well and he’s got so many connections with booking that it’s been a help. We do though have our connections as well in booking, so we can always do it ourselves if Andy is unable to at certain times.
At some of the local shows I go to, people pick up metal chairs and through them into walls and such, with a million people standing in the way. It is literally miraculous that someone hasn’t died. What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever seen at a show?
JG: This question is tough. The scariest thing would probably have to be… gosh, I can’t think of anything right now. Nothing really has happened to me to where I thought I was in fear. Oh well, I guess we always have fun at whatever venue we play at.
“Music is the key to the female heart.” - Johann G. Seume (German Theologist). What do you think, boys? Is death metal the key to the female heart?
JG: Dude, Death metal is every girls dream (laughs). But in all seriousness, if a girl can stand death metal, that is the coolest thing ever. Props to those girls.
So there’s this crazy thing in life that says it could end at any minute. I know you guys are on the up-and-coming end of things, but if you were swept away tomorrow, what is the one thing that you’d want your band to have left people with? What can we be expecting from your full length, and are you going to stay out as much as possible to share it with us all?
JG: With this record, it’s been a collection of old and new songs we have had as a band. To me, it shows that patience is truly a virtue. I like to share that to those bands who we play with every time we play a venue. But lyrically, we want to show that we have had enough of religion and want to stop all the corruption that’s happening in it. We also want to show that there is love and hope out there and we need to stop ignoring it and start using it in our hearts and share it to those who deserve it, which is everybody. No matter what you believe in, what you stand for, we will love you and give you all the hope you deserve. Nothing will stop us from doing that. Ever.
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ove. Live. Life. Proceed. Progress. That’s who I am and who I’ll always be. You see, we’re all living on borrowed time, so I’m not worried about this situation. Life happens quick. The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done…you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do. Trying to tear down the past prohibits you from building up your future. So for my time here, my physical will be confined to the yard. My love and my spirit, however, know no boundaries.”
If you’re wondering who to credit for these words of wisdom, look no further then rap’s very own Lil Wayne. It’s an excerpt from the very first letter he wrote his fans from prison. On March 8, 2010, Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (AKA Lil Wayne) was sentenced to a year in prison after he pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. If you are like most Christians I know, you probably aren’t huge Weezy fans. Whether it be the crude language and imagery he uses to paint the canvas of his songs, or just the simple fact that he has been know to talk about a woman’s body parts as a part of a three course meal, I’m sure you have your reasons. I’m not here to argue artistic freedom or petition that we “free weezy”. Heck, I’m not even trying to get you to buy his CD or sway your personal opinion of the man. I just want to ask you to consider what I felt God asked me to do for him.
Now I know what you’re thinking, and no, He didn’t ask me to do anything crazy like drive down to East Elmhurst, NY where Wayne is doing time to try to ‘win him to the Lord’. I’m pretty sure Weezy knows Jesus, if not of Him, very well. He didn’t ask me to write a song to one of his beats with a gospel message freestyle of my own, hoping not to get sued for using copyrighted material while wishing Wayne likes my rendition and maybe takes hold of the message regardless of how bad I butchered his masterpiece (because I’m white, of course). If you know ANYTHING about me or my work, then you’ll know that my efforts in the past have usually been directed towards ‘the poor’, and I’m finding out every passing day that there is a poverty much worse and even more lonely than dragging the streets without a home or not having money in the bank. True poverty is a life without knowing the hope that is in Jesus. If in fact we are worthless (poor) without God, I’m beginning to wonder why ANYONE belonging to God would criticize this man because of his lyrics rather then encourage him and try their best to strengthen him.
God didn’t ask me to call down fire to prove His existence in the mind and heart of Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. He asked me to write a letter. Not one pleading for him to realize how much of a sinner he has been in the past and would probably still be after denouncing secular rap and becoming a Gotee or CCM Christian rap superstar (if there is such a thing). All that I felt I needed to do was write a letter encouraging Wayne as best as I could, and to encourage my brothers and sisters to do the same. Jude 1:22 says that we should be “merciful/compassionate to those who doubt and waver in their faith”. I’m not sure how we got to this place in western Christianity where we feel it our duty to picket and protest in order to keep the moral compass pointing north. Where we would rather throw stones at ‘sinners’ than we would be quick to drop them and attend to the wounds of those most in pain. I think we forget the grace we attest to, the very forgiveness that has been released in our own lives. Perhaps, it’s because our sins aren’t as visible? The bottom line is that one of the sad realities of the world we live in is that the oppressed sometimes become the oppressors. Is that what we have become? Is that the light we are shining to the dying world? Are we too busy picking out specks because we are horrified that our planks will be made known. God forbid a ‘sinner’ ever realize my propensity to sin. “Luckily mine aren’t NEARLY as bad as...” Wait. Let’s take a step back. I’m pretty sure that “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Isn’t it so much easier to accept forgiveness and display the grace and love of the Father when we realize that God is calling out to the hearts of every man, women, and child on this earth, and their is no shortage of mercy, even to the most ‘profane performing artists’. Its time we begin displaying Gods heart.
I recently got caught in my sin, and to my surprise, the letters where folks encouraged me and shared the fact that they dealt with the very same struggles TRUMPED the ones sharp like arrows already pointing out the obvious. I was broken, in need of healing, and some Christians saw it necessary to pour salt in my wounds. It reminded me of the Pharisee and tax collector praying in the temple. One thanks God for not being as vile as the other, and the other just beats his chest and asks of God to ‘forgive me, a miserable sinner’. It’s clear who went away with a prayer pleasing to the heart of God. Romans 12:9-10 encourages us to “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Michael Dwayne Carter Jr. was made in God’s image and likeness. He accidentally shot himself at the young age of 13, dropped out of school at 14, had a beautiful baby girl named Reginae at 15 and the story goes on to this day. Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky once said that “to love someone means to see them as God intended.” We may see another rapper out to violate women and make money, but God sees things differently, and He longs to give us new eyes. Start small. Write a letter to a stranger that needs love. You may be that stranger one day.
Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC)
Dwayne Carter NYSID# 02616544L
10-10 Hazen Street
East Elmhurst, NY 11370