DecembeRadio Interview Who Is DecembeRadio?
Key:
J> Just doing lots of shows in the last month or so, and also have started writing again to prepare for a new record when we do it, so we’ll have a few to chose from.
B> Yeah, we don’t go home much. We literally live on the road in a van, or at least it feels like it. C> That’s part of the life though, right? You kind of adapt to it? J> Yeah, well in the last two weeks or so, we’ve done like 7 or 8 shows in a row. I can do night after night singing and I’ll be fine, but when I don’t have sleep is the problem. My voice shut down about 4 or 5 shows into it. We were only getting about 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night because we were having to get up and go to airports and stuff. I was running on low fumes man. I lost my voice, and they were giving me steroid shots to get me through each night. We learned a lesson on routing and when to say no. We never thought we would be to that point. We alway said, “you can’t make us busy enough. We’ll do as much as you want us to!” But they did! C> So, what brought you to Slanted records? J> Well, our producer Scotty Wilbanks. We were down in the studio at his place working on song demos. We had done independent things on our own, and we were doing demos for our first album and didn’t know it. Derek [Bruner] had just started working at Slanted, and he came and listened to the demos, and we didn’t hear anything back for a good while. Some of those songs ended up on a CD laying on top of a road case at GMA, and he picked it up and called Scotty. To make a long story short, we did a showcase for Slanted and a few other labels, but in the end we just loved their heart and what they were about and the passion that they felt for who we were. We got to know them as business associates and friends. It’s been really good. C> I know you probably get a lot of questions about “Drifter.” There are always those songs that really resonate with the fans, but I’d like to know if there are any other songs that have been crucial to you and your ministry?
J> Other than “Drifter?”
J> Well, “Drifter” has touched a lot of people and it’s been awesome to see that. There are just stories and stories about it. There was a guy in prison and heard the song and got saved, and then got released from prison and showed up at one of our concerts. Then another guy heard it on the radio and had to pull over to the side of the road and pray right then. Our new single, “Least of These” really talks about being Christ and about being loved and reaching out. Whether it’s reaching out through something like Compassion International or to your family or your school or whatever man. Just people that are in need. That’s been cool to see how God is using that in the recent weeks, in light of the tragedy that happened at Virgina Tech. That’s where we’re from. None of our direct family was involved, but you just can’t help but wonder what would have happened had somebody really reached out to that kid and not ignored him and treated him the way they did. I’m not sure of all the details of that situation, but I do know that God created us all in His image, and at some point something went wrong and a choice was made. So, it’s been cool to see how that song is being used. C> I just always like to find out the songs that impact the band as well as the fan, because sometimes you’re singing to yourself. I sing, and most of the time when I pick a song, it’s not about what I want to tell other people, but it’s more about what’s impacting me at the time. So, I like to know what’s in your heart, and sometimes that’s the same song, and sometimes it’s not. J> Well, “Drifter” is that song for me. There’s a line in the first verse that says, “I used to have a home, I used to have a place where I could get away and be with God.” Ya know when you drift away from that it’s a tough thing. We were all born drifters. It’s very personal. C> So are there any kind of new influences that you want to bring to the new record? J> Musically, it might be a little bit more Aerosmith type, really fun rock. A little bit darker. We grew up on that and we love that stuff. We want all the stuff to have that hook, but some of that other influence as well. We have some stuff going back to some of our younger roots with stuff like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan - which they influenced guys like John Mayer. Our guitarist is a huge Mayer fan. Clapton was the first guy who really influenced me and all those guys that could play the blues. I guess there will be a little more like “Loves Got a Hold” kind of thing. C> That’s good to hear. That’s my favorite song on the album. It was good summer jam for me last year.
J> Yeah, man, we want people to just roll down their windows. Have a good time.
J> This past year is the first time we’ve ever gone band shopping. Buckle is a place that we think is cool, but there’s some cool boutique stuff that we like. There’s a place downtown here that we go to called “Smack.” You can find some good stuff at Goodwill too. C> We asked some other artists that, and they said they only shop when the record company is buying! J> Yeah, I rarely shop. I’ve worn this shirt two days in a row. C> Well that’s good to know! *laughs* Thanks guys for spending some time with us. I can’t wait to hear some of the new stuff you’re writing!
Website: http://www.decemberadio.com
|
|
||||
|
Home | About Us | Features | Reviews | Pop Culture | Devotionals | News | Coming Up | Give-A-Ways | Archives Site Design by: SSE Design Group | |||||
