Interview: We Are Leo

We Are Leo was kind enough to answer some questions we had here at The Indie Christian Music Scene, and I have to say this may be one of my favorite interviews ever!  From the serious answers to the funny one, I really enjoyed reading it and I hope you will too! My questions are in white, and David Duffield's answers are in red. (Also, check out my review of their debut, "Hello".


First of all, please tell us a little about the formation of We Are Leo. How did you meet and what made you want to create the band?

We Are Leo was born from songs that I wrote. I don't really remember making a conscious decision to "start a band" I just felt a burning desire inside me to respond to the beauty and greatness of God that continually surrounds my life, and creatively for me, that usually turns into a song… So yeah, I started writing a lot, just around my house you know. I love music and sound. I love creating and I enjoy hearing all the notes and rhythms and sounds combing into beautiful art so I would spend hours and hours recording & tweaking stuff till I got the sounds I wanted. I got a Mac laptop and that really changed my world cause it gave me the tools both to record & to share music. I would spend all afternoon on 45 seconds of a song demo then burn it down to cd and cruise around in my car so excited and thrilled to hear something that was totally fresh and less than a day old rocking in my CD play or on my ipod. I dedicated my spare bedroom to be a music room.  I also picked up a piano for free from a guy who was moving and put it in my garage. I spent countless hours out there pounding on the keys, worshipping God, and discovering lyrics and melodies and really just trying to express myself.
At first it was more personal… but as it continued I started getting really positive responses from my friends and people at church. People were saying that my songs were really speaking to them on a spiritual level which was so encouraging for me and really just made me want to write more songs and better ones. It was exciting but, at that time, things were moving pretty slowly. I was spending much of my time working at Starbucks making coffee. One day a friend of a friend heard what we were working on and invited us to play at a local coffee shop, that was the 1st official show, I think, unless you count playing 3 songs at my sisters wedding as a show, LOL, So From there I started working hard to put a group of guys together who would share the vision and passion i had for music, art & Jesus. I think that finding the right band-mates has been one the most challenging things, because as it turns out, starting a band is really hard work these days we didn't have much money and when you live in a Van with 5 guys, you really have to learn to love and forgive the way that Jesus talked about, doing to others what you'd have them do to you, being patient and kind, not keeping a record of wrongs... that sort of thing.

We went for like 2 years spending our days working at Starbucks and our nights and weekends writing, brainstorming, recording, practicing, and playing shows. It was crazy. i think, at one point, i was working 35 hours a week at Starbucks and at the same time working 40-60 hours on music. After doing that for just over two years we couldn't keep our day job anyone cause we were gone half the time. So we made the jump in faith to full time. its definitely tested our faith, but God has been faithful as we've been obedient.

You can really feel the passion We Are Leo has in their music. What is the heart and mission behind We Are Leo?

Our Mission is to write and sing songs that will express the amazing Love and Grace of God to young hearts and minds, not just in America, but all around the world: songs that will become anthems of faith, and hope and new life. We aspire to make catchy, relevant music that grabs the attention of listeners.


We believe that there is a big difference between the way the World is and the way it should be, and we wanna be a part of the Change. We pray each day for His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. There have been so many times when we've been down and out in our own lives: I have felt broken and i have felt hopeless. But in the midst of this crazy hurricane that we call life, thru all the Beauty and Pain, I have heard God calling out to me, giving me hope and a future, not in money or fame but in his love which the Psalms describe as being better than life. We want discover what Gods Love truly is, what it means for our lives, and how vast, how high, and how wide it really is. This is something that's not just for the cool kids: not limited to the American dream prom kings and queens. But it's for all of us. Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open. We wanna know this love and we wanna share it thru music.


The songs on “Hello” are full of amazing lyrics and great beats. “Live For Love” is making it’s way around Christian Radio stations all over the U.S. What inspired you to write “Live For Love”?

We were thrilled that Live for Love was in the top 30 on Christian rock Radio for 13 weeks last year. Also it went to #7 in Australia on the Christian Contemporary Music Chart. As far as inspiration, this one was more thought out, Ben & I were asking ourselves, "If there was one thing you could say, what would it be?" lets write a song about that. And what we came up was live for love. in 1st Corinthians we are reminded that without love things are so meaningless and that doing amazing thing without love results in gaining nothing. In a world where money & sex & fame are crowned as gods, we wanted to write a song about what truly matters and remind me people that it doesn't matter how much money you have or how popular you are. If we have love ( if we have Christ, if we have each other our brothers and sisters in Christ) we have everything we need. And as we trust Him, and seek Him first, He will take care of us.


What is your personal favorite song off “Hello”?
Lol, it depends on the day or the mood I'm in. At the moment my favorite is " I'm With You" cause it kicks butt when we play it live.

How have you seen your music affect the listeners?

Many of our fans have told us that they were inspired to see God in a new way & also many people have told us that they have felt God's Love and Heart speaking to them thru our lyrics and melodies.
Its been amazing coming to concerts and looking out from state to see fans singing our songs at the top their lungs, tears in their eyes. This doesn't always happen, but when it does we are so encouraged that people are really getting what we are about.


One quote about the effect of our music that we particularly liked about our music was from the people at non-profit organization Clothe Your Neighbor As Yourself, they said "We are Leo is like listening to Jesus on Synthesizers" and we hope thats true. We wanna be an extension of Him, "his hands, his feet" (as the Audio Adrenaline song has it) in this world.


Also a ton of fans have told us that they see us as role models and we've often been told at Christian shows or festivals by kids that didn't wanna be there but then happened to hear us that they didn't know that "Christian music" could be sound like that, or be "cool." We are so happy to be pointing people toward Christ thru relevant music.


It’s quite obvious through your music the band has a strong relationship with God. What has God been speaking to you about through His Word recently?

1st Tim 4:12 Its all about how as young people we still need to set and example (and I take this personally because i know that a lot of our fans look to us like role models) in our speech, our actions our faith and in purity.


Also Psalms 84, which speaks about how beautiful and perfect it is to dwell in the courts of God. which to me just means that time with Him is better than time anywhere else. Its so easy to get caught in the race of this crazy life. I am trying to slow down and realize the beauty that surrounds me and enjoy it and be thankful for it.

What is a typical touring day like for We Are Leo?

One of the hardest things about touring is how hard it can be to have anything constant in your life. Staying in different places every night, different bed, different food, different people.
That is one of the reasons I am so thankful for God, He is the constant in my life. He's what keeps me sane when the rest of the world feels crazy.


I’m sure being on the road can be pretty crazy! Has anything funny or just plain strange happened?

We were in Albuquerque NM doing a photo shoot with Kristen from ArticulatePhoto. So there we were walking around town looking for cool looking places and Kristen took us to this cool looking abandoned desert gas station. So we walked over to these old gas pumps and she started snapping some photos of us
So we've got four dudes all dressed obviously dressed up, obviously up posing, and a circle of people gather around us with cameras, Then out of no-where these Cops roll up and say "What are you doing" We were like Really? circle of people with cameras? Dudes dressed up, posing?? We are taking pictures!!
Apparently this is frowned upon in New Mexico. Then they were like, "Did you know this is private Property?!"
So we were thinking, "oh my goodness are they gonna arrest us?" but we were just like, private property? no we had no idea, sorry. we will leave… and then they were like OK, have a good day. And we all started laughing from relief whenever they pulled out.

The other amazing thing that happened to us was this summer at Fandana Festival in Indiana in the Band hospitality room: We got to shake hands and chat with one of the people I respect and admire most in this world: John Foreman and his fabulous band Switchfoot. He offered to get us coffee. What a guy!

Now for a random, fun question! If We Are Leo could record a duet with any Christian music artist from the 80’s or 90’s, who would it be?

Does U2 count as Christian? LOL
Also I would love to record a song with Mark Byrd from Common Children. They were by far my favorite Christian music that came out of the 90's. DC talk was 2nd best, but I am reluctant to admit that cause its one my call a bit of a guilty pleasure. Are you down with the DC talk?

What can we expect to see or hear from We Are Leo in the near future? Any tours or possibly a music video?
The thing we are most excited about right now is that we are currently playing several stops on the Acquire the Fire Tour. Also we recorded two music videos, "Supernova Sunrise" & "Remember You", over the last 3 months and they will be releasing to YouTube in February. Also we are gonna be releasing our second radio singe, "Supernova Sunrise", sometime in January 2012.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions! Any closing thoughts?
Here are some random facts about us:
David D- Read the Lord of the Rings series 4 times through
Jonny- Aspires to be a sailor and own a yacht
Doug- Was certified as a Starbucks black Apron CoffeeMaster
Andrew- Fancies himself as an amateur photographer for the national geographic
David R- Has a secret obsession with sharpies. He owns every color and most all sizes.


We really appreciated your review of our Record. It meant so much to us that you really "got" what we are doing especially lyrically. I realized a few years back that even though people talk and hear a lot about God & Jesus & The Holy Spirit and all that for many they have no idea experientially what this means, We wanted to write songs inspired from time that we spent with God, songs that people would listen to and say "is this about God?" I didn't realize that He wasn't just a hymn or a religion or a stain glass window or a statue of a man on a Cross but he is a real, loving, Majestic, fierce, passionate Person, and he is the very embodiment of Love, And as many people go thru their days, he's whats missing

Exclusive Interview: Ariel from Icon For Hire!

I recently had the opportunity to interview Ariel, the lead singer of Icon For Hire! I loved the band's debut album, "Scripted", and I know several others that love it as well! My questions are in black, and in homage to Ariel's hair, her answers are in pink! Enjoy!

Icon For Hire has been one of my favorite bands for quite a while now! Can you give us some background on the formation of Icon For Hire?

We started the band almost four years ago. None of us had ever been in bands before, and none of us knew what we were doing. So we just kind of guessed that "this is probably how you start a band." A few months later, we played our first show to a packed club in our hometown. It was mostly our friends and family, but since Adam and Shawn had recently been a big part of the local party scene, they still had a ton of friends that came out to see us. We played a terrible show but when it's your friends, you know, they tell you how good you are anyways. Our passion for music was there; whatever we lacked in sound we made up for with enthusiasm.

“Scripted” released to positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Did you ever expect to be where you are as a band now?
For me that changes on a daily basis. There are some moments where I am 100% certain that this is what we were born to do and we will continue to do it the rest of our lives. Other times I think "Man, the fact we got this far is amazing, we should probably just quit while we're ahead!" I remember that before the album came out we had a conversation about how proud we were of this record. We decided that we didn't care too much how it was received, we were just stoked to have the opportunity to make an album, period. It's important to do what you're doing because you completely love it, regardless of the response it garners.

From the punching guitars and strong vocals to heartfelt lyrics, “Scripted” has become one of my top ten albums of 2011. What was the inspiration behind the album?
Thank you! We didn't set out to give the album a unifying theme, we were just making music about issues we were passionate about. It ended up that a lot of the songs on the album deal with getting over your past, and the message that if you're not happy with your life right now, then stop complaining and go do something about it. It is really important to me to remind our listeners that everyone thinks they've had a crappy life; that doesn't give us an excuse to sit life out waiting to recover.

“Make A Move”, the main single from “Scripted” is an in your face message of standing up for what we believe in. What challenged you to write this song?
This song came from my personal struggle with how we as Americans spend our time, money, creativity, and all that. There are amazing, wonderful, precious people in anguish because they don't have access to food. There are bright-eyed, adorable little girls forced to have sex with strangers for fourteen hours a day, and are drugged up if they fail to perform. And what do I do with information like that? I shrug, think about how sad it is, and hope that somebody will come along and do something about it. That song brings up the fact that we do so freaking little with all this knowledge. We are selfish. I am selfish.

“Only A Memory” (also known as “Pernilla”) is one of the most powerful Icon For Hire songs. What is the story behind the song?
I wrote the lyrics for my friends. It just so happened that a lot of them went through some extremely horrific abuses around the same time. "Only a Memory" is from their perspective and is a reminder that you are not what has been done to you.

The lyrics of the songs on “Scripted” are so refreshing and thought provoking. How have you seen your music affect your fans?
It's been very rewarding to see the album actually doing something, actually having an effect on our listeners. That's the whole reason we started this thing, you know. We've heard stories of it bringing hope to kids. I hope it inspires them.

Icon For Hire has been compared to bands such as Paramore and Evanescence. What would you say makes you different than those bands?
That is a huge, loaded question! The easy answer is that our music has the unique combination of programming/pop elements, mixed with a commercial rock sound. We also have a live show that easily sets us apart, we've never had someone come see us live and compare us to other bands. But the more complicated part of this question is the fact that I hate answering it! I hate having to defend our band, like somehow because we have a female vocalist that we are in the same genre. It sends the message to our female fans that there's no place for them in music, like somehow since "female singer with rock or pop band" has already been done, that there's no room for creativity or growth within that. It frustrates me how in so many other industries, you are acknowledged for your skill and education, but it music somehow if you're a chick you better be bringing something extraordinarily mind-blowing to the table in order to have a shot. It’s a bit sexist I think.

Are there any causes you support that are near to your heart?

Human trafficking is the first that comes to mind, just because of the extremity and magnitude of that. Abortion is another thing that I hate with a passion. As a band, we have lofty dreams for digging wells in Africa, inspiring change, and enabling well-meaning fans to do something with their concern for the world. 

Touring can be crazy. How do you stay grounded in Christ?
Sometimes I suck at spending time with God, and sometimes I surprise myself with how often I find myself wanting to be with him. It's no different than being at home- we just have a great excuse not to do it because there is never any quiet or alone time on tour, and we are never not tired/sore/hungry/etc. So just like at home, you fight for it.

How has God been speaking to you recently?

Through a lot of journaling.

Has anything crazy or funny happened to the band recently?
The other day someone misread our band name on the side of our van as “Con For Hire”, as in Convicts For Hire. He thought we were a group of ex-cons looking for work!

In 15 to 20 years, what would you want people to remember most about Icon For Hire?
It'd be great if people recognized that we cared more about loving and talking to the fans we have then working to win new ones, that we inspired kids at the shows to look past their own lives and be something great. More than anything, we want to stay close to each other, and remember what's important. "Quality over quantity" is a huge value to our band.

Would Icon For Hire ever consider releasing some of their older songs such as “Conversation With A Rockstar” or “Sno” on a future release? Yes definitely! Conversation with a Rockstar is a huge fan favorite, and I think it deserves a better chance than just the little acoustic demo we did in the basement. But I am sorry to say that Sno will probably never see daylight, only the hardcore fans will know that one.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. My readers and I appreciate it! Any closing thoughts?
No, thank you! Anytime we get the chance to explain who we are in our own words is well appreciated. Our Facebook (facebook.com/iconforhireofficial) is the best place for listeners to stay in touch, so readers can see our tour dates and video blogs all from there. :) We’d love to hear from your readers

Indie Exclusive: My Heart To Fear Interview!

My Heart To Fear is a great Christian metalcore band from Pennsylvania! Their song, "The Witching Hour" is amazing. I recently got the chance to interview the guys from MHTF, so here it is! Enjoy! My questions are in red, and MHTF's answers are in black.

First of all, can you tell us about how My Heart To Fear was formend, and how you got the band name?

My Heart to Fear was formed by a group of high school friends back in 2005, with a big dream, and almost no musical experience. Our band name comes from the old song, "Amazing Grace" , where it says, "twas grace that taught my heart to fear".

 

How would you describe the music of MHTF?

Our music is written as more of a story than just a song. We're about to go into the studio to record a brand new full length CD. Genre wise, the music is experimental/melodic metalcore.

 

Your song "The Witching Hour" deals with a topic many Christian musicians don't touch, demons. What was the inspiration behind this song?

The Witching Hour was written out of personal experiences and the idea of Gods existence proven through the duality of good and evil.

 

MHTF just wrapped up playing the extreme tour. Can you tell us what touring across the us is like?

Meeting so many amazing people on tour really inspired a lot of the new songs and lyrics. Touring across the US is quite an experience, the jumps from town to town show you subculture you may never have come upon other wise.

 

How have you seen the music of MHTF impact your fans?

We love our fans and they are as much a part of this band as we are. They have impacted us just as much as the stories they tell of our music in their lives. We have a file with emails from our fans from the last almost 6 years, sharing very personal stories of their lives and struggles, and how our band in some way has helped them or touched them. It's amazing and humbling.

 

What would you say is the band's main goal to accomplish in the music industry?

MHTF wants to create honest music not aimed to just please or give kids a breakdown to dance to, but to also create a movement of love and acceptance across every race, religion and culture.

 

What would you say is the best and worst part of being an independent band?

It is very difficult to support yourself financially as an indie band. We have been fortunate to remain debt free after 6 years of being a band together, but it hasn't been easy. The best part of being an independent band is the lyrical and musical freedom.

 

What are the favorite Bible verses of the guys from MHTF?

Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

If MHTF could play any stage with any artist, who and where would that be?

I cant say that we focus too much on this sort of thing, so its difficult to say. We just love meeting all sorts of artist, and in all different places. We have been blessed to have shared the stage with some amazing bands across the country.

 

Has anything strange or funny happened to the band?

Wow. Do you have about 6 hours to talk about this question? Haha. The most recent thing that happed is, last week, coming back from a show in New York, we were driving through a horrible thunder and lightning storm, the same storm that flooded much of Pennsylvania recently. 2 large trees had fallen on the road and on power lines, which because of the storm we couldn't see them in time, so we skidded to a stop and got entangled in all the trees. We had to wait for the fire department to get there and cut the trees up and free our van and trailer. We slept in the firemans truck while they cut us out.

 

What does the band enjoy doing outside of the music?

Several of us used to snowboard, and play baseball and basketball, but honestly now music is about the only thing that any of us do at this point in our lives, whether that be playing shows, practicing, touring, writing music or writing lyrics.

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Any closing thoughts?

No problem! yeah, please look us up on facebook and like us. Also, go to youtube and look for our new music video "The Witching Hour". If you listen to RadioU or TVU be sure to stop by to their sites and say hello and request more My Heart To fear. We were number 7 last week on their top 15, and "The Witching Hour" is playing on TVU on their hardcore show the battery.  Stay tuned for our new full length that should be coming out before the end of the year. When it does come out be sure to read the lyrics.

Interview: Anthem Lights

It's finally here! I was privileged to interview the one and only Anthem Lights (an amazing band), and I hope you enjoy the interview! I also did something a little different this interview with the "bonus" questions. These are just fun, random questions I ask so you can learn more about your favorite bands. Let me know if you like them, and drop me an email at lifewithlisap@gmail.com if there's any questions you'd like to ask the next artist I interview. Without further ado, let's see what Caleb Grimm has to say! My questions are in black, and Caleb's are in blue

Anthem Lights originally started out as Yellow Cavalier. How did you guys meet and what inspired the formation of Anthem Lights/Yellow Cavalier?
 
-The “Yellow Cavalier Project” actually started as Chad’s solo project. Alan and Chad were friends growing up and both attended Liberty University (where Kyle and I eventually attended as well), and Chad ended up moving to Nashville to pursue a Christian solo career. Around this time, Alan moved out to Los Angeles with his wife to pursue a secular music career. After Chad spent some time in Nashville, he eventually joined Alan out in L.A. where they began writing and working with a producer on Chad’s solo 5-song EP. As the record was coming to a close, they started praying about the project becoming a group with multiple vocalists. They began exploring the idea, but were concerned that there might not be artists out there who would be well-suited for a group like this. They called their contacts at Liberty University where Kyle and and myself. We were attending school and traveling with a music group. Luckily, the contacts/friends at Liberty recommended us to Chad, and so a few days later Chad and his producer flew out to Virginia to meet with us. Things really clicked between the 3 of us and a few weeks later we formed “Yellow Cavalier.” Alan had been writing and working creatively on the project, but about a month later he stepped in and joined the band. That is how we became Yellow Cavalier (and eventually changed our named to Anthem Lights!). 
 
How would you describe the sound of Anthem Lights?
 
-Pop melodies and layered vocals with elements of rock instrumentation. 
 
“Circles” has quickly become a favorite among fans. What is it like seeing your music impacting lives?
 
-It’s amazing to hear stories from fans sharing how the music has affected them in ways that none of us could have ever imagined. It’s so humbling because we know that only God can choose to use our music in such a way. 
 

“Can’t Shut Up” is another fan favorite, as well as a chart-climbing single. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song?
 
-It’s a song about literally not being able to be quiet about all that God has done for us. It’s based on the story in the Bible about the blind man that Jesus healed. Jesus asked him not to share because it wasn’t time yet, but then the passage said he went out in to all the land and shared because he couldn’t keep it in. That’s how we should be about our faith.
 
Fans all around love your meaningful lyrics. What would you say is the main theme of Anthem Light’s debut album?
 
-There’s a song on the album called “Stranger” and we really feel like it sums up the overall theme of the album. A lot of what we see in our culture doesn’t make sense to us as believers, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. 1 Peter tells us that we’re strangers here on this earth. The things that are important to us as Christians aren’t important to the world, and the things that are important to the world grow less and less important to us, the closer we grow to Christ. 
 
Already you have had the opportunity to tour with some of the top Christian music artists such as Mercy Me, Thousand Foot Krutch, Building 429, and Jars of Clay, just to name a few.  What is it like?
 
-It’s surreal to be surrounded by people that you admired as a teenager. It’s also so encouraging to know that they are as genuine and as passionate about God as they sounded on the radio growing up.
 
I’m sure it’s CRAZY doing music full-time. Can you give us a glimpse of a day in the life while touring?
 
-It’s so much fun being apart of a tour. I love the community atmosphere. It’s much more scheduled and structured than I anticipated. I’d say the biggest challenge is finding time to be alone to spend in devotions, but it’s so awesome to meet so many new people. 
 
That being said, what advice could you give aspiring musicians that want to stay grounded in Christ, yet participate full time in the music industry?
 
-I’d just encourage aspiring artists to really work to discover your convictions and know where you stand. In the Christian music business, the core of what we do is presenting the messages God has given us. Artists are looked to in some sense as “spiritual leaders,” so it’s important to know what you believe. 
 
Can you please share with us a passage of Scripture or a brief thought God has laid on your heart recently?
 
-The music business for the most part is new to us, so I’ve really been learning to trust God to provide and direct each step. I love the peace of mind that comes from Proverbs 3:5-6 which says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
 
What is your main goal to accomplish in the music industry?
 
-Simply put, to glorify the heavenly father with the gifts He’s given us. 
 
*BONUS ROUND* 
What’s your favorite food to eat while on the road?
 
-Pizza!! It’s so bad for you, but nothing tastes better if you’re really hungry after a show.
 
Who would you like to tour with?
 
-I never know how to answer this question…haha. Steven Curtis Chapman is a legend in this business, so it’d be an honor to get to know him. 
 
That one band/artist you’re embarrassed to like? (It’s ok if you like Veggie Tales :P)
 
-I really like any cheesy pop music from the 90s.
 
Hershey’s or Cadbury?
 
-Reese’s
 
If you weren’t in Anthem Lights, what job would you have?
 
-I’d probably be pursuing music in another capacity (on the business side).
 
Most unusual/funny on-stage experience?
 
-At end of the “Rock & Worship Roadshow” we (along with most of the artists on the tour) crashed Lecrae's set and danced with him onstage...that was so much fun.




The best prank you’ve ever pulled on a fellow band mate?
 
-We’re not huge pranksters (yet). We’ve had some good ones pulled on us though! Bart Millard of MercyMe was trying to describe us from stage as a "new" band, but it came out "Anthem Lights...they're like the New Kids On The Block!" Everybody laughed, including us. haha.
 
Dogs or cats?
 
-I’m not much of animal person…haha. I’d choose dogs over cats though. Chad is a HUGE dog lover. 
 
If you could go back in time, who would you choose to meet?
 
-I’ve always been fascinated with American history, so to meet someone involved with the earlier years of the U.S. like George Washington or Benjamin Franklin would be crazy cool.
 
Android or iOS? 
 
-iOS

Interview: Skyhawk Drive!

I recently had the privilege of conducting an interview with Ronnie Bingaman, lead singer of Skyhawk Drive. Skyhawk Drive is an up and coming band from Greencastle, PA, and has released an EP, "Center Stage Shout Out" in 2009. Currently Skyhawk Drive is in the studio at Skies Fall, recording a new album! I'm super stoked for it! It was a great privilege to interview Ronnie, and make sure and check out The Extreme Tour site to see when Skyhawk Drive will visit your area! (I believe they're touring from the middle of June through mid-July on the Extreme Tour.)  My questions are in black, and Skyhawk Drive's answers are in red. Enjoy!

Can you please tell us a bit about how Skyhawk Drive was formed and the story behind the band name?
The band was started back in high school for an English project. We had to read a book and then present it in front of the class in a creative way. We made  the band, wrote a song about the book, and made a little music video for it. "Skyhawk Drive" came from a street name in a town not to far from ours=) 


Your first album, “Center Stage Shout Out” was released in 2009, and “Their Dance, Your Chance” became a hit in Japan, China and the Philippines. What was it like seeing your song doing so well in other countries?
We are all really happy with how "big" its gotten. For us 30 some thousand views on Youtube is big. Haha it might not seem like anything compared to other bigger music videos but to us we were stoked with the response.


“Finest Mistake” is an amazing song with a Pro-Life message. Can you explain what inspired you to write the song?
The song was written about a close friend of the bands. She went through this situation and we saw her go through those hard times. She is now married and is the mother of a beautiful baby girl. It took a lot of faith and and courage to do what she did in that situation and it was really inspiring to us.


Currently you guys are at Skies Fall Studios recording your second album. What can we expect lyrically and musically from this record?
You guys can expect a ton from this new record. It really has shown how we have grown as Christians, people, and musicians. The songs are a little edgier but still keep that pop catchy feel. We grew up and so has our music. We're tired of the super happy pop sound so we've  changed it up a bit. The Ep shows off our more "popish" songs out of all our new music. We hope to soon after, record  full length with everything we've written in the past few months.

Of course, who can ask about recording at Skies Fall without asking what it’s like to work with Ben Kasica and Nick Radovanovic? =)
Ben and Nick are really great guys! It was intimidating at first because we're all Skillet fans. We learned how awesome Nick's old band, Acceptance, was after getting into the studio. They are both extremely talented musicians. Working with them has been really incredible for us and I count it as a huge blessing to able to work with such a great team on this!


Who has influenced Skyhawk Drive the most as a band?
We really take so many influences from so many places. Too many to even list. Theres a huge list of bands that influence us, movies even influence us, God and His word, situations influence us, and people and life in general is all an influence.  

I’m sure some hilarious stuff happens while touring. Can you share with us one of those “moments”?
One time after a show we packed up all our gear and pulled out of the venue and drove about 15 minutes and realized we left our drummer at the venue. All of our phones were either dead or on silent so we didnt get his calls=)

I bet touring can be hectic and stressful at times. How do you guys keep up your relationship with God while touring?
Our keyboardist is actually just now graduating from high school this spring. Because of that we really haven't been able to tour much at all. We pretty much have been limited to weekend shows. Our first official tour will be this summer across the east coast and some in the mid west. The band, thankfully, hasnt taken a big toll on any relationships thus far. If anything its strengthened our walk with Christ. We've definitely had some stressful times that we needed to rely on Gods strength and guidance to get us through it=)

If you could tour anywhere in the world with any band, where and who would it be?
I would love to do a European tour and I really wanna play a Flevo fest in Holland haha. We would love to tour with 30 seconds to mars, Paramore, Relient K, SKillet, or Switchfoot. Any of those bands would be incredible to tour with!

Could you please share with us the members of Skyhawk Drive’s favorite Scripture?
As a band we all like the verse Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." That verse has gotten me personally through battles and hardships. Its engraved on my necklace that I wear all the time so its an easy reminder to all of us that God has everything under control even when we can see it.

In what ways have you seen your music affect your fans?
A lot of people have come up to us after shows in the past years and told us their stories and how our songs have given them hope and helped them in their time of need. Its the coolest thing ever to hear stories like that because you know God has used you in some way. Its probably the most rewarding part about being in a band.


Now, since Skyhawk Drive is from right here in Pennsylvania, I have to ask….Steelers or Eagles? =P
What or what? Eagles are pretty cool birds. I hope they don't go extinct. Steeling isn't good so I'm not about that. (we're not into sports haha)


Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions. Would you like to share any closing thoughts?
Thanks for asking us these questions=)