On Answering Interview Questions

In the post, The Other End Of The Rainbow – Our trip to Oz, from April 9th, I mentioned how in Australia, many of the interview questions we heard were asked very differently than they are here in the states.  First off, I didn’t mean to sound like we Americans ask bad questions (we ask good ones too), but there is a noticeable difference in style…and the way a question is asked can invoke a very different response.

For example, if you ask the band where it’s from, we’ll likely answer,

“Toledo, Ohio”

If you ask the band where we’re from, we’ll likely answer,

“We’re all from Ohio, and Pete’s from California.”

But if you ask us where we live, our answer is completely different and ends up being more specific.

“Three of us still live in Toledo, Dan lives near Columbus, and Pete lives in Nashville.”

We aren’t intentionally changing our answers. These are just our natural responses to the subtle differences in each question.

As to frequently asked questions in the US vs abroad, I think I’ve figured out the root difference.  In America, FAQs for Sanctus Real tend to revolve around our songs and what influenced them, or what we’re up to as a band or as individuals.  These are great questions that can lead to great answers.  In other places, FAQs might center less on the journey of a song and more around our personal beliefs and opinions on the overall topic of the song.  For example: In the states, we’re asked about our song, “Forgiven” and what led us to write it.  In Australia, we were asked about forgiveness and what it means to each of us.  Both are great questions that lead to great discussion, but the subtle difference of the suffix (forgiven and forgiveness) are bound to lead very different directions.

With that mind, I thought it’d make for an interesting blog to include a couple different interview questions I’ve written answers to recently.  Check it out

United States
What’s the significance of the title ”Pieces of a Real Heart?”

We thought Pieces of a Real Heart was a very fitting title and concept thematically.  Each song was written from a piece of our band’s collective heart.  They address different topics but are tethered together by underlying themes of love and humanity…being real.  There is definitely a continuing maturity in the content, as we get older too.  We’ve had to address serious issues in our real lives, and we’ve tried to reflect this honestly in our music.

Australia
The title of the album is heartfelt and emotive; what sort of emotional and spiritual journeys have influenced the themes and lyrics in this album?

As we grow older, we’ve faced new events like marriage and parenthood.  The lyrics tend to reflect this evolution of aging.  Family is a huge priority, and songs like “Lead Me” and “Show You How To Live” came from this.  We’ve also faced new trials and songs like “Forgiven,” “The Redeemer,” and “Keep My Heart Alive” came from these times.

United States
It seems that throughout your career, your music has gotten less brash and more melodic. Has that been intentional or just a natural progression as your life has changed?

It definitely comes as a natural progression.  The band started in Chris’s basement when we were teenagers in high school.  We wrote songs with Christian themes full of the energy that comes with youth.  We never would have thought then that we’d make a career out of it.  We still try to keep elements of that youthful energy in our live show, and as we write new songs, but 14 years have passed.  Just as those years have shaped and matured us from boys into husbands and fathers, the years have shaped how we write music…and how we listen to it, actually.

Australia
Obviously your faith heavily influences your music; in a broader sense, do you sometimes think such lyrical openness (in Christian music generally) is conducive to evangelism, given that many young people nowadays are immediately turned off by the prospect of someone preaching to them?

Wow, that’s a big question ;)

The last thing Jesus gave us before he departed was the Great Commission; to make disciples of all the nations and to teach and obey his commands (Matthew 28:19-20). He’s also shared parables about not hiding our light under a bowl (Matthew 5:14).  Sharing the Gospel is an incredibly important part of our lives as Christians.

I do, however, think preaching sometimes takes a very different route than openness.  And “preaching” happens in all kinds of outlets that aren’t the church and for all kinds of platforms that aren’t Christ; movies, commercials, newspapers, classrooms, the Internet, etc. Today’s young generation is bombarded with all kinds of messages from every direction.  Unless there is heart in the message, it’s just white noise.  This is the case inside or outside the church, and so it’s easy to see why Evangelism without heart would go unheard.

With that in mind, we believe being open and honest is crucial for sharing the Gospel, and we find that people of all ages are much more receptive to what is said when we’re willing to admit our own weaknesses, our humanity, and that we don’t have all the answers.  We believe being open is the best way to share the message of Jesus Christ and find that it doesn’t turn people off, but truly connects better than anything else.

United States
What are you passionate about when you’re off stage?

Matt, Chris, and Mark are all husbands and fathers, so when they’re offstage, they’re passionate about spending time with their families.  Pete is going to be a dad in August, so he’s getting ready for that too.  Family is a huge priority.

We’re also involved with the ONE campaign, which raises money for relief in Africa and another organization called, Mocha Club (www.mochaclub.org). The money we raise on tour goes directly to building clean water wells in Darfur in the Sudan.  They only ask for $7 a month, and it’s amazing how far that small amount goes.  Nearly everyone can give $7 a month.

In May we’ll be going on tour with HOLT International.  They have orphanages all over the world.  This tour will specifically go to relief efforts in Haiti

And then, if “offstage” means “hobbies,” I roast my own coffee and love it.  You can get it on my blog (justthebassplayer.wordpress.com). I also love riding my motorcycle, and wrestling with my family’s 2 great danes,  They’re hilarious.

Australia
Can you guys give us an example of when God has spoken to you in a trying situation (collectively or in your personal lives)?

This is Dan, the bass player, writing.  I shared in an interview at Easterfest how I am divorced and how that was an incredibly trying experience. I’ve written a little bit about that on my blog, www.justthebassplayer.wordpress.com.  To save space here, you can read the very first post for better context.

It’s difficult to see God’s hand when you’re being faithful in a situation and someone else isn’t.  But that doesn’t mean God isn’t there.  I believe the Holy Scripture is truth and that the promises contained within it are as solid as fact.  He certainly never promises there won’t be struggles in life, but he does promise we’ll never have to go through them alone. Without God guiding me through every single day in that season, I don’t know how I would’ve made it out.

Perhaps the most amazing thing that happens after relying on God through a trying situation is that He becomes the Redeemer.  All of a sudden, somehow, out of the worst season of your life comes the most beautiful understanding of God’s love for us.  I learned there is irony in redemption because I never would have learned what I have any other way.

United States
What’s next for Sanctus?

It’s going to be a busy year for us.  Right now we’re promoting our new album on tour with bands, Addison Road, Above The Golden State, Me In Motion, and guest speaker, Sammy Adebiyi.  Before we play our familiar songs, we play the entire new record, Pieces of a Real Heart, from start to finish.  This has been a fun challenge, and audiences seem to being responding very well.

We’ll continue touring through the summer until this fall when 3 of our wives are due…so even though we’ll be off the road, we’ll be busy taking care of our families.  The rest and relaxation comes next January when we get to play on the KLOVE cruise.  That will be nice :)

Australia
Can we get a Bible verse that has really inspired you or characterized your life? Briefly explain what the verse is about.

Psalm 139:15-16  “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

2^nd Corinthians 8:12  “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

We all have a calling in life, and you don’t have to be the absolute best at something to be used by God. In fact, 2^nd Corinthians says that as long as you’re willing, your gift is acceptable according to what you can do, not what you can’t.

That’s a big relief to me because I’m clumsy at about everything I do ;)

Read the rest of these great interviews at:
Stereotruth.net
Thirdmile.com
Wrecked.org