10 Questions with ... Anthem Lights

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

LINE-UP:

• Alan Powell
• Chad Graham
• Caleb Grimm
• Kyle Kupecky

LABEL:

• Reunion Records

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Anthem Lights (2011)

1) Introduce the members of the band, using musical background and/or personality traits.

I'm Caleb. I'm a preacher's kid from South Dakota. I really like details. I love knowing what we're doing, where we're going, when we're arriving, etc. I always want things to be moving forward, almost to a fault. Musically, I love artists with interesting vocal tones and honest lyrics/melodies. I grew up really admiring singers with passionate, soulful vocals.

Chad's from Florida. He's one of the funniest people I know who doesn't TRY to be funny. He's always unintentionally making us laugh. Loves dogs, NASCAR and Florida State football. Great singer, heavily influenced by pop artists like Justin Timberlake.

Alan is the ringleader. He's one of the most creative people I know. Always thinking outside the box. He's the pickiest eater in the world. I'm not kidding. He's content with chicken and cheese for every meal. Great songwriter and influenced musically by Michael Jackson.

Kyle's from Pennsylvania. I've known him the longest of anyone in Anthem Lights. He's the nicest dude you'll ever meet and a great roommate. He's a polished pop singer with limitless vocal range. He's heavily influenced by the vocal stylings you'd hear on Top 40 radio.

2) Can you describe real briefly how you guys became connected to Reunion Records?

We met our A&R Blaine Barcus at GMA Week a couple years ago. We were really drawn to his heart for ministry. We felt like he understood what we were all about and could help us put into motion the ideas God had put within us.

3) What's the story behind the latest Christian AC/INSPO single "Can't Get Over You"?

This is the worship moment on the record. It's our way of telling God how grateful we are for his grace in our lives, and that we'll never get over it. When reflecting on all that God has done for us and the sacrifice Jesus has made for us, we feel like the only fitting response is to tell God that we can't get over his love and mercy.

4) Is there a specific message or theme behind your self-titled debut?

I don't think we went into the writing and recording process with a specific theme in mind. We really just kind of wanted to put to music the things that God was teaching us. However, as the writing began to unfold, we continually recognized a theme in many of our songs. It was the idea that we're not at home here on earth, but that we're strangers here who've yet to reach our destination - heaven.

5) Do you have any inspiring or humorous stories from interactions with radio stations and/or listeners?

Kyle was sharing with us a message he received on Facebook from a listener the other day. She said as she listened to the second verse of "Can't Get Over You," she was reminded that there's a father in heaven who is desperately in love with her. She went on to say that she doesn't have an earthly father, so the idea that God is her heavenly father, who will never leave her, is something she needed to hear. Stories like that make us so grateful to be a part of this ministry.

6) And what's the meaning behind the group's name?

Matthew 5 calls us the light of the world. We really loved that concept. We wanted to pair that idea with the fact that we want our music to be the cry of the believer or the "anthem" of the believer. That's essentially how we landed on "Anthem Lights."

7) Is there a favorite song that you guys (individually or collectively) love to perform live?

We love the energy of our upbeat songs, but as we've spent more and more time on the road, I think the worship time during "Can't Get Over You" has become our favorite moment. It's the time during our set when we ask the audience to join us in worshipping God freely. To look out and see people singing at the top of their lungs with hands lifted high is an amazing sight.

8) What are you most looking forward to this summer?

Festivals! Most of them take place at amusement parks, so getting to meet with fans at the park, perform and even ride rides with them sometimes is probably what I'm most excited about.

9) What song (any song from any time) do you wish you had written?

"Amazing Grace." If there's one song in the world that could be the soundtrack of believers all over the world, spanning many generations, it's this one. Beautiful melody. Beautiful lyrics.

10) Do you have much time to check out other artists' music? What are you listening to right now?

Strangely enough, I've kind of been on a Country kick lately (living in Nashville does that to you sometimes. Ha!). I appreciate how well written many of the songs are. As far as specific artists, I've really enjoyed Train's latest album as well as the latest single from my personal favorite artist, Gavin DeGraw.