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10 Questions with ... Jadon Lavik
August 27, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
DISCOGRAPHY:
- 2004 "Moving on Faith" BEC Recordings
- 2006 "Life on the Inside" BEC Recordings
- 2008 "Roots Run Deep" BEC Recordings
- 2009 "The Road Acoustic" BEC Recordings
- 2010 "Art & Soul" Independent
- 2012 "Roots Run Deeper" Independent
1) Talk a little about the process of recording Roots Run Deeper. Who was involved in the process? Why this record at this time?
I wanted to get out of the my normal environment and return back to my "roots" for this project. My birthplace, Portland Oregon is where we recorded this project. I utilized a brand new producer and network of musicians (Producer Dave Lubben - "Kutless", Mixing Engineer - Craig Alvin). Since this project is a Hymns project, I wanted to go for something timeless and this project has a more folk and country flavor. The last few years has been a "dry" season for me in terms of creativity and songwriting. I had been wanting to put out a new record but the songs just weren't there yet. So I decided to embark on my second project and work with a good friend of mine Dave Lubben to write and arrange these classics and to do something way different than I've ever done artistically. I think the Christian music industry as a whole is rapidly changing and this is a prime time for this project to be released. I think the album is a bit "left of center" and will hopefully be embraced by multiple generations. From kids to grandparents.
2) How did you select the songs for the new album?
Many of these songs are simply my favorites from my childhood. Anyone who is familiar with the original versions will quickly realize that these are not your typical hymn arrangements. We took a lot of liberty on these arrangements and wrote quite a few new sections to the songs and altered melodies to keep them fresh but also respectful to the originals.
3) Tell us why you recorded the new single "Fairest Lord Jesus"?
I had this fun idea for this song make it upbeat and peppy. I've always loved the lyrical content of this hymn as well as the focus being on Jesus. The arrangement turned out to be one of my favorites on the record and I think help gives the song legs in the church context as well for an upbeat hymn.
4) Do you have a favorite song on the record?
My favorite is the last song "Be Still My Soul". We recorded the vocal track outside on a farm under the stars in an open field in the Portland area. You can hear the crackling fire in the background of the track. The song is very intimate and simplistic. Primarily piano and pedal steel guitar swelling near the end. The new melody and the strong lyric to me create a very worshipful moment for listeners.
5) You've been working as an independent artist for a while now. How did you make that decision for your career and why was that the best decision for you?
My decision to launch out as an independent was primarily made because my recording budget from my record label was constantly shrinking. I began to think from a business perspective that I could front the cost of the recordings and then own the masters outright and then be freed up to have total control at that point. This has really proven to be the best decision for me career wise for a number of reasons but primarily because it has allowed be the blessings of marketing freedom, financial benefits, total creative control from start to finish, among others. One of the things I like about being independent is the ability to think creatively about marketing to your fans.
6) Who inspires you personally, professionally and/or spiritually?
I'm personally inspired by my family. I am blessed with a kick-butt wife, two beautiful boys and another child on the way (wife is due in February). Spending time with them
Makes me feel like the wealthiest man alive.
I'm professionally inspired by new art. I went to a Ray LaMontagne show in San Diego about a year ago and left feeling so inspired to create a record with a new sound, and that concert was literally what helped make this latest project happen.
I'm spiritually inspired by my church. I'm a pastor at a church called "The Shoreline" in San Clemente, Ca. Serving together and doing life with that community has been a huge blessing these past two years. It's been a huge gift to my family to have their support of my artist career and I've been poured into hugely by our lead pastor George Hulse and my fellow friend and co-worker Seth Ebel. Those two guys have been huge spiritual inspirations to me lately.
7) Do you have any inspiring and/or humorous stories from visits to radio stations (in recent days or days gone by)? (We can change the names of guilty parties.)
No.. other than the fact that I completely forget all of my own song lyrics virtually everytime that I sing a song live on-air. I'm not sure what it is about radio stuff that causes my brain loss, but I can pretty much guarantee that if I sing a song on-air for you.. there'll be some freshly inspired live moments in the song (smile)
8) Fill in the blank. I can't start my day without:
Coffee, it's a crutch.. I know, but if I'm honest I'd have to say caffeine. It's good to know that so many others share this in common with me.
9) What song (any song from any time) do you wish you had written?
Bruce Hornsby - "that's just the way it is"... not sure why, but that song owns me when it hear it.
10) Do you have much time to check out other artists' music? What are you listening to right now?
I go through seasons of doing a lot of listening to doing no listening of music. It's weird, but I think I just get tired of music for seasons and then I crave it. Lately I've been doing a ton of listening to music. I've been reminded lately that there's just so many amazing talents out there. It's a unique time I think for creativity because technology has made it possible for virtually anybody creativity to be heard. I feel blessed to be able to do what I do for a living and I always feel that way when I finish a new project. So to answer the question, yes, I'm listening to a lot of other artist's music right now... guys like The Swell Season, Ray LaMontagne, Matt Redman, Coldplay, The Civil Wars, Josh Garrells, and many more.
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