10 Questions with ... Ashmont Hill

NAME:Ashmont Hill TITLE:Musicians WEB:www.Myspace.com/ashmonthill

Line-up:
Phil Thompson
April Thompson
Deborah Bullock
Wil Bullock

Label:
Axiom Records

Discography:
Ashmont Hill (2008)

1) Can you briefly introduce the band members using some musical history and especially personality characteristics?

Phil is 33, has been married for 10 years and has four children. April is 32 and getting married this June 21. Wil is 26 and Deborah is 22 and they have been married for a little over a year.

Deborah is the only one of the group that has any musical training. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2007. April has been leading worship at church since she was 13 years old. Phil, April and Deborah are siblings. There are eight Thompson children and they all grew up singing with their parents in church. Phil began songwriting because his older sister Theresa challenged him and that is when he realized he has a natural gift. April is also a songwriter as well as a choir director.

Phil has the most infectious laugh. When he starts, we all join in. Deborah is the know-it-all in the group; she is full of information. Wil is the political analyst. He keeps us up-to-date with the election and world news. April is the jokester and is very sarcastic (not in a bad way).

2) Can you offer a pretty quick rundown of the Ashmont Hill journey from your perspective?

Ashmont Hill was formed when our Dad asked the four of us to sing a song before he preached in August 2006. Phil and April were both writing songs and decided to go into the studio to create a sound. Axiom came to the table when Phil and April were pulling their finances together and began looking for producers to record. Axiom is the record label of our church Jubilee Christian Church and they decided to sign us and support us financially.

3) What's the message behind the debut album?

The message of our album is God's love. We truly believe that God loves everyone. The scripture that we are standing on is John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." We hope listeners know that God loves them and that he wants to have a relationship with them. They do not have to feel condemned, only loved.

4) What's the story behind the current radio single "Song of Glory"?

This song is about the glory of God. Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." We truly want the glory of God to cover this earth like the waters cover the sea. Our desire is to glorify God and lift him up above ALL THINGS.

5) You have been out on the road with Natalie Grant. What's that experience been like?

We love Natalie Grant and we are so blessed to be on tour with her. The experience has been wonderful. We love being on the tour bus and traveling to many cities in the U.S. that we probably never would have visited. Our plan is to continue to tour all over the world spreading the gospel through music. Natalie has been a huge inspiration to us and we plan to follow her lead.

6) What's the main reason you guys have come together as Ashmont Hill?

The main reason we came together and the main reason we travel and perform is that we believe this is what God has called us to do. He blessed us with the gifts to sing, write music and spread his gospel through song. We all feel this is what we were created for and we have one of the best (if not THE best) jobs in the world. We get to worship our King and lead others into his presence. At the end of the day, we hope to have inspired people to fall in love with God, we hope to encourage those who are discouraged and entertain those who love to spend time in God's presence. We truly believe that in his presence there is the fullness of joy and when we spend time there, our lives are enhanced and our relationship with him is deepened.

7) What's your favorite song to perform live and why?

Our favorite song to perform live is "Praise His Name." Phil wrote this song and the main focus is praising God and worshipping him in a real way. We feel that as we sing this song, we are joining in with the angels in heaven praising God.

8) As you were in the studio, did you have an "ah-ha" moment when you thought, "Now we have a record, and this is good!"?

Just being in the studio in Nashville (Music City!) working with Sal Oliveri, we knew we had something special. As each song came together, we knew we had a new sound and God was getting highlighted perfectly, so that's always good!

9) If you do anything outside of music, what would you do?

Phil is a real estate agent. April is a full-time minister of music. Wil is a farmer.

(Yes, a real live farmer! He takes inner-city youth to a farm during the summer and teaches the importance of agriculture and eating healthy.) Deborah just graduated from

Berklee so traveling with Ashmont Hill is what she has been essentially trained to do.

10) So, what's it really like to work with your siblings?

There is never a dull moment. We know each other so well, so we know when to give each other space and when to press an issue if there is any. We're not just siblings but we're also friends so that helps.

1) What artist would you like to record with (any genre)?

Darlene Zschech, CeCe Winans, Michael Gungor, Leeland, Nichole Nordeman and Fred Hammond

2) Favorite city to visit:

New Port Richey, FL. Our Aunt Joanie cooks Italian for us!

3) Favorite meal while you're on the road:

I guess it's chicken wings. We all love chicken. Ruby Tuesdays never gets old

4) Any musical guilty pleasures?

Disney songs??