10 Questions with ... Downhere

NAME:Downhere TITLE:Band WEB:www.downhere.com

Line-up:
Jason Germain (lead vocals, guitar)
Marc Martel (lead vocals, lead guitar)
Glenn Lavender (bass)
Jeremy Thiessen (drums)

Label:
Centricity Music

Discography:
Ending Is Beginning (2008)
Thank You for Coming (The Live Bootlegs) (2008)
Thunder After Lightning (2007)
Wide-Eyed and Simplified (2007)
Wide-Eyed and Mystified (2006)
So Much for Substitutes (2003, Word Records)
Downhere (2001, Word Records)

1) What were some of the band highlights from the past year or so?

Jason Germain: The recording process is always a great time for us so the highlight last year was recording "Ending Is Beginning."

2) What's the story behind the first radio single "Here I Am"?

We actually wrote "Here I Am" in the "Wide Eyed and Mystified" bout of demos. It is just a simple prayer I wrote sitting at my piano thinking about calling and how walking with God through life is so much an adventure. Of course, I borrowed Isaiah's prayer in answer to the question God posed, "Whom shall I send, who will go for us?" I always loved that God's commissions are always optional but he is more stringent with himself.

3) What message do you hope is conveyed on the new album "Ending Is Beginning"?

This record is sort of a confession of how dependant we are on God for any sense of true hope -- not a reckless sort of optimism but a genuine look at things. To put it short, I hope people look to the resurrection of Christ as a source of hope.

4) Upcoming tour plans? What's on the books?

We've been out this fall with the Michael Gungor Band on our "Ending Is Beginning Tour" and we are going out in December with a number of artists on the Centricity roster for the first-ever "Bethlehem Skyline" tour. This is in support of the label's multi-artist Christmas CD. We're looking forward especially to hanging with our good friend and comrade Jason Gray.

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

For me it was when Marc pegged the vocals for the bridge of "All At War" on the first take. Stephen Gause, our producer, and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows and I had goose bumps. That's always a good sign.

6) What's your favorite song to perform live?

For me right now it would have to be "Hope Is Rising," as the lyrics really represent how I feel on the road sometimes. For example, "Just now I've reached the end of my line / just now I'm too tired to keep on trying." Those lyrics are pretty easy to sing when you've just driven your fourth 12-hour drive in four days.

7) As you leave the stage, what do you hope the audience takes home with them, other than a CD or t-shirt?

I hope people leave with a couple of thoughts and questions that they can take before God. And I also hope that they leave with a picture folder of a child to sponsor through World Vision.

8) Do you have any humorous or interesting stories from radio visits in the past year?

When we where at John and Sherri Rivers at the ranch, we played live, interviewed and did a live video stream in which my wife watched from home. We hammed it up a bit both on air and online, where I took our online viewers to view the camels on the ranch. My wife said, "You know, in the movie "Apollo 13," when the guys are doing a live video cast and they think that the whole world is watching but it was just the families and the NASA guys sitting in the control room. That's what the live video cast reminds me of." That made me laugh.

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

I keep my ear to the ground especially in the Christian indie world. I'm a big fan of the merry gang of New Englanders called The Wrecking as they are accessible future rock.

10) If you could have any job, not music related, what would you do?

Fireman

1) Who would be a dream artist to record with and why?

Probably Peter Gabriel. I think we'd have fun throwing some ideas at the wall. I would say the same with Jars Of Clay, as I think the process would be similar and so would the humor.

2) Favorite city to visit:

Belfast

3) Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?

Guilty only in the sense of not very popular, Celtic music. I play along with my tin whistle but my wife has to be out of the house!

4) Favorite book that you've read recently:

"Soldier of the Great War" by Mark Helprin

5) If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you want with you and why?

Two turntables and a microphone. The "why" is self evident.