10 Questions with ... Spur58

NAME:Spur58 TITLE:Musician LABEL:Indelible Creative Group

Brief Career Synopsis:

Line-up:
Aaron Ivey - lead vocals, piano
Steven Bush - bass
Chad Martin - guitar
Jimmie Ingram - guitar
Guy Roberts - drums

Label: Indelible Creative Group

Discography: Sleepwalkers - 2006

1) Introduce the members of the band using musical history and personality traits.

My name is Aaron, and I play piano and sing. I grew up in the Houston area and have been singing and playing music since I can remember! I started the band while I was in college; there were some other guys playing music with me before I met the guys that are currently in SPUR58.

I met Bush in college (he plays bass). He was the weird, quiet, quirky guy in class I was always afraid to talk to. We probably had two or three classes together over a couple of years, but we had never spoken a word to each other. Some call him mysterious; some call him deep and introspective. Not sure which is true, but when we finally spoke after a class one day, we realized God was bringing our paths together to play music in the same band.

Chad is the youngest guy in the band, and he plays electric guitar. Chad originally played bass (He wasn't very good at it, but he held the whole notes solidly!), but he switched to electric guitar when we met Bush. Chad's personality: he's the band jester. Chad is the guy that makes you laugh. Not because he tells funny jokes, but because he is inherently funny and goofy. He is either extremely excited and funny, or his polar opposite, extremely funny and excited. There's no in between with Chad!

Jimmie played electric guitar with a few other bands in Houston with Bush before we all met. When we met, he was living on Bush's couch. After meeting Jimmie, we decided to add a second guitar and felt he was a perfect fit. OK, his personality: Jimmie is the most straight-forward guy I've ever met. You will never have to wonder what Jimmie is thinking. Jimmie is also the guy that will tell you a story 200 times, each time forgetting that he's already told you the same exact story a few days earlier. So, I just act like it's the first time I've ever heard it; he tells it, I listen again and give the same exact reaction. He never catches it. (Until he reads this, then the truth will be known.)

Guy plays drums and joined the band in January 2006. We met him in Nashville, and he was definitely a missing link from a musical and personal standpoint. We were excited that God had allowed our paths to cross. Personality, where do I begin with Guy? He is one of the funniest guys I know. And, even better, he understands my humor, which is why we get along so well. The problem with Guy is that he has addictive behaviors. He is 100 percent addicted to Yoohoo, Star Trek, anything written by Aaron Sorkin.

2) Can you give us a brief history of the band and how you found Indelible Creative Group?

We moved to Nashville almost four years ago to connect with a local college Bible study. We had a strong desire to do ministry within a local consistent church and felt God opened up great doors for us to lead worship every Wednesday night in the Nashville area. We were a part of that ministry for about two years and enjoyed every second of it. As a few labels approached us, we started thinking about things we never intended to think about. We hadn't moved to Nashville to get a record deal, and honestly it's not something we were even necessarily pursuing. One label that really stuck out to us was Indelible Creative Group. They really understood our heart for ministry and the vision we had for music; we knew it was a great fit. We have amazing support from everyone involved with the label, and it's been a very out-of-the-box relationship from the beginning. We are blessed to be connected with a label that we love. We signed a deal with Indelible in May 2006 and the first record released last October.

3) What's the message behind SLEEPWALKERS?

The message is this: If you're going to claim to be a follower of Christ, you've got to wake up. You've got to notice life around you and truly live it. You're created to be this magnificent, bright light for your world to see; so be alive! Too many times Christians are asleep. Much like those who sleepwalk at night, we have the tendency to just walk through life with eyes closed; we miss opportunities around us to love and serve people because we are so fixed on our own agendas, dreams and goals. The record is a plea to our generation to wake up, notice life around and truly be the light of the world.

4) What's your favorite song to play from the record?

It changes! Right now my favorite is "All to My God and King." One reason is because I believe in the message of "I find my worth in your majesty, I find myself in you've captured me." Second because the ending just gets ridiculously crazy and loud.

5) How do you guys stay friends as well as co-workers? What piece of advice would you give newer bands?

We've always had a sort of philosophy we try to live by as a band. We are friends first, co-workers second. If we try to serve people around us, speak truth into their lives and truly minister to them, yet treat each other without the same compassion and empathy, we miss the point. The friendship we have with each other is real because it is rooted in a deep regard for each other. We truly care about each other and each other's families. It's more important than touring, music, record sales and radio charts. When the focus is not on us having true Christ-like community within the band, we become less effective to the people around us. To new bands I would say this: if relationships inside the band are not working, you'll never be as effective as you dream of. Do whatever it takes to serve, respect and support the guys (or girls) that you work with. Sometimes that means confronting them on something, other times it means giving space and saying nothing. Either way it requires showing immense amounts of grace, mercy and understanding.

6) Does SPUR58 have an end purpose in mind?

The mission of SPUR58 is to write and create musical experiences that speak into people's lives and push them to be and do more with their faith. Sometimes that may take the form of a song, other times it may be conversational. The end goal and purpose is the same.

7) What was a highlight of recording the debut record?

The highlight would probably be working with a great producer. We were introduced to Paul Mills early on in the label conversations as a potential producer for the new record. Paul produced Lincoln Brewster and Jason Morant's records, both of which I respect and admire. The process of recording SLEEPWALKERS was one of the most fun things I've done with music. Paul is a phenomenal producer and brought such an atmosphere of creativity to the table. It was an incredible experience, and I'm glad to have Paul as a producer and a friend.

8) What is your favorite part of band life and why?

My favorite part of band life is that I get to write, record, perform and tour! I enjoy them each equally. It seems they come in seasons: we record for a season then we're on the road for a season. They each bring their highlights and struggles, but I really do enjoy each one of them. Writing is something I thoroughly enjoy, too. I try to be constantly in the mode of writing. It seems if I try to "write a song," nothing happens. It usually comes from just the day-to-day journaling of my thoughts, feelings, struggles and joys.

9) What motivates you to create music?

Art moves me. A great painting, a thought-provoking photograph, an inspiring movie, a intriguing passage of scripture, they can all compel me and move me to be a better person and sometimes a more authentic, devoted follower of Christ. I've always seen music as such an amazing form of expressing things that really matter in life. It's such an amazing privilege to write a song, have people listen to it and enjoy it and just maybe be so moved and compelled by it that it actually affects their life. It's a huge privilege, and I don't take it lightly.

10) If you weren't doing music, what would you be doing?

Easy. I don't even have to think about it! A chef. Go ahead, laugh. Really, I love cooking (and my wife loves that about me). I would definitely want to own a really cool restaurant with great atmosphere, great vibe, great food and maybe some good music every once in a while!

1) What is your favorite city to visit?

Chicago or New York, these are by far my favorite cities in America!

2 ) What is your favorite road meal?

Pappasito's Mexican Cantina (located in the great state of Texas!)

3) Musical guilty pleasures?

Kelly Clarkson, "Since You've Been Gone," and Justin Timberlake. Although I didn't know sexy was gone, and I definitely don't understand why and when Justin was "chosen" to go retrieve it. I should stop before I expose something about my musical pleasures I will regret saying.