10 Questions with ... Devin Williams

1. Brief Intro/Synopsis

I was born in California, in a little town just outside of Fresno. My parents were both musical and they had a band together as well as a studio at our house. I remember spending lots of time hanging out in the studio and playing my Dad's Hammond B3 organ. I loved creating music and I still do! I remember writing my first song with my Dad on that organ at around the age of 7. It was also around this time that I began going to church with a friend and I wound up getting my Dad to attend as well. Going to that church changed my entire life and future. My Dad dedicated his music to the Lord and I started singing in church on Sunday mornings. My parents had been divorced for several years and we decided to move back to my Dad's hometown in Kentucky. So my 6th grade year of school we made the move and it was a major culture shock for me going from CA to KY! That move was one of the best and hardest things to ever happen to me in my life. I moved away from all my friends and my older siblings who had moved out on their own. Away from all things familiar, I learned to play the drums and guitar and I started my first rock band when I was 15. When I was 17 I was preparing to graduate High School and I knew that I would be faced with a lot of major life decisions. The Lord began to call me into ministry and to trust Him with my life. I surrendered to ministry on a Wednesday night in October and He continued to direct my future. Of course there's much more to the story than what I can write here. God continues to amaze me in this walk with Him! Nashville TN is now home to my family which includes my beautiful wife, and our 3 sons. We love living and working here as the city is just close enough to enjoy but you can always get out to the country if you need to get away. Also, the music business is here and I can work with some of the best talent in the world!

2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?

A normal day can sometimes feel a bit mundane because real life isn't always stage lights and raging guitars! I work a day job, Monday to Friday, doing some IT work and I also work at a church leading worship on Wednesday for the youth group and also Sunday mornings for the main services. When I go out on the road on tour, I take a break from the regular jobs and enjoy meeting people across the country and the world rocking concerts and doing ministry. Every morning must consist of coffee regardless of where I'm at in the world!

3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?

I listen to so much music its difficult for me to have just one song or an album stuck in my head. I enjoy songs and artists with something to say in both their music and their lyrics. I like loud guitars and fat drums, preferably real drums but sometimes a cool loop might fit the song best. A few months ago I was stuck on listening to the Foo Fighters Pandora station. I love the raw energy and raging guitars!

4. How much do you travel? What are the challenges? How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home?

Being an independent artist has some difficult challenges but it also has a few perks. I get to determine when and where I tour and how often. Typically if I'm only out for a 3 or 4 day run of shows, I just take the band and we get out and do the work and ministry and get back to our families as soon as we can. When I have tours that are longer than that I try to take my family with me. I try to book our longer tours in the Summer so school for the kids is not a problem and we can be gone longer without having to get back home. A couple of years ago I did a tour in Sicily and was away from all family for about 15 days. I'm thankful for FaceTime but it was tough trying to explain to my 3 year old son why I couldn't be there to hold him. It gave me such a better understanding of our military families and people who have jobs where they must spend extended time periods away. My short time away is nothing compared to others who may have to be gone for 6 months to a year. So now I try to plan my extended tours with the family!

5. What Artist or Pastor has had the greatest impact on you?

I'm so thankful for the pastors that have spoken into my life and prayed over me for God's perfect will. I don't have just 1 artist or 1 pastor as so many have helped me along this journey. The pastor that encouraged me to surrender to ministry was Tim Osbourne. Tim also was the one who performed the ceremony at my wedding. He has a heart of gold and when he would present the invitation he was honest. He wanted to pray God's favor in your life, see you saved, and that was it. No other agenda. And also my pastor Kyle Burchett who gave me my first opportunity to be the music director of a small church in Kentucky when I was 18, right after high school. After a year off from school, Kyle did not want to see me leave but for my benefit he encouraged me to go to Bible college and study music.

6. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?

On my last tour in Sicily we were playing our last event of the tour. We had a packed house and we were also televising the event. We sound checked and everything was almost perfect. We played through the entire set without a hitch and we were on our last song. That's when it happened... I decided to take a run with my guitar through the crowd. Things were going well, i was high fivin' fans and playing riffs like crazy and then I tripped up a very small, hidden stair. I didn't just fall, I completely wiped out! I face planted and slid a few feet... I was so embarrassed but instead of just laying there and rolling up into a ball of shame, I jumped right back up like that was supposed to happen. I ran back on stage, sang and played the last chorus with my guitar severely out of tune and finished the night. Yeah that was probably the most embarrassing for me. There are a few others but that one still stings a little.

7. Take us through a couple songs on your latest project, WE ARE FOREVER YOURS.

Well, it's a little softer than some of my previous albums. I love rock music but I also lead worship and I wanted to have songs that audiences could sing along with me. I was at a concert and explained it like this, "Rock and roll is in my blood but worship is my heart." Instead of heavy guitar grooves and riffs I focused on singable melodies and worshipful lyrics.

So far, our audiences seem to really enjoy the addition of a couple of original worship songs in our rock set. Also, I've been sharing these songs on Sunday mornings with my church and I see our members singing along and worshiping through the new songs.

One of the songs that is on the record is called "Hear our Hearts Sing" which I wrote the first verse and chorus to this song several years ago. I wasn't planning on making another worship record at the time but the song came to me when one of my friends was battling cancer. The first verse talks about resting at God's throne and laying down all our cares at His feet. He hears every cry and knows every desire of our heart. The bible says that he gives us the desires of our heart!

Another one that audiences seem to like is the title song of the project "We Are Forever Yours." This is our latest release to radio and it seems to be the one people are able to sing along with the easiest. After several concerts, I've had a few pastors and fans ask me to send them the charts so they can start playing it on Sunday mornings. We Are Forever Yours is about worshiping together with passion for God, to seek His face and not his hand.

8. What organization/service group are you affiliated with?

I have been working with Compassion for several years now. My family sponsors a little girl in Kenya named Juliet. I chose to work with Compassion because I know they are sharing the love of Jesus with the children and the money we give is being used for the ministry.

9. Person you'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question

I'd love to have a conversation with Chris Cornell the lead singer for several amazing bands and also had a great solo career. He was one of my childhood heroes and is part of the reason why I fell in love with rock n roll music. His writing of music and lyrics and storytelling has always amazed me. I had always hoped that someday we could work on some music together or at least I would have the chance to shake his hand! Through his lyrics and his life one could see that he was a spiritual person but I'm not sure if he ever made Christ his Lord. He was taken too soon and he will be remembered as an inspiration to many musicians and artists.

10. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse?

My life verse has to be Proverbs 3:5-6 -"5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." I love this verse because so many times my brain can't seem to understand a situation or a problem that I'm facing and this scripture reassures me that no matter what, I can trust in God. Its our responsibility to do everything we can that we know is right but even then, we may not understand. And thats ok. There is a peace that comes with completely trusting the Lord, the Creator of all things!