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10 Questions with ... The Longing
December 4, 2006
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NAME:The LongingTITLE:MusicianLABEL:Indelible Creative Group
Brief Career Synopsis:
Discography:
The Longing (2006)1) The members of The Longing tout some great work on their resumes. Introduce the members of the band using musical history and personality traits.
Jason Ingram (singer/songwriter): Now most known for writing hit songs for contemporary Christian artists like Bebo Norman, Joy Williams, Salvador, Point of Grace, Avalon and others. Personality: intense and driven.
David May (guitar): Played for many CCM artists including Joy Williams, The Katinas, etc. Personality: Happy, youthful, always moving.
Jono Brymer (bass): Played in church with his family for years, more recently played for worship leader Vicki Beeching. Personality: The quiet one.
Matt West (drums): Newest member of The Longing (yet in many ways, one of the original members as he played drums a decade ago for the Jason Ingram Band!) Personality: The communicator.
As relating to the group dynamic, it's like the Church: all different, all uniquely gifted, all broken, sometimes messy, sometimes beautiful, growing together as worshippers.
2) Can you give us a brief history of the band and how you found Indelible Creative Group?
The band basically came about after the music. It started as a humble outpouring of worship created simply for the Lord. However once finished, we realized it could have broad application for people as a worship tool. The Longing was the most organic name for a band that would support this music live: it's where we are; it's what we are.
We actually found Indelible through my co-producer on the project, Tom Laune. He had a relationship with Indelible President Chris Thomason from Chris' days at Integrity.
3) What's different about Indelible?
It's in their mission statement: "A media company with the indelible mission of helping build God's kingdom by creating remarkable experiences through media products that are culturally and spiritually relevant."
4) What's the message behind the self-titled debut? What do you want listeners to take from it?
My personal goal for this is ultimately that God would be pleased. On a more temporal level, my personal goal is that people connect with these songs and are drawn to a moment when these words and melodies resonate from their own hearts.
5) What would you consider to be the most important message on the record?
The songs have different themes, but there is certainly an undercurrent of brokenness that weaves through the album. Every time I write a worship song, I become so aware of the greatness of the one to which I am singing, and I become equally aware of my unworthiness. Who are we that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords lends an ear to our song. If I have anything at all to offer as a worship leader, it is only that I realize that I can't do it. Somehow in our weakness and in our brokenness, God is most glorified. He is the object we worship, and he is the means by which we worship. That is why our praise is so rich, our love so fulfilled, our eternal life so now.
6) Ministers or musicians: which comes first?
Ministry through musicianship. It is through the stewardship of our gifts and genuine worship with our talents that becomes the focal point of ministry. It is through grinding out our talents that translates into pouring out our hearts, which leads to ministering.
7) If you weren't doing music, what would you be doing?
No music? Perhaps working in the local church, developing leaders, maybe even running an organization committed to the development of the next generation.
8) Jason, you've written hit songs for others. Does writing for yourself or The Longing have a different process or feeling?
When I write for other people, I write for their voice. When I write for me, I write for my voice. Though I've evolved stylistically over the years as we all do, I didn't have to find my voice for this. It is the most natural and honest outpouring of my heart.
9) What's your favorite part about coming home?
Seeing my wife and children.
10) What was a highlight of recording this new project?
Watching God weave the right people in and out the fabric of this project, and having the opportunity to take that which he has given and give back in a pure act of worship!
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