10 Questions with ... Sanctus Real

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

This week, Sanctus Real releases its eighth studio project since forming out of Toledo, Ohio in 1996. It's the band's first album since 2014 and the first since the 2016 departure of band co-founder/frontman Matt Hammitt. The aptly-titled new album "Changed"-released via Framework Records-features a largely-revamped lineup, consisting of original members Chris Rohman and Mark Graalman along with newly-acquired vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter Dustin Lolli.

1) How would the band best describe its experience of the past year in three words? Could you then expound on those words?

Dustin: An emotional rollercoaster. We've had massive moments this year where it feels so clear that we are doing exactly what God intends us to do. Moments of clarity, purpose, and honestly, pure joy. Yet, we've also had moments where we felt like we were banging our heads against a solid steel wall, reinforced by two feet of concrete! Through it all, we knew we had to finish this record and we put most of our energy, time, and money into creating the music. This record is kind of a story in-and-of itself about where we have been personally over the last two years; so it's very meaningful to us.

2) In light of Matt's departure a couple of years back, was there a moment when you assumed Sanctus Real was finished? Can you describe the moment when you decided it wasn't time for the band to quit altogether?

Chris: I don't think I had an actual freak-out moment myself. Road life is a really tough balance, and I think the writing had been on the proverbial wall a little while. The years of touring have been tough on all of us, for sure. Internally as a band, we knew there were changes taking place very shortly after the release of the [2014] album "The Dream." My headspace at that point was geared towards promoting the album, and so the thought that we were likely disbanding with Matt's departure just took a while to settle in. During that time, I think my focus was on finishing that season of the band well, so that when a new potential singer actually did come along months later, I was caught more off guard at that point by how God was making it apparent we weren't quite done.

3) How was the process of deciding on Dustin as the band's new lead singer?

Chris: It's funny, because we never did any kind of traditional audition. We just didn't want to assume we were moving forward and therefore just find the best 'qualified' candidate. Our band has always been this thing that should have never gotten off the ground in the first place (if you could only hear our first few indie releases!). Looking as far back as when we were all in our early 20's, we were not the kind of band you'd expect to land a major record deal. We did have a passion for reaching people with the hope and love of Jesus, though. Everything was done with this homegrown mentality. So it followed suit that finding Dustin close to home was meant to be. His heart was in ministry and he's a family-focused guy like us, and in a very similar place in life. We didn't have him sing any Sanctus songs for months actually. It was all about relationship and getting to know him that gave us the peace to move forward.

4) Sanctus Real is far from the first band to continue on with a new frontman, but what are some of the biggest obstacles a band confronts in this situation? What have you discovered to be the biggest challenges so far?

Chris: I think we've been blessed in lots of ways in this transition. Even through dealing with all the challenges I can say we've all grown. If anything, I've viewed most of the instances when something just didn't work out as a sign it probably wasn't the right thing. From getting released from a label, a booking agency, management changes, etc., there's been a windfall of change. The challenge has been to keep pushing through them day in and day out. We all anticipated this being a fight to get another chance to just be heard. It's very reminiscent of the early days of the band, before we were signed. There's a thrill in that, but also now being many years later, and older, there's got to be a better realization of the risks and that can wear on you pretty quickly. You have to be in a place that you really trust and feel called to it and I can honestly say we still do.

5) Conversely, what have been some of the best aspects of Dustin's inclusion into the band so far?

Mark: Dustin's outlook on and approach to ministry is very refreshing and I believe an accurate picture of the heart of our Father. His lighthearted personality and incredible musical talents have brought a lot of fresh life to things in our camp.

Chris: The best thing about Dustin, professionally speaking, is that he definitely isn't in this to further himself. He's a guy that was totally content before the band and will be totally content if it ended tomorrow. Beyond that, he's become an incredible friend that came along and lifted us up in ways I don't think we realized we even needed.

6) How would you describe the studio atmosphere and overall spirit of the band during the creation of this new album?

Dustin: Mostly awesome! This record has truly been collaboration, and I can honestly say that we have become incredible friends during this project. Obviously during any creative endeavor there will be differences, but they were very minimal in regards to the great moments. Every producer was great to work with and we feel like everything that happened was supposed to happen.

Chris: I'm so grateful for the time we were able to spend writing together. Dustin and I practically wrote music every week together for the past year and a half. There was so much growth that took place because of that, and then when we would co-write in Nashville it just elevated it all to another level from there. We took so many steps that, really, looking back, felt orchestrated to allow us to get to this point and have a finished record we're so proud of.

7) Is there a running theme throughout this new project? Any subject that felt particularly easy or necessary to cover as you wrote for the record?

Dustin: We found the more we were writing, the more a theme kept coming up. The record itself is called "Changed" and while obviously the band has changed, the real reason we called it that is because we as individuals seemed to be changing so much. My wife and I have always had a saying for our family: "Situations may stink, but life is good!" Meaning that, although we may be in a particularly difficult time, overall, life is still a blessing. In fact, the harder it's felt in this season, the more I have been aware of God's presence in my life, and the more I have appreciated that success is not going to make me any happier than I was before the band, nor a better person. So, in a lot of ways, the theme of this album is joy in hard times. Peace in chaos. Hope when everything feels hopeless, and maybe to take us out of our present circumstance so that we can glimpse the bigger picture. God's love for us doesn't change whether we have a hit single or this record is the biggest flop in history!

8) What song is the highlight of the album for you?

Dustin: I have a couple. My favorite song is probably "Breaking Point." It is just a testament for where I think every human being has been. We recognize good things when we see it, we know how to treat people, how to love better, but man, it can be so hard to act those things out in our lives. My favorite line in that song says, "Where life and death met face to face, where love met law to rescue me," and I can say that I think we all struggle with where the law ends and where love begins. I hope it's a song that causes the listener to feel the angst and tension in the struggle and to maybe find their breaking point. The other song that has a lot of meaning to me is "My Hope Is In The Lord." It's the one song that I mostly wrote alone after a particularly difficult trip to Nashville. This business can chew you up and spit you out if you let it. I came home, said a prayer, grabbed my guitar and wrote that song in about fifteen minutes.

Mark: My favorite song may be "Unrestrained" because of its musical vibe and the lyrical message. Musically, it just has such a laid back and cool, alt-indie feel that I don't think I could ever get sick of. Lyrically, I love that it's worshipful in nature and touches on the promise that God's love can cast out all our fears.

Chris: I'll go with "Survival." This is a bit more rock and roll but still laid back. I'd like to think it's a song vibe Tom Petty would have dug. The song talks about wanting more out of this life than just getting by, more than just trying to survive. During this season, that's been our experience, a yearning to break the idea that just following suit to the status quo is ok. We want people to find the things in this life that draws them closer to a God that wants us to live our best life, not a half-realized one.

9) What has been the most noticeable difference, putting this record out through independent means, opposed to releasing through a major label, like you had the past SR albums?

Mark: I think the biggest difference is feeling such a greater level of personal ownership over the whole thing. There's no one dictating anything for us, every decision is ours to make. It makes you feel a little more proud of it and a little more nervous about it all at the same time.

10) What was the band listening to the most while making the album that maybe helped inspire its sound or message?

Haim, Bleachers, The Killers, James Bay, Francis and the Lights, Bon Iver, Needtobreathe, Brooke Fraser, The Lumineers, Paramore, Arcade Fire, U2, Brandon Flowers.