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10 Questions with ... The Afters
December 13, 2005
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NAME:The AftersLABEL:INO/Simple Records Recording ArtistNOTE:The top-selling new Christian artists of 2005.
1) Congratulations on being the top-selling new artist in Contemporary Christian Music! What do you think has set you apart?
First, we have a great team around us who have done an awesome job getting our music out. We also had a great production team in Dan Muckala and Brown Bannister who helped make this an amazing record. We think the songs are pretty good to!
2) For those who arrived late to the party, what's the story behind your name?
Funny you use the word "party." The Afters is really an old English term. After weddings, graduations, etc. there are these formal gatherings for the wealthy and privileged in society. The "afters" popped up for those where everyone is welcome regardless how wealthy or privileged you are. We thought it fit God's family description pretty well. He accepts and loves us no matter who we are or what we have done.
3) The message of "Beautiful Love" wasn't your garden-variety Christian radio lyrics, why do you think it connected so well with Christian radio audiences?
Truthfully we aren't sure. Obviously we thought it was a great song, great hook, melody etc. Josh wrote it about his wife while she was on a mission trip so yes lyrically it doesn't talk directly about God or anything "Christian." But the spirit of the song is about love for our spouses and how that love can be an example to others of Christ's love. "Maybe all will see"
4) Tell us your funniest radio station experience so far. You can change the names (and call letters) to protect the innocent (or guilty).
We have two. First we were at a Christian station doing a live nighttime interview that was supposedly taking place at a Starbucks but the station just used background noise they had recorded while at a Starbucks to fool the listeners. Worked pretty well, we got emails from fans who said they were driving around town to all the Starbucks and couldn't find us. Then we were in California at a mainstream station that was playing Beautiful Love and after we did our acoustic set and interview the PD offered us all thongs for our wives with the stations logo on them. We took t-shirts instead.
5) What's the background to the album title, "I Wish We Could All Win?"
Simply that life is like a race as Paul describes. We know that in this life there are those that win and those that don't. We wanted our record and music to be about encouraging people to strive to win, to live for something greater than themselves, to win the race and capture the crown of righteousness that God promises.
6) What is the message you want to convey with this album?
Probably as above, a message of hope and encouragement. A message of truth in struggles and hard times. For instance "Someday" is a song about a dear friend who is fading away down a path of destructive behavior and nothing seems to be getting through to him. Someday the truth will be shown to him one way or another.
7) What is the mission statement of The Afters?
To impact culture through our music and actions. And in doing so and by doing so, honor God and share the message of hope and salvation.
8) What is your favorite part of band life and why (writing, recording, performing, touring, eating)?
Definitely performing, it's were we really get to see how our songs affect people and where we get to rock out!
9) Diagram for us you got from a Starbucks in Dallas to a music career in Nashville.
Matt and Josh worked together at a Starbucks and would bring their guitars in to work. They got in trouble for playing on the clock but the customers loved it. Someone invited them to do an acoustic show (as The Screaming Mimes) and then that led to other opportunities. Eventually Marc and Brad, also working at Starbucks, came along to complete the band that was now called Blisse. Mercy Me had us open for them several years ago when we were just getting started. When they started a label that called and asked us to consider signing with Simple Records. It was a great fit and then their partnership with INO made it even better. Several months before the record released we did a showcase for Epic in Dallas and they got on board to release it to the mainstream market and the rest as they say is history.
10) Tell us about your future tour plans?
Sanctus Real tour in the spring and then Europe in late summer. Not sure about the fall yet. And we have to fit in making a new record in 06 sometime.
Bonus Questions
1) Which character in the Bible do each of you most relate to? Why?
We all relate to John the most. Probably because his writings mean so much to us. He drives home God's love to you in several books. He constantly reminds us of God's love. We need to hear that and we want to share that.
2) Who would be a dream artist to record with- any genre?
Michael W. Smith, Paul McCartney, U2
3) Any practical jokes or hi-jinx on the road?
The last night of the Jeremy Camp tour we brought out a Sponge Bob pinata filled with Afters stickers and busted it open during Jeremy's set. We also inflated a 10 ft snowman on stage during his set. And finally switched his stool out for a kid's chair. We have a lot of fun!
4) Musical guilty pleasures?
Muse, Radiohead, Keane, The Daylights, Aqualung, The Black Keys, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney
5) What came before? (hee hee)
Before The Afters? Well, Starbucks and Blisse and Screaming Mimes...and so on.
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