10 Questions with ... Seth & Nirva

1. What does your artistic journey look like? Both as individuals and as a duo.

NIRVA: I fell in love with music when as a child I would listen to the radio constantly and sing along to my favorite pop songs. If you peeped in my room at the right time you would have seen me copying the dance moves as well. My family thought I was a little strange because of how I would put a song on repeat over and over singing and harmonizing with it-I just had to hear it "one more time."

While in high school, I entered a few talent shows and began performing at local events around Chicago. I wanted to be the next "Whitney Houston" as many other young girls did in those days. Over time though, God began to place a desire in my heart to use music for his purposes and glory rather than my own. When I decided to go to college in Nashville, TN, I had no idea that it was Music City. I studied vocal performance and after a while, found myself in the studio with artists that I grew up idolizing- folks like Richard Marx, Faith Hill, and Ziggy Marley. After college, I sort of drifted back and forth between corporate jobs and the occasional music gig, when suddenly everything changed. On a flight back home one weekend, I accidentally sat in TobyMac's seat. While I didn't really know who he was at the time, he was just starting out his solo career and was looking for a background singer. We got to talking on the flight and his manager asked if I'd be interested in auditioning. I auditioned, of course, and a few weeks later began a journey of traveling the country and world as a member of TobyMac's DiverseCity band-crazy how God works.

Toby actually signed me to an artist development deal on Gotee initially, but it just didn't seem to work out at the time. In retrospect, I can see how God wanted to delay this so that when I finally did step out to the front, it would be with my husband.

SETH: I grew up loving black gospel, hip-hop, and R&B music. Like Nirva, I also used to sit in my room for hours just listening and singing along to my favorite artists and songs. So, later in life when I got a call literally out of the blue to come be a background singer for one of my favorites, Kirk Franklin, I was completely beside myself. This happened between my junior and senior years in college. I had made a little demo "tape" as we called it, and it got passed to Kirk and all of the sudden I was headed out to Dallas and my life would be forever changed. I went on to sing background for many other artists including Donnie McClurkin, Cece Winans, and Chris Tomlin. I even got the chance to sing BGVs for a couple musical heroes of mine-Brian Mcknight and Whitney Houston. That was insane! All along, I had been working on my own, solo stuff, recording and doing concerts here and there.

The funny thing is, it wasn't until I stepped away from doing music full-time that I received a call from a label about signing a record deal. At the time, Nirva and I had released an EP together called "I Need You," but most of our time and energy was being spent on the young adult ministry we were pastoring in Tampa. So we were a bit surprised when Integrity Music called us and wanted to do a full-length album. As time went on, it became clear that we would be stepping back into artistry and itinerate ministry full-time. Since our debut LP "Never Alone" we have started to work on new music and are gearing up to release a new EP that we are really excited about. We learned so much recording "Never Alone" with Integrity. Through that process we really discovered who we are as artists, and I think this shows through in this newest release of "In the River" and the EP that is soon to follow.

2. At what point did each of you realize you wanted to make a career as singer-songwriters?

NIRVA: As I mentioned earlier, I had entered a few talent shows while in high school in Chicago. In one of these competitions I was put on the program as the very last artist to perform. My competitors were much more experienced than myself, and I was so nervous I thought I would have a heart attack. Many of my classmates attended the show that night though, and they began cheering my name so loud that I could hear it backstage as I was getting ready to go on. I faced my fears and sang the best I could and ended up winning-I believe due to all the cheering my friends had done rather than my actual performance. It was surreal though. That's when I knew I wanted to do this for the long haul.

SETH: You know, growing up in the pre-American Idol, pre-social media stone age, not everybody thought they could be a professional singer to say the least. I was actually a math major in college. I loved music, but I didn't know anyone in the industry and never dreamt of actually doing it as a career. But something did happen my junior year. I met a couple people who were in a group called "Truth"-they were massive to me back then. One of the guys in the group told me he thought I was gifted and could really make it in the music industry. His words shifted everything for me. Here was a guy that was doing it at "that level" telling me I could do it at that level too. I always loved music, but now I believed I might actually have a shot at it for real.

3. Were there any obstacles or insecurities along the way that seemed to initially threaten your artistic career?

SETH: Oh yeah. I absolutely hated being in front of people. I am a pretty extreme introvert, and used to be petrified of crowds. I have learned to overcome it for the most part, but I still get nervous before going on stage and I rarely anticipate it. But nowadays I have begun to actually enjoy doing live concerts and I'm so grateful for that.

NIRVA: For sure-although rare, there have been a few people over the years who have said things like we don't have what it takes, or that our songs aren't very good, or that there's just not a space for people like us in the industry. The key is to not let these damaging words take root in your mind. It is also a challenge not to compare your career trajectories to others. We try to be diligent to not look to the right or the left, but to keep our eyes focused on God and just be faithful to the task He's entrusted to us. We help each other to not get distracted by negative voices or unhealthy comparisons.

4. Nirva, after so many years on the road and stage with TobyMac/Diverse City, what has the adjustment been like the past couple of years? Has it been what you expected?

NIRVA: Honestly it's been quite a ride but a good one overall. The best analogy I can think of is riding on a cruise ship on the yacht club with a balcony view for 17 years only to step down and row your own little canoe LOL. But with every row you gain strength and wisdom and become even stronger than before. However, getting to do it with my soul mate makes it the best experience ever. Has it been what I expected? Well, you know we can expect a lot, but God is often up to other things like character, perseverance, and hope. All that to say, I wouldn't trade it for anything. One difference-when I showed up to Toby events I didn't have to think. The parts were ingrained in my head and we had a huge team that took care of everything from tour management to sound and lighting to stage management and catering. Now Seth and I are responsible for all these items and we are often running around like crazy on the day of the event making sure everything is taken care of. Not to mention the financial adjustment-being on retainer with Toby, I pretty much knew what we would have that month to count on, but now we often don't see where it's coming from or how we are going to make it. But we have seen God come through in the eleventh hour for us time and time again. It's been a faith walk for sure, but it has grown our confidence in His provision.

5. Is it challenging as a Christian artist living outside of Nashville?

NIRVA: Surprisingly it hasn't been very challenging. Sometimes it can be a bit inconvenient, and you can feel like you're missing out on things. But there are also advantages to not living in Nashville. There's something good about living outside of the hustle and bustle of the industry. It gives a different perspective on life-more of a "normal" setting. We got signed after leaving Nashville. It's interesting that most of our new music hasn't had any Nashville influence, and I think this has helped it to be more unique possibly.

SETH: Yeah, I would agree. We made this "In the River" cover for instance with our own band who live here in Florida. And our new EP was produced by a guy in the UK. And most of the writers on this record were either from the UK or New York, so it really hasn't made much of a difference for us not being in Nashville.

6. Both in artistry and in ministry, who's influenced you the most? Who did you grow up listening to?

SETH: Well, let me just start by saying I'm all about that 90's R&B so I gotta go with Boyz II Men, Brian Mcknight, Brandy, Lauryn Hill, India Arie, and Usher. I'd also want to add on the Gospel side though Kirk Franklin, Commissioned, J Moss, Virtue, and Take 6. As far as ministry, I'd have to say JP Moreland, William Lane Craig, and Dallas Willard.

NIRVA: For artistry, I'd say Cece Winans, Lauryn Hill, Brooke Fraser, Claude Debussy, and Hillsong United. In ministry, Dallas Willard, Juanita Bynum, Dr. Myles Munroe, and our old pastor from Nashville, Rice Broocks.

7. In your opinions, what are five of the most important songs of your collective lifetime?

SETH: Oh man, no fair. I honestly couldn't comment on that as for being important in the world at large. But here's the five most important in my development as a singer/artist-this will probably make you laugh. But these are songs I studied inside-out growing up:

1. "To the End of the Road" Boyz II Men
2. "Ordinary Just Won't Do" Commissioned
3. "Never Felt This Way" Brian Mcknight
4. "Stomp" Kirk Franklin
5. "Shout to the Lord" Hillsong Worship

NIRVA: Yeah, that's a really tough question, but my mind is reflecting on songs I've played more than any other songs in my lifetime.

1. "Clair de Lune" Claude Debussy
2. "Tell Him Be Alright" Lauryn Hill
3. "Mighty to Save" Hillsong
4. "Lord of Lords" Brooke Fraser
5. "Will You Be There" MJ

8. Since amicably parting ways with Integrity Music earlier this year, what was the motivation to pursue the indie artist route?

SETH: Integrity Music will always have a special place in our hearts. We had such an amazing experience with the label and still keep in contact with many of our friends there. We had started working on our new EP and were about half way into it when Integrity had a major leadership change. And while we love the new leadership (as well as the old), it became clear that we were going in two separate directions. They were shifting their focus more to Sunday morning corporate worship, and the music that was coming out of us just wasn't fitting in that vein so much.

At bottom we have worship leaders'/pastors' hearts, and so our ultimate goal is always to connect people to God, His Kingdom, and His presence, but we are in a season right now when our art is tending to be a little broader than the current "worship genre" allows for. We've even been getting some opportunities in secular settings like public schools and other outdoor events where we get to perform our music and share our stories including how Christ has impacted our lives.

We still do vertical worship songs (and there are a couple on our new EP), but we also do songs like "Brother" that have more of a horizontal message geared toward the times we are living in. As we've gotten to know ourselves better, it seems that the best route for us right now is the indie route. This has given us the freedom to express ourselves and our message without the artistic compromises and restrictions that often accompany being on a label. It has been really refreshing, and I think the music we are now releasing is by far our most authentic to date-it really feels like "us."

9. You recently released "In The River," your first radio single in over two years. What's the background on that single and what prompted you to take it to radio?

NIRVA: We actually just got together with our band members to do a fun little cover video with our iPhones. We had made sort of a remix with our own spin on it. When we put it out on social media, to our surprise the response was overwhelmingly positive. We were like, what is going on? And then a well-known radio station in New Jersey hit us up and asked for the song to play on their gospel stream. At this point, the song wasn't even available outside of our little video on YouTube. Then, to add to our shock, that same day they decided to add it in regular rotation on their main CCM broadcast, which they themselves told us never happens. Even the folks at the station were surprised. So we thought, well, maybe there is more to this recording than we thought. And so we decided to see what the other stations might think of it.

10. What's next for Seth & Nirva? What does the rest of this year and the start of 2019 look like for you both?

SETH: Right now, we are in the mastering process for our new EP, which has the working title "One Voice." One of the major themes in the album is unity among believers. In a time when it is so easy to divide and demonize those who disagree with us, we need a constant reminder that love and unity are still primary callings for the body of Christ.

And to be honest, we need each other right now. This can't happen though by softening up on biblical truth. We must hold truth and love together without sacrificing either. This can be difficult, especially in a culture that confuses love with acceptance of anything and everything that someone desires to do. But real love is grounded in and springs forth from a genuine relationship with God and a knowledge of the Scriptures. This is the topic we want to explore in more depth over the next year. So we are developing an event with the new album, as well as video parables and speaking elements that will address this topic in further detail. We hope to route our own tours taking this event all around the nation in 2019 using our newly renovated bus.

Long story, but we spent much of this year rebuilding an old tour bus (which is featured in our "In the River" video). If all goes according to plan, you'll be able to see this process soon on our YouTube channel as we are getting ready to try to make some episodes of this crazy project we embarked on. So, we are excited about this next season and to be a part of the story God is weaving together in the earth. While there is much to mourn these days, there are many reasons to rejoice as well. I think both of these are on display in "One Voice."