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10 Questions with ... Julian Drive
January 26, 2009
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NAME:Julian DriveTITLE:Band
Line-up:
Shane Bowers (vocals, guitar)
Shaun Bennett (keyboard)
Jesse Triplett (guitar)
James Nitz (bass)Label:
Inpop RecordsDiscography:
My Coming Day (January 27, 2009)1) Introduce the members of the band using personality traits?
Shane: Deep and somewhat serious but with a good sense of humor, business-minded, extensive planner and thinker, takes a logical approach to life and ministry.
Shaun: Talker, for sure. Likes to win people over with humor but has a serious side, too. Has a sensible business mind and has a very proactive mindset, which is so helpful in our ministry.
Jesse: Like Shaun, likes to win people over with humor. Has a genuinely good heart. Very laid back.
James: Quiet personality but when he speaks, it's usually hilarious. Though not as vocal, he has clear understanding and awareness of God in his life.
2) Can you offer a brief look at how the band started and eventually signed with Inpop Records?
It started with a few kids in a youth group in Athens, GA. I (Shane) came in to help lead the students in worship, alongside my brother-in-law who was the youth pastor. Shaun was actually the drummer then. After Jesse moved to the church a few years later, we started getting noticed as more than a youth group band and played more and more. After national exposure on TBN in 2004, doors opened, leading to an independent record in 2007. We worked with producer Lynn Nichols and he felt great about the spirit of the band as well as the music. He encouraged us to aim higher and began shopping a deal in Nashville. Ultimately we connected perfectly with Inpop in early 2008 and inked a deal. It was a new beginning of sorts, and we were so excited to have the opportunity to work alongside of such a respected label.
3) What's the message you hope to convey through the new album "My Coming Day"?
Hope, and that it's never too late no matter what the circumstances are when you know Christ as your personal savior. He'll never give up on you. Most all of the songs have this theme.
4) What is your favorite city/venue to play?
This is tough. We love playing anywhere that folks are willing to listen. If I had to say, I guess anywhere in Florida is always nice, simply because we have a good fan base there. And we love the sunny weather.
5) Is there any special story behind the radio single?
We were broken down on the side of the road in our old bus. Most of the guys got in their bunks while we rode out the storm, except Shane and Jesse. The song just sort of happened. Jesse strummed his guitar, not fully aware that Shane was even paying attention. Shane got a pen and paper and they wrote the song right then and there.
6) Was there a moment in the studio, working on the record, that you thought, "Ah-ha! Wow. Now we have a record!"?
As soon as Shaun laid down the sweet sounds of his scratch vocals, we knew we had something special.
7) What's your favorite song to play live?
"Always There"
8) If you weren't doing music, what would you be doing?
Shane: I'd probably use my degree and go back to banking by day, which is what I did before I went full-time. I'd still do as much volunteer ministry when I wasn't working my day job.
Shaun: I'd probably go back to school and secure a degree and find some way to plug into ministry.
Jesse: Please don't make me think about that.
James: I'd fall back on my degree and get a desk job.
9) Life on the road isn't a cakewalk. How do you remain friends while being co-workers?
It's odd, but we've really managed to remain best of friends through all of this and even hang out extensively when we're off the road. We just all have a mutual respect for one another and realize we're all in this for the same reasons. We all are in unity in realizing that we're so fortunate and blessed to do what we do. Therefore it makes it easy to do this every day. We all have specific jobs on the road, so that keeps us structured too. I think the hurdles we've had to overcome have helped us grow as a unified team as well. What didn't drive us to insanity only made us stronger and closer because there have been plenty of curveballs thrown our way!
10) If you take one aspect of hometown Georgia and implement it in every city in America, what would you share?
The awesomeness of Georgia football, of course, and the convenience of mid-sized town USA.
Bonus Questions
1) What song (ANY song) do you wish you had written?
"Rescue" by Jared Anderson. This song is so powerful and we've actually done it at altar services. I've said that I wish I had written that many times, simply because it's so powerful.
2) Who would be your dream artist to record with?
Bon Jovi
3) If you could join any band, past or present, which one would you join?
If we're talking about strictly music, the Eagles for sure! From a musical standpoint they had it all: great harmony, musicianship, great songs -- a power group!
4) Any musical guilty pleasures?
Shane: Hanson
Shaun: New Kids on the Block
Jesse: Michael Bolton's Christmas album
James: Sade
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