10 Questions with ... Unhindered

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

BAND LINE-UP:

• Ben Smith (Keyboards/Vocals)
• Patrick Barrett (Guitars/Vocals)
• Christian Paschall (Drums/Programming)
• J.R. Collins (Bass/BGV)
• Ashley Dasher (Guitars)

LABEL:

Ee-Taow Records

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Be (2009)
• Unhindered Live Worship Experience DVD (2007)
• City Streets (Independent, 2005)

1. Introduce all members of the band using personality traits.

• JR: dark, mysterious, huggable
• Ben: the soccer dad next door, off the beaten path
• Pat: ADD bounty hunter, jokester
• Ashley: history professor
• Christian: getter-doner

2. Can you offer a brief look at the band's journey from start to working with Ee-Taow Records?

We started in 2003. Ben and Pat were leading worship for FCA while in high school. While in college, the other band members joined and the band began working more with Teen Mania Ministries (the group that started Ee-Taow Records). There was an indie release in 2005 and a DVD in 2007.

3. What's the message you hope to convey through the new album?

We focused on the idea of being what you're called to be and just doing Christian things. We are to be the salt of the earth and a city on a hill. We hope it helps produce people who understand who they are.

4. What is your favorite city/venue to play?

Giants Stadium in San Francisco

5. Is there any special story behind the song "You Are My Creator"?

This song is from our indie record. It is just a simple worship song that we wrote, but it has been powerful.

6. What's your favorite song to play live?

• JR: "Desperate"
• Ashley: "Father Will You"
• Pat: "Who Is Like the Lord"

7. Was there a moment in the studio, working on the new record, that you thought, "Ah-ha! Wow. Now we have a record!"?

When we were working on "Who Is Like the Lord," we had the full song, all the lyrics written but we still needed something in the first verse. We were working on musical and production tweaks. We added this freestyle spoken word to it on the fly and were like, "What was that?"

8. If you weren't doing music, what would you be doing?

• Ben: Stock broker
• Christian: Dippin' Dots
• J.R.: Tattoo artist
• Pat: Bounty hunter
• Ashley: Ninja

9. Do you have much time to listen to other artists' new music? Who are you listening to?

Christian: New Country

• Pat: Peter Yorn
• Ashley: Brad Paisley
• Ben: Coldplay, U2
• J.R.: Everything, all music is good

10. Do you have any interesting or funny stories from visits with radio stations/folks?

Not yet, but we've heard about the legendary work of Chris Hauser and Michael Johnson. Anything could happen.