10 Questions with ... Hearts of Saints

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

LINE-UP:

• Craig Felker (vocal)
• Jason Killebrew (drums)
• L.J. Granstaff (guitar)
• Joel Purdy (bass)

LABEL:

• Revolution Art

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Hearts of Saints

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

Craig is the talkative one, which sometimes gets him in trouble with other band members (a.k.a. lead singer syndrome). Often he gets out of tearing down gear after a show because he's "building relationships." Just two days ago he conveniently scheduled a media interview during band load-in time and needless to say, we gave him quite the hazing.

LJ: The most laidback member of the band (as I type this LJ is driving our van still wearing his flannel pajamas). He's so laidback that we have to hide guitar capos in various positions because he ALWAYS forgets to bring one. We seriously have at least four capos on us at all times.

Jason: The total gear head and some would say the "brains" of the operation. His knowledge of sound/light gear far exceeds the rest of ours as evidenced by his sound production college degree. Jason is the "Peyton Manning" of the band except for the fact that he does most of the van driving when we're on the road (I imagine Peyton has his own driver).

Joel: The "youth" of the band, Joel has more energy and "spunk" than anyone else (although Jason is technically younger in age). Due to his "tenacity" Joel was given the nickname "Wolfman." Everyone else in the band gets quite the laugh out of that and refuses to call him by said nickname. However, LJ did purchase Joel a Wolf water fountain for Christmas this year that he found at a thrift shop (I wish I still had the picture).

2. Can you offer a brief look at how the band started and eventually connected with Revolution Art?

Jason and Craig met while going to school at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), south of Nashville. After playing in several bands together Jason brought LJ into the mix and LJ introduced Joel to the band in 2005. Touring independently and releasing an EP in 2008 (under the band's previous name Special D), manager Chris Markgraf was introduced to Coffee of GRITS by a friend. After several meetings Coffee and the rest of the Revolution Art crew flew to Orlando to see us at a Youth Pastor Summit at the Hard Rock Live in Universal Studios. Joel had a serious bass issue in the second song of our set. His batteries flew out of his guitar into the crowd unbeknownst to him and thought he had sealed the band's fate. Fortunately the label was impressed how we handled the incident on stage and eventually offered us a contract.

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

There isn't hope in this world but there is hope in Jesus. We really hope this album continues to change others perception of what worship music can look like.

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

Great question! Anywhere they'll have us. If it's in a theme park or by a beach, then it's YES!

5. What's the meaning behind the band name?

Our name comes from Philemon 1:7 where Paul writes to Philemon and says he's encouraged by his love and faith because he's refreshed the "hearts of the saints." We hope our music does the same for the churched and unchurched.

6. Do you have a favorite song on the new record?

We're going to say our current radio single "Racapture Me." Ha! Seriously we do love this song because the chorus was actually written spontaneously during a moment while leading worship. The song is about confession and crying out to God to recapture our hearts to the first love we once had in him.

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

We were excited about the whole record but after "Recapture Me" was finished we knew that we had a complete album, one that everybody could get something from.

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

Joel: I would probably be in Chiropractic school. I would travel much less but when I did, it would be to far-off exotic lands.

Jason: I would be installing sound systems and spending much more time in the studio producing.

LJ: I would definitely be in Florida with my brothers.

Craig: I would spend more time with our youth group. My wife and I are co-youth leaders. I would also continue working with foster children as social worker. I would also travel more with my wife whom I adore.

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

We're always listening to music when we're on the road and our musical tastes are very different. We do collectively love the new Switchfoot and Jars of Clay albums. Joel is a huge MUSE fan so he's been rocking their new album a lot. Craig's a big U2 fan and all of us really appreciate what they do. We also love the electronic influence from bands like The Killers. Other artists we really dig right now include Owl City, our good friends Pocket Full Of Rocks and Downhere.

10. Do you have any interesting stories from visits with radio stations?

After a long drive in exhausting conditions, we stopped at Power FM in Dallas to promote the "Art Attack Tour." Leaving no time for vocal warm up, Craig screeched and cracked through the complete first song! We were relieved to see people still came to the show that night.

1. What song (ANY song) do you wish you had written?

Joel: "I Can Only Imagine"

Craig: "Where the Streets Have No Name"

2. If you could join any band, past or present, which one would you join?

Joel: U2 or MUSE if they would have me, although it would've been AWESOME to play bass for DC Talk circa "Jesus Freak"!

Craig: I'd like to join Owl City. That guy's music is just SO catchy and lighthearted.

3. Any musical guilty pleasures?

Jason: Taylor Swift

4. Favorite meal while on the road:

Joel: I like to try the local "dish" as long as it's decently healthy.

Craig: Joel and I love to eat sushi but LJ and Jason are not fans.

5. You're stranded on a desert island. What three items would you want with you?

Joel: A yacht, a crate full of Lunchables and peanut butter.