10 Questions with ... Robbie Seay Band

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

LINE-UP:

• Robbie Seay
• Ryan Owens
• Matthew Kidd
• Michael Lisenbe

LABEL:

• Sparrow Records

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Miracle
• Give Yourself Away
• Better Days

1) What's the story behind the single "Awaken My Soul"?

I write songs on planes. I don't know why. I think it's because my cell phone is off. I try and sit away from the band guys (I do love them) to get some privacy. And I'm silent for once! I wrote this lyric on a long flight to California. It's the prodigal story, really. Realizing my own sin and stubbornness made me a perfect match with the prodigal so I sat down to write. But the song is really more about the Father's response. God not only waits with forgiveness; he pursues us. His rescue follows us closely. So, awaken my soul. All this stuff, all the fame, it is loss compared to the powerful force of love that is the Father.

2) What is the message behind the new album Miracle? What was the inspiration?

The album came out of our community life at Ecclesia Church in Houston where we serve on a weekly basis. It is a collection of songs written and recorded over 10 about months. It is our response to life, to what God has been doing in our midst, as it happened. Music comes from that communal place, in nature, in worship, in stories, sermons, conversations. Part of the calling of a worship leader is to be compelled and obligated to voice the prayers of the community and live in the middle of what's truly happening in your community. That is far more powerful than simply regurgitating and mimicking music from other communities.

3) What has been a highlight or two in the world of Robbie Seay Band since the release of "Give Yourself Away"? Anything interesting happen between then and now?

Besides throwing the first pitch out at Yankee Stadium (which I totally just made up), I would say having "Rise" featured for six weeks on ads promoting "American Idol" was one of those experiences where even my Grandma was like "Oh, wow, young Robert, you boys sure are getting the music out there!" That was a lot of fun. Honestly, having the chance to play our music in great places, and even more so meetings great folks, that's the best part about what we do!

4) You have been bringing awareness to Danita's Children in Haiti. Do you have an update on that work or what are the current needs? What can people do to help?

I'm headed to Haiti in May to begin partnerships with several organizations with focus on clean water, orphan care, churches and malnutrition. I will be in Port Au Prince the entire time and unfortunately, Danita's Children is closer to the DR/Haiti border. I have recently spoken with the Director of Danita's and they are way beyond capacity. Plans for additional housing, hospital and new school facilities are being expedited. Visit www.DanitasChildren.org for more info.

5) Do you have any interesting, funny or inspiring stories from visits with radio folks?

I remember being at a great station in Indiana. It was a small station and the DJ was having the hardest time remembering how to say my name through the course of the visit. I reminded him "It's the like the body of water, or the letter." He assured me he would pronounce it correctly. As we pulled away, I told my friend Brian who worked for EMI at the time that I had actually not heard our single "Song of Hope" on the radio yet. Brian found that station on the dial just in time to hear: "Here is Robbie Say with Songs of Hope." We loved it!

6) What is your favorite song (if you can just pick one) from the new record?

My favorite song is "Let Our Faith Be Not Alone." I wrote that in my bathroom so I call it "The Bathroom Echo Song." I don't endorse daydreaming while driving. Bad combination. But sometimes, while driving my old beat-up SUV, I am suddenly halfway through writing a lyric before I even realize what is happening. These times are rare and I wish all my songs came as quickly. "Let Our Faith Be Not Alone" was a song that showed up in full force at my great surprise. By the time I arrived home, the lyric began to take shape and as I often do in a house full of crazy little ones, I grabbed my guitar, headed to the bathroom and locked the door. I don't have a fancy studio but the acoustics around my tub are fantastic! The song quickly became a prayer for our church, one that reminds us of the history of our faith: the martyrs and the saints, the thousands of years of the Church sharing the hope and good news of the gospel, the reformation. God is here to rescue us now just as he has done for a very long time.

7) What do you hope someone walks away with after seeing the band?

I hope they sense the values we place on art/music plus faith and authenticity. My records and shows are full of songs that have been lived out, good and bad, songs that have been living and breathing in the course of life in community and at home. I hope folks sense that the music has been some place before it finds its way onto a CD. And ultimately I hope they sense the hope that seems to resonate in our songs.

8) Who inspires you personally, musically and/or spiritually?

Rich Mullins (even after his death), Donald Miller, Matt Chandler, my father Ed Seay, the E's (my three little ones), tons of great songwriters and musicians like Jon Foreman, Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett and Chris Martin.

9) Where can people find the band in the coming months?

Tour dates on the books: www.robbieseayband.com/events. We're very excited about some fall tours to be announced in the coming weeks!

10) Do you have much time to listen to other artists' music? Who are you listening to these days?

I do. Cory Chisel, William Fitzsimmons, Thad Cockrell, Breanne Duren, Frank Sinatra, Fernando Ortega, Derek Webb, Patty Griffin. I don't listen to a ton of artists, rather a smaller group of artists that really move me. I'm beyond grateful for songwriters and poets that inspire.