By Sarah Fujimoto
Abandon Kansas, rising indie pop/rock band, recently released their debut release from Gotee Records, We’re All Going Somewhere. Wrecked for the Ordinary had a chance to catch up with Jeremy Spring, lead vocalist for the band, for an interview. Here’s how it went down:
1) Why this album, why now?
I wrote the music and lyrics for We’re All Going Somewhere on the road. I think the six songs on this ep are a great transition from our old sound into the direction we’re headed musically and lyrically. In the past we had a much poppier sound drenched in lyrics about heartbreak. The music on this disc is a step in a more mature direction and the lyrics emphasize broader issues of faith and philosophy. We were happy the Gotee was ready to put new material out right away, it’s been two years since our last full band release.
2) What are your inspiration for your lyrics, what does the process look like when you all write your songs?
We wrote half of these songs before we even knew Gotee was putting this cd out. Since it was written across the country across 6-7 months of touring, I feel like the sounds and attitudes change frequently, sometimes mid song. I write the words first, then find a melody and chord progression to wrap around the lyrics. Once I have the skeleton of the song figured out I bring the ideas to the band and the guys add their flavor. Since we can only practice once a week or so on the road, we have to write our parts and commit to them fast. Our songs are always evolving since we spread out the writing time. This winter we’re trying a new style of writing as a band. It’ll be much more concentrated and focused. We’ll see how that goes!
3) What are your thoughts about the song “I wonder if its me”?
This song was written in response to all of the people we meet at our shows on tour. Seems like everyone hates where they are from. They make claims such as, “When I get out of here, then I’ll be able to make something of myself” or “If I could just move to such and such city then I’d be able to what I’ve been called to do.” It’s the kind of “grass is greener on the other side” mentality that is getting a lot of people our age into trouble.
As a band, the four of us get to be in a different city every night, yet we struggle with the same issues we do at home, and then some. This song is a message to our listeners that our struggles with sin and finding out life’s calling rarely have much to do with our location and circumstances. When things continually go wrong despite the change in scenery, you have to start to look in the mirror.
4) Where do you think music is going, both now and in the future?
Music always goes two ways for me. What’s popular, and what’s art. Occasionally those lines get blurred and true artists create something popular. I think we’ll continue to see the pioneers of the music realm discover new sounds, new instruments, and new combinations of genres. Then pop culture will take those elements, blow them way out of proportion, and exhaust the ideas until the general public moves on to the next thing. I don’t see this cycle slowing down anytime soon, if anything it’s speeding up. A few artists are still coming out with timeless songs though, and those are the ones that people will gravitate to the most.
5) How are you all included with where you think music is going, how do you expect and envision your group to respond?
Our label and our resources are pre-dominately involved in the christian music scene. However, as a band, I couldn’t tell you a christian band that we listen to regularly. I hope that our band can continue to stay true to the artistic side of creating music that sounds good to all kinds of people without forgetting our roots in the church.
6) The title of your album is, We’re All Going Somewhere. Where do you think we are going? How are we getting there?
We’re all going somewhere is a simple title expressing how we all have goals, we all have things we’re shooting for, and we all have a story. A story that’s worth hearing. These songs are stories of our band and my faith journey. On the road we get to hear other people’s stories and it’s powerful. Ultimately, I think that each decision we make, big or small, has us headed towards God or away from Him. Even hesitation moves us away from Him, because our God does not stand still.
I want people to think about their lives, to think about where they are headed. I want them to start heading there today, not in a few years. I want them to think about the story their life is telling, and I want them to set out to make their life a story worth telling.
Visit the Abandon Kansas Band Website.
Listen to Abandon Kansas on Myspace.
Buy We’re All Going Somewhere on Amazon.
Sarah enjoys creating new things and old alike while traveling to new places. She enjoys art and restoration, a good cup of tea, and puppies. You can access her assortment of artistic entourages she creates here.