Catching Up With ...Kutless, Christian Music Interviews, Features

Catching Up With ...Kutless

Andy Argyrakis : Copyright Christianity Today International

What inspired the new CD's title and the songwriting direction in general?Jon Micah Sumrall The title track was inspired by my own personal experience resulting from a freak skiing accident. I spent most of the past two years dealing with surgeries, physical therapy, and shoulder rehabilitation. I found myself often frustrated and asking God why this was happening to me again. And this was just one of several injuries I have sustained requiring surgery. The injury was setting me back in everything I was doing, making performing extremely difficult.If I was supposed to be sharing our music with people, how was I to do it broken and bandaged up?Through this time, however, God showed me a few reasons why he allows things like this in our lives. I realized that I turned to God more frequently as I prayed for help, and I began to really appreciate the times that my body was in good health. That's when I realized that in order to truly experience good times you have to have the bad times as well.We need to feel to be alive. If we didn't feel, we wouldn't hurt, but then we wouldn't truly experience enjoyment or pleasure either.We have to have the tough times to appreciate the good times.It is from this concept that the song "To Know That You're Alive."Quick takes:

Where are you from originally?

Portland, OR

Favorite place you've traveled to?

Switzerland

Best meal you prepare?

Steak

Pet peeve?

Scraping metal silverware—it's worse thanfingernails on achalkboard.

Your most annoying habit?

I breathe really loudly when I sleep.

What makes you laugh?

Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan in a movie together

Your favorite web site?

Other than Kutless.com, of course, Yahoo.com—it's like the

portal to everything.

Last good book you read?

The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg

Last good movie you saw?

Iron Man

Band/artist you're listening to the most right now?

All American Rejects

Band/artist that comes closest to your sound?

Somewhere between Nickelback and Foo Fighters

Age you became a Christian?

2.5

Your favorite Bible verse?

Psalm 37:4

Last lesson God taught you?

Sometimes we need to hurt because it causes us to rely on Him and … to know that we are alive.

Does that song represent the general theme of the album?Sumrall Overall, the songs primarily deal with issues that we have either experienced or else stuff that's been on our mind as we watched other people go through tough experiences. Our hope is that our songs will encourage and challenge anyone who listens to them.Which is your favorite song on the album and why?Sumrall There are two that I am really excited about right now. On the mellower side, I really like "I Do Not Belong."As for the rock 'n' roll side, "The Feeling" is a fun song with a very different musical approach than what we've done before. In what ways did Kutless shift musical styles with this album?Sumrall We've tried to evolve stylistically with every record, but I think this record has more of a "fresh" sound than we have ever accomplished before. That's partly due to the fact that we changed every part of our previous formula—from the producer we work with to the studio we record at. Also, [guitarist] Nick DePartee joined our band just over a year ago and was a big part of the songwriting and recording process this time.I think his addition brought some very distinct and positive changes to our overall sound. Why was it so important for you to work with a new producer and seek out an updated sound?Sumrall Prior to this record, we have used Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Hawk Nelson) for every project we have done.We felt it was important for us to freshen up our sound [with producer Pete Kipley, who's worked with MercyMe and The Afters] and not put out a record that was too predictable. Aaron is a very talented producer, however. We just needed something different from what we had done in the past.What was it like recording strings at Abbey Road Studios in the footsteps of The Beatles?Sumrall It was absolutely incredible.Working in a studio with so much history with some of the finest musicians in the world was truly a dream come true. While we were in London, we also did our photo shoot for the record, going to locations throughout the city, adding to an already amazing trip.What overarching message do you want listeners to take away after listening to this new album?Sumrall We have always wanted our listeners to know that God loves them individually and that there is a better way to live if we simply allow God to take control of our lives.This has always been our intention and the heart behind every song that we write. It is very simply a message of hope and love.For more about Kutless, visit our site's artist page. You can read our review of To Know That You're Alive by clicking here. Check out Christianbook.com to listen to song clips and purchase music from Kutless© Andy Argyrakis, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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