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| The Advice |
There are many kinds of writers in the world: journalists, novelists, poets, speechwriters, and songwriters. Whether we create long stories or pare down our words into short poems, we all want to share Christ with the world through our writing.
Music inspires me to write. I love the single, Love Me Like That, from a great Christian band called The Advice. I've invited them here today to talk about songwriting, how to incorporate the Christian message into our work and to give us a few words of advice about perseverance. ~ Angie
Do you compose your lyrics as a group or is one person the principal lyricist?
It's really a song-to-song basis. Occasionally one of us will bring a song finished from top to bottom, but most of the time, at least two of the five band members are involved on every song. (from Matt Houston-vocals/guitar)
Your song, Your Love Sets Me Free is another one of my favorites -- it's one of those great songs that gets stuck in your head -- in a good way. What's the story behind it?
Your Love Me Sets Free was written back in 2009. It was the first song we wrote for the new record. Like many of our songs, this song was a collaboration of the whole band pitching in ideas. One of us brought the chorus, another brought a verse, and we all got together to fill in the rest.
The story we wanted to tell with this song is that of Ephesians, Chapter 2. Before we know Christ we're dead people living out our selfish desires. But God, rich in mercy and love, makes us alive with Christ. God's in the business of making dead people alive! Falling in love with Jesus is an experience like no other! It's the only way to experience true life! (from Aaron Bowen/Keyboards)
What's the message you want to send with your music?
That being a Christian doesn't mean you have to be boring. God wants you to have fun. He wants you to be happy. I think sometimes christians can get really caught up in the legalism rules and forget about the freedom that God's love and saving grace brings us. (from Jared Houston/Guitar)
Being a Christian in the music world must be hard at times. Have you ever been demeaned for your faith?
No, not really. If I have, it obviously didn't bother me. LOL! I just know that no matter what happens here on earth, I'm supposed to count it joy! (from Jared Houston)
It's hard to make a living in the arts, especially if you're a Christian. Do you have any advice for our audience of Christian writers?
It is definitely a tough market to make a living in. The best advice that we could give to someone striving to make it as a Christian artist/writer is the always put God first. In Matthew 6:33 it says to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and he will give you everything you need. Our God knows what we need and he will never leave us or forsake us. We've just got to be faithful to him.
The second part to this answer is ... DON'T GIVE UP! In our 10+ years of being a band, we have come across some amazingly talented artists, but they never made it because they gave up too early. If God has put a dream and a passion for something in your heart, run for it with everything you've got! You never want to be the old man or woman wondering "What if...," so whatever your passion is, pursue it with your whole heart and keep Him first. (from Matt Houston)
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Our God knows what we need and he will never leave us or forsake us.
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You never want to be the old man or woman wondering "What if..."
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If God has put a dream and a passion ... in your heart, run for it with everything you've got!
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| About the Band |
The Advice
Like many bands just starting out, The Advice spent their weekends practicing in their parents’ basement for gigs at coffeehouses and local churches around their hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. In the beginning stages the band focused on honing their sound and their line-up, says guitarist, Jared Houston “All of those different musicians we had in the early years of the band really helped shape our sound today.”
By 2007 the band had settled into their sound, and their final line-up. With Jeff Madden on bass, Aaron Bowen on keys, Sanchez Fair on drums, and guitars by the Houston brothers, with Matt providing lead vocals. These five provided the structure where their upbeat, catchy songs could flourish.
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| The Advice |
Music may be the universal language, but it is only in a relationship with God that people are truly united with one another. Bowen summarizes, “As a band, we want to set an example of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. We truly believe that God’s love is color blind, and we want that to be evident in every area of our ministry.”
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