INTERACTIVIEW: NewsboysNewsboys
LOVE LIBERTY DISCO
Sparrow RecordsFun, theology, and practicality. There are those for which these topics represent mutually exclusive life experiences. But for Newsboys, it has always seemed a gift for them to create projects that embody them all, side by side, woven together. Music expressing unabashed energy that you can't help but tap your foot to. Lyrics which, upon closer investigation, take moments here and there to genuinely explore some of the deeper aspects of the Christian experience. But never has this juxtaposition been more evident than on their most recent offering, Love Liberty Disco, where the guys give insights on "rediscovering God" and, in the process, manage to having a ton of fun along the way... not to mention, once again, reinventing themselves!
"The juxtaposition of fun and seriousness [over the years] could be a reflection of the band's heavy C.S. Lewis influence," offers guitarist Jody Davis, one of the many avid readers in the group.
But what is different on Love Liberty Disco? Well, it was different from the beginning explains lead vocalist, Peter Furler. "Most times, for every record we've ever made, we walked into the studio with five songs and we've dropped two of them and ended up writing the rest while the record was going down," he recalls. "We knew that was not the best way to do it. This record, we went in with 40 songs, and it was a great pleasure to be able to pick from that. If we didn't feel like doing a particular one, it was easy to move on and keep the recording process."
It's a process that had its initial tracks recorded in an intense, two-week session in January 1999 and then completed at a normal pace between June and September (most of it was done at Steve Taylor's White House studios in Nashville, TN). And, it seems, the luxuries of time and great preparation definitely paid off.
The end result is that "the record reflects the band growing up. It's a reflection of who we are now," comments drummer Duncan Phillips. Keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein adds, "This is what the band sounds like when we're playing live. A lot of times I've gotten comments from people who say 'Man, I love it on record, but live it's just awesome.' I think we wanted to capture more of that this time."
Musically, you do not have to listen long on this album to realize that Love Liberty Disco represents a new place for the group. The flood of live strings (arranged by Jeff Frankenstein), the extensive background vocal work, the creative edges to the songs... it all works to show off huge steps for the group musically. In fact, Phillips comments that, "we had an awesome time making the record...but we did really stretch...and push ourselves not only in the songwriting but in the arrangement and the recording of the stuff," he recalls. "I really saw everyone come to a new point musically..."
The "new place" is definitely one of an increased ability to express themselves and Love Liberty Disco is full of wonderful surprises musically. But for a group whose career has spanned over 10 years--delivering eight albums, selling over three million units and garnering numerous recognition awards (Grammy's, Doves, etc.)--the reality of growth and of rediscovery is inevitable not just in the music, but personally. It is particularly evident on this album. But why call it Love Liberty Disco?
A rare writing collaboration of everyone in the band (the writing credits bear all of their names), the title song is explained by Joel. "We've begun to realize that love and freedom and family are three key points in this faith that we have," he explains. "These are the things that we have as the body of Christ, and I think growing up in the church we forget that and neglect to let our neighbor in on it. It's really hit home that we need to be sharing this." And share it they have....
Reviewing the lyrics of the album, numerous truths are contemplated within the energy of the overall theme. "It's not like it's a carefully orchestrated thing...everybody just writes from their heart." Davis explains and Phillips agrees that, "as a writer, what you're going through comes out in your music."
As acknowledged, though, even rediscovery is rarely in complete answers and Love Liberty Disco reflects that as well by not always providing the answer, but sometimes just the questions. Joel comments that there is just, "a lot of vulnerability on the record. [It's all] coming from a vulnerable place, and you can't second guess that."
The album deals in generalities in some cases, but the experience is definitely a personal one for the guys. Jeff recalls "Good Stuff" as the song on the album that impacted him the most with it's message that "without love we are nothing." He explains that being a pastor's kid, "the guts of the Gospel can become mundane" and he's experiencing a new freshness there.
Phillips offers that he is "realizing [his] need for Him" and that "I Surrender All" hit him with the reality that "God doesn't love us because of who we are but because of who He is."
Citing "Everyone's Someone" as his favorite, Davis admits he's "realizing that I've had this idea that being a good example meant hiding your faults. [And that's not it...] it's about being real, being vulnerable under the grace of God."
And the fun? Well, these guys never seem to be at a loss for having a great time, and you'll have the chance to experience what I mean on their upcoming tour! Always the showmen, the Spring 2000 Tour (starting in February) is definitely a not-to-be-missed event with portable "blow up arenas" that seat up to 3,000 people! And the guys promise that the rotating drum set will be accompanied by a lot of other exciting surprises...
But the guys aren't standing still. They've already wrapped a video shoot in San Francisco, an album launch at the Statue of Liberty in NYC and a date in Brazil with over 100,000 attendees! Also, member Phil Joel, while still continuing to be a committed member of the Newsboys, is branching out to do his own solo album in the Spring (tentatively titled Strangely Normal). And next summer they start work on the group's next album! Do these guys ever rest?
It seems clear the boys from down under are committed to having fun but are Newsboys really theologians? I don't know, I guess as much as we all are (or should be...) yet, it seems there is a lesson to be gleaned from their fun loving seriousness. To honestly pursue God is a sometimes complicated matter full of questions, but the challenge of our faith does not have to sap our joy. Instead, the Father calls us to just the opposite--to relish the process, to be grateful that He loves us enough to patiently draw us through this life of rediscovering Him. And if we have fun along the way like Newsboys do in Love Liberty Disco? Well, I think, at that... God smiles.
Wouldn't it be cool to know which city Newsboys think has great people? Or who's the lucky person who gets to drive their bus while out on the LoveLibertyDisco Tour? Newsboys' Peter Furler gives the Force the inside scoop on all the details you've always wanted to know about the road.
If you could pick ANY song to be the "real" theme of this tour, it'd be:
"Everyone's Someone"If you weren't on the road right now, what would you be doing?
Writing songsThe best part about being on the road is: Meeting friends in each city
...the worst: Meeting enemies in each cityDescribe your bunk on the bus: Claustrophobic
The only thing that could make this tour better would be:
If my motorbike went fasterOne city on this tour you won't be forgetting any time soon:
Irvine, California--Great peopleMovie currently in the bus VCR: The Apostle
CD in the player: Tree (band from South Africa)
Bus driver's name: Mr. C.
Most over-served food: Deli-tray sandwiches
Most under-served food: Anything hot
Tell us a fan story: The other day I went to Taco Bell to get something to eat, and the girl serving behind the counter recognized that I was from Newsboys. She said that she and her family couldn't afford to go to the show that night and that her brother was playing our CD all day because he knew we were in town. I invited them to the show and when she went home to tell her brother, he flipped out.
Pre-show ritual: Chasing butterflies
Post-show ritual: Lying on my back on the bus couch, exhausted
Aside from American Express, what else should one 'never leave home without?' Toothpaste and toothbrush
FUN WITH NUMBERS
No. of people on the road with you: 55
Average hours o' sleep nightly: 4 1/2
No. of miles away from home today: 3,000
No. of minutes spent doing this survey: 7