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Stop Trying to Make It in Music (Do This Instead) | Unspoken | The Upgrade w Joe Adevai #008
29 Plays23 days ago
Pastor Joe sits down with most of the members of Unspoken, the Christian band that got their start playing a coffee house at Grace Church for five or ten people over 20 years ago. Chad, Ariel, and Matt walk through what 22 years of touring really looks like, from being poor and alone on the road to watching God open doors one nursing home, subway platform, and college campus at a time. They break down how Christian music actually makes money in the streaming era, what it costs your family when you chase a calling that doesn't pay for years, and why the wives are always the real heroes of the story. They also get surprisingly real with any young artist listening: if breaking into the music industry is your goal, you're already set up to lose. Whether you want to make it in music, build a business, or just figure out what you're called to do, the wisdom in this one goes way beyond the stage. And yes, Pastor Joe made them sing at the end. It's only up from here.
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Transcript
Finding Purpose Through Service
00:00:00
Speaker
I think you just go in and serve people and and in that you find purpose because we were created to serve so you're never gonna lose there and and that God will bring you to places and open doors as he sees fit. I mean I don't even know how else to say it. There are so many more.
Introduction to The Upgrade Podcast & Unspoken
00:00:16
Speaker
The internet has proved that there are so many more talented people than me matt and ariel oh excuse me he said i ain't found one you and matt you met oie i'm sorry it's a joke hey everybody welcome to the upgrade it's pastor joe here i'm pumped somewhere in north brunswick
00:00:39
Speaker
The upgrade, it's only up from here, and I got some great people here today. This is most of the members of a band called Unspoken. yeah And if you don't know who they are, you need to get with that music because it is phenomenal. Go to Instagram.
Unspoken's Journey & Identity in God
00:00:54
Speaker
Where else can they go to hear you guys? Everywhere. Spotify, Apple Music, all of the above. To give you a little background, they played in the Coffee House here like 20 years ago, and ah they had just formed. I think there was like five or ten of us watching, and I remember saying, that band.
00:01:09
Speaker
And you did a song called Who You Are. You're probably sick of that song, but that song changed my life. Because it was about no matter how far you've fallen or no matter where you are, know who you are in God. So it's been like a mantra of mine. And that's why. When they come and do a concert, like, play who you are. And they look at me like, please. We'll have a spot for that tonight. Anyway, so they started there and then just saw them grow. I was a small part of it. I think I invested in you guys early. Yes, you did. Because I believed in you.
00:01:45
Speaker
And, you know, I'm usually right. so They've had different members through the years, but ah the same core.
Meet the Band Members
00:01:53
Speaker
And I'll let them introduce themselves to you right now.
00:01:56
Speaker
I'm Ariel. I play drums for Unspoken, and I'm probably the oldest one in the right? Yes. Yes, he is. Definitely. Not probably. Definitely the oldest. It's just a yes or no question. I'm just making sure they know. They got cameras on. It's not me. I didn't ask to elaborate anyway, Shane. Especially you, the youngest one.
00:02:17
Speaker
My name is Matt. I play keyboard for the band. And I, like he said, I'm the youngest I've been in inn for five years and i love it. i love these guys. Chad Singh, original member. Oh gee, all the way back. The founding father. 2003. When I started this, Matt was like, not even born yet. Is Is true? No, i it was 2003. I was six. Matt was six. That's crazy. Diapers. Wow. Pretty close. We're glad to be with you, Pastor Joe. thought Matt wasn't going to talk during the podcast. He's pretty much taken over already. Sorry.
Life on Tour & Family Balance
00:02:52
Speaker
Tell us about what's going on right now like in your guys' lives and then you're touring all over the place. what is that like?
00:02:58
Speaker
ah Ariel, what's it like to tour her as an older gentleman? It's it's it's awesome. i Yeah, well, I just left on Thursday, and my wife already got a list to get done when I get back. Hey, Rockstar, that's my name at home, Rockstar.
00:03:16
Speaker
We got to do this, this, this, and that, you know? But no, it's always great, man. i So what's your home base? Where do you live? In Spring Hill, Tennessee. yeah Right outside of Nashville. Yes, 40 minutes out of the chaos of Nashville. But, yeah, we grow there. Most of us live in that area except the Nashvilleian guy. Wait, where does Matt live? I live in Nashville. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. they They live in the wealthier side of town. i ain't got my I ain't got my pesos up to that level yet, so I'm still out here struggling.
00:03:52
Speaker
um I think, you know, for us, we've been touring for 22 years.
Perseverance & Faith in Music
00:03:56
Speaker
So literally all the stages and what a what a benefit it has been to ah have the Lord have this grow slowly.
00:04:07
Speaker
You never want to grow slowly when you're starting something. You want to get there quick. And and then yes, I mean, that's our prayer as well. But, you know, God has done this kind of slow journey over the years and just recognizing his hand and and him being more concerned about our character than what we're going to go do for him. you know So there's there's so much, but we're we've been touring for 22 years.
00:04:33
Speaker
God's chosen to give us some success. It's taken some perseverance. I don't really know how I feel about it. My son was with us last night, and he was saying something about Dad, can you believe that you have a tour bus and you're in the 1% of people who are doing music and God has been faithful to you? and like I don't want to be over-spiritual, but I'm like, Philippians 2 says um that God is working in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
00:05:02
Speaker
So it's like, I really don't know how to take credit for it. I do know that even when it's talking about God starts a work and he finishes, you know, that's Philippians 1, 6, there's a partnership that we play in there. So I know that there's some part that we played in faithfulness and perseverance, but ultimately any of the good that we do and and produce comes from his spirit. So all the glory to God. It's just been cool to see god do what he I think that's why we've stayed close because we we were small church at that time. We grew slowly. You grew slowly.
00:05:36
Speaker
Last night i was telling the young guys, Proverbs 28, 20, you know, a faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. So you just do whatever. And you know what? God can hasten things. He can do suddenlies. 100%. But, you know,
00:05:51
Speaker
Unlike the Yankees who try to hit home runs all the time, you need to hit some singles sometimes. Just do what's in front of you. That's a rough one this So I was talking to one of our one of the young ladies on our worship team, a very talented young woman, and I said, what would you ask unspoken in the
Music Industry Evolution & Marketing
00:06:07
Speaker
in the podcast? and One of the things was how do people in Christian music make money these days? Like how does, how do you, um, I, you know, it's, it's an actually really interesting time in music because before everything was through the major label gatekeepers and you could not get your music anywhere without them. Now,
00:06:30
Speaker
The major labels are basically their marketing plans for this isn't 100% blanket statement. Majority of their marketing plan is our social media. Exactly. So it's a really exciting time for especially younger artists um to break through with nobody standing in the way and no one standing in the middle. um So that's interesting. But the way that you would make money is.
Financial Realities of a Music Career
00:06:59
Speaker
is touring um and then from that you're you're obviously you also have sponsorships you also have uh different things um like that like even uh you know i i built a ah renovated a house and i wanted this italian stove and that was like 15 grand and I didn't, I was like, I don't really want to spend 15 K on the stove.
00:07:24
Speaker
So I went and asked them, Hey, if I post about the stove, would you give me an at least cost? So there's ways that you can leverage your social media and things like that.
00:07:35
Speaker
Um, but, um, but the real place that money is made, Now, I just wrote with somebody a little while ago who had ah cut on Backstreet Boys record from, i don't know, a decade ago. And the one song that he got cut was like the last song on the record.
00:07:54
Speaker
And because Backstreet Boys, said they were still selling records at the time, um this guy, you would make... you know, ah several hundred thousand dollars on a song that nobody would ever hear, like the masses would never hear because it was a cut on the record, right? It wasn't a single.
00:08:11
Speaker
um That is gone. So Nashville right now and and all across the world, the songwriters are reeling because there's no money to be made in songwriting because most music is consumed via um streaming platforms and those streaming platforms are paid. The writers are paid very little.
00:08:32
Speaker
Now, the labels were very smart because right around Napster time, this is what I understand. They went and negotiated deals with like Apple Music and all these things that were just just in their infancy.
00:08:44
Speaker
And they negotiated extremely high rate for the master. Oh boy. Which is who owns the recording. So who owns the recording is who paid for the recording. So we're in a record deal.
00:08:55
Speaker
or up until this year, our record label has paid for everything. They own the masters, they make money. And then once that the money that they spent plus whatever, because they're just a bank, extremely high interest rate,
00:09:11
Speaker
is paid back, then you get maybe 50% of the dollar. So literally, let's just say a scenario, and um I'll wrap this up. A scenario would be the record cost us $100,000, but we have to earn before we get forty percent of one dollar So it's it's a very high interest rate like a bank.
00:09:38
Speaker
yep Now, we have no qualms with our record label. Our record label has been awesome and and whatever, but that's just how the record industry works. So now the way you make money, writers can't make money because they don't own the masters. They don't own the recordings of the songs, right? They can't make money just writing.
00:09:53
Speaker
And so it's really put Nashville into an interesting spot because... There's no work anymore. Used to be able to make a living just by getting cuts on Garth Brooks records or whoever. um But like artists that own their own masters, like all these new people coming up through social media and stuff, they can have the rights to their masters. yeah And they are making millions. I'm telling you. They're making
Faith and Financial Support
00:10:18
Speaker
millions. So for somebody like us, we're touring.
00:10:21
Speaker
we're We're writing songs. So when those songs, if the songs get played on the radio, there's money that's generated from that. And then sponsorships. And then here's the big one.
00:10:34
Speaker
God. God always will provide for you according to your needs, not always your desires. God has always been faithful to us, always provided for us in ways that we didn't even see coming.
00:10:49
Speaker
So it's just been so awesome to see. There's part of me that wants to be so successful that I don't need any supernatural things to happen, right? And even that is to the glory of God. There's some artists out there like Mercy Me's first song was I Can Only Imagine.
00:11:04
Speaker
So they've just they've been killing it all these years. And they're great guys. They actually go to our church. And um but like for somebody like us, we need to see the hand of God. And it's honestly just like back in the day when we had no money, we needed to put out new music, didn't have any. And we had a friend who believed in us, which was you and said, hey, I'll give you X amount of dollars to help you.
00:11:27
Speaker
You know, and and so those that God has stirred people and it's just been so cool. So the money to me as I'm getting older, money is the easiest thing for God.
00:11:38
Speaker
You know, the easiest thing for God to do is pull money out. I mean, if he's paved the streets. And having the goal. Exactly. That's like pavement here is is virtually useless.
00:11:50
Speaker
So it's useless up there. So um that's the one thing that I feel like he can't make us obedient but or he won't. you know He can't make us faithful. He can't do all these things or he won't do all these things. But what he can do is provide for you as you're faithful. And that's just what we've seen. So as I'm talking to younger people, I'm saying, don't chase money.
00:12:14
Speaker
Chase purpose and chase God, you know, chase God and purpose through God and God will provide and you faith will be built and you will know that he is the king of kings and the Lord lords and you're his kid. There's so much there, but it's it's tough to make money in music. um But there are ways and I hope hopefully explain some of it.
00:12:36
Speaker
If you don't know, he's the lead singer, as you can tell. What did you guys say about lead singers? Lead singer's disease. What is that? It's ravaging
Family Support & Tour Life
00:12:44
Speaker
the nation. Some of the symptoms include... One microphone at a time. One microphone at time.
00:12:52
Speaker
Some of the symptoms include um being not so punctual. That talking is all musicians. Talking breathlessly. Wait a second. Nah, not me. He's always on time. Really? That's the truth. My dad's retired military, man. He said, you're on time, you're late. So I don't do that.
00:13:09
Speaker
I love you. Bring it in, brother. Bring it in. can't afford him.
00:13:16
Speaker
Neither do we. met these young guys. I'm like, you can't even be on time. People are looking to see if you're going be on time. oh that's why you were texting me earlier today? Yeah. i was just Where are you? I was like, where are these guys? No, and my son said you were going to be here at 9 and said, no, they're not. They're musicians. He knows. Well, normally we like we had such a long drive that there is, but normally we're we're pretty close. No judgment here, brother. we that's Just disappointment. Going back to what you were saying, it just got my attention. It's a little bit things like like whatever God put in your heart to put that seed in our ministry.
00:13:51
Speaker
which it was maybe something significant for some. It was um unbelievable for all. it was significant. that somebody For other people, I said, dude, that guy put some you know some money, so we finished his record. That's a record that we send to somebody listening to the Nashville, so they invite us for a competition so we can get this. That's how we get into the... So you never know how God can take something if you put... you know God put that in your heart. you know Maybe we're here because ah you listen to God.
00:14:19
Speaker
Well, he will find another way. Another person will be more generous. You know who am, Ray. I'm the Grace Father. So he's I do something for you. You do something for me. You come to me on the day of my daughter's wedding to ask a favor. Oh, you got to send in my Grace Father videos for sure. Wait, what? Is this a thing? This is a bit you guys have? This is thing, yeah. But you know what? You guys have been so great because, you know, when you're on tour and, they you know, you come and just say, hey, we'll stop in and be a blessing. Sometimes you came on Sundays. was just amazing. And I really appreciate you guys. And so um how about the balance between home because some of you guys are family people, you know? uh single girls this guy's single right here he's a talented man he shows up on time mean what um more get your ass bathe regularly
00:15:10
Speaker
So what about the balance? How many kids you guys got? I have two. They're grownups now. I have two grandkids, and that's the best thing that ever happened. Joe's got like 22. I have 11 grandkids. I can compete with that.
00:15:24
Speaker
I can compete with that, but isn't that amazing? Yes. like i just Like, that's the next level There's nothing like it. Right? Like, ah your kids, you got to deal with them, but when they start acting, it's like, mom, fix it, bring it back when he's done. yeah Oh, my God, I love it. So I have two grandkids and two boys.
00:15:44
Speaker
ah But it's it's it's good, man. I think i as far as we're pressing at home, I was saying earlier, it make it all easier when we can do this on the roads. My wife allowed me to do it.
00:15:56
Speaker
If she, the day that she, you know, she said that stop, I unfortunately have to stop. So it's just that balance. I know. You're going listen to your wife over being the man of the house. This is why America is where they are right now. I know your wife too. That's another podcast. Chad, how many kids you got? I have three kids. um We've been blessed to be able to, i have an 18 year old boy and a 15 year old girl and a 12 year old girl.
00:16:24
Speaker
olds man My son was born in Trenton here in New Jersey. And then my girls were born in Nashville. um But yeah, it's a, we've, we've been blessed in the sense that we've been able to take our kids with us as it's, you know, worked out with schedules and whatnot. And so um like my kids are always so grateful. They, they love that I do what I do. it I know it was hard on my kids for sure. it was certainly hard on my wife because we were poor for a lot.
00:16:53
Speaker
And then when you're poor and alone, those are two really hard things. One is hard to be alone or more poor, but my wife was poor and alone. um And so my wife is really... Our wives are always the heroes of the of the play here.
00:17:09
Speaker
um because Yeah, you both married up. I've met them. Yeah, for sure. yeah they but they Just in case they're watching. Way up. Way up. They married way up. um But they, ah you know, just being able to be...
00:17:21
Speaker
serve with nothing in return. Like, you know, it's like all these people come to us and say, please tell your families and thank you for, you know, but a lot of times our, you know, our families and our wives get overlooked and, and we come out and we're heroes everywhere because we're encouraging people and we're walking in our gifts and people praise us for it. You know, of course we take the praise and give it back to God. But, um,
00:17:45
Speaker
So even when we weren't making money, there's always purpose in it.
Songwriting Inspirations
00:17:49
Speaker
um So anyway, just the the silent heroes behind the scenes that got no credit, no nothing.
00:17:56
Speaker
Beautiful. got another question. I remember. What is the process of... Now, you guys, do you guys write all your own songs mostly or mostly? What is the process of... For me, it kind of varies. Like sometimes I'll be like there's a song that is going to be on the new record. It's called People Like Us. And I was at Disney World with my mom and my sister and my brother.
00:18:17
Speaker
And the title People Like Us dropped in my head. I was like, that's cool. Wrote that down. And then i came to a right with Chad and a few other people, producers and other writers and stuff like that.
00:18:29
Speaker
And i was like, all I have are these three words. and everyone seemed to be intrigued by it. So then a couple of guys started talking about what they thought would be a cool concept for it and I grabbed a guitar and just started messing with this little guitar riff thing, and then it sort of evolves into a full song. But sometimes it's not a lyric. Sometimes it starts with someone's got a drum beat going, and you're listening to that, and you mumble stuff. and sometimes like There's a million different ways, I feel like, that it could come about. Or you're reading a scripture, and something about...
00:18:59
Speaker
John 316 just hits you different this day, even though you've read it a thousand times. And then now, boom, God's speaking through that. so You're just a preacher with music. I get a theme and I do a structure around it. Essentially, yeah.
00:19:13
Speaker
Except like you get like 30, 40 minutes and I got three and a half minutes to try to get my point across. Yeah. So it's tough trying to condense these big spiritual, all-encompassing truths into these bite-sized things that are really memorable and hopefully enjoyable as well. But...
00:19:31
Speaker
Oh, that's a great answer. I love it. um One of the things that you mentioned, you like that song, Who You Are, and it's really interesting because there's no way to get all 66 books of the Bible in every song. Like, you know, so it's like you have to go with themes, right? So like Who You Are, you know, we got um crap because um they were saying, well, this is a health self self-help song.
00:19:56
Speaker
I didn't see that way at all. I was like, no, this is the part where it talks about the work. um that's put in, you know, to like we have a role to play and we got to play our part. Amen. and and so Anybody that has a problem with that song, you send them to me. Yeah. Well, then in the end, the bridge sums it all up by saying at the foot of the cross, you can change who you are. So that's ultimately what it is. But um so, you know, there's it's it's hard to get.
00:20:24
Speaker
People have to understand when they're listening to Christian music, it's not all things, all themes, all, all whatever. Are you kidding? When I heard that, like never fall too far. I could bust down right now. I cry at every podcast. I don't feel special. That really, I mean, you know, yeah I was a young pastor, just started the church, you know, hoping 20 people were going to come, preach to two people, you know, and then you guys came along in that song, and I said, there's so no one here listening to them except, but they they're so gifted.
00:20:59
Speaker
It inspired me, like, because my whole mantra has always been that everybody has a unique gift. And I, as a pastor, I want people to use those gifts. Because until I started preaching, I started the church when I was 40, until I started doing what I was called to do, I was a mess, even though I was on Wall Street and, you know, all these things.
00:21:16
Speaker
And you know I was starting to get discouraged. And it was like, no matter how full you how far you fall, I can still hear you singing that. And then at the foot of the cross is the place where this is gonna turn around. yes And it turned around for me. It was a process.
00:21:34
Speaker
but it was never too far. Nobody's ever too far, you know? And we have people in our church, you know, getting saved every week and people are just so hurting. They have fallen so far. And our message to them is, you know what?
00:21:49
Speaker
You're gonna find out out who you are in Christ. And man, that's not faith. That's not overhyped faith. That's the reality of Jesus living inside of us. Anyway.
00:22:00
Speaker
I'm going to go from that to I forgot to introduce our production team. Joe, out of my director, Stephen, creative director. And I'm surprised they haven't asked anything. That means we're doing good. So you guys got anything, though? You got have anything on your minds?
00:22:16
Speaker
I'll give you three seconds. One, two.
Breaking into the Music Industry
00:22:19
Speaker
No. Hey everybody, this is Steven George here from the future, checking in real quick. So, funny story, at this exact moment during our shoot, the production mic cut out.
00:22:29
Speaker
Good timing, right? Super lucky. What I'm here to do is just give you a gist of the question that was asked so that you'll have a better chance of understanding the band's answer. Which is insightful and powerful. We'd hate for you to miss out on it because of this tech glitch. The question was this.
00:22:45
Speaker
What would you say to a young person who loves the arts, who loves music and is looking to quote unquote make it in the industry? You guys are a successful band, you tour, you put music out regularly, this is your life.
00:22:59
Speaker
And in a day and age where there's more access to resources, to make music than ever before, how does a young person actually break into or quote unquote make it in this industry? So that was a question. And now you'll hear from the band.
00:23:16
Speaker
Well, is this the Christian music industry? OK.
00:23:21
Speaker
i can I can speak to that. Well, well, here's the people do music. for truth Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah Well, people do music for different reasons. And so um to me.
00:23:36
Speaker
It's first Peter says, use whatever gift you've been given to serve others. And so to me, it's not about breaking into the music industry. It's about using your gift to serve others, to serve God and serve others. Every gift that we've been given um has always been, you know, to the benefit of the body. So find a need. So you're starting out. your're yeah I would say write songs and get with people who write songs and work. Like it's writing songs is work.
00:24:08
Speaker
it's It's not just inspiration, it's work. And you put in the hours and you know that's why Beaver, I got 10,000 hours, whatever it is. So it's like, it takes that much time to be awesome at stuff.
00:24:22
Speaker
um And so that's part of it. And the second part of it is find somebody to serve. and and And for us, we literally were New York City subways, coffee shops, I say this all the time.
00:24:34
Speaker
ah nursing homes, college campuses, unemvited. Recovery centers. Yeah, 100%. We'd go wherever we could get in. Coffee houses. um Yeah. and ah And, you know, it seems like every step of the way, God, would there would be somebody there. Their brother was a pastor in Pittsburgh. Boom, we'd go there.
00:24:50
Speaker
It's like God opens doors. So I think if the music industry is your goal, you're already set up to to lose. and you know Just as a as a human being and as a follower of Christ, you're you're your expectations and all of that, um I think you just go in and serve people.
00:25:09
Speaker
and And in that, you find purpose because we were created to serve. So you're never going to lose there. and ah And that God will bring you to places and open doors as he sees fit. I mean, I don't even know how else to say it. There are so
Serving Over Talent in God's Kingdom
00:25:22
Speaker
many more. The Internet has proved that there are so many more talented people than me, Matt, and Ariel.
00:25:28
Speaker
Oh, excuse me? He said, I ain't found one. You and Matt. It's a joke. I'm sorry. It's a joke. It's a joke. So, you know, the idea that it's not about talent yeah when it comes to the kingdom of God. So I think, you know, we we can have hopes and dreams. We can have um things that we long for, but ultimately we surrender those things. We put them at the feet of God and we just serve people.
00:25:54
Speaker
And in that, and we get good at whatever we're doing. You know, I think that's the... I know that's not the sexy answer. Yeah, I can oh, we moved to Nashville, do this and that. But you said you have to work at it. Yeah. Oh, yeah. We're still working on it. Sometimes we say, man, we're still working as hard as we do when we started this thing.
00:26:12
Speaker
But the other thing is that a lot of people want to be an artist, when nobody want to pay the price. So you want to you want it to be heard, but you don't want people to hear you. So churches have a big platform. They i haven't met a pastor. Don't need somebody who preach or sing somewhere. And why you don't connect to the church?
00:26:31
Speaker
that's That's how I started. Preach your brother. Give him more time. Woo-hoo. I'm going to pass the offering soon. But it's is when you're serving at church, you know because again, if you're doing it for the artistry, man, you are you're in for a rude wake-up because it's just it can be so deceiving, man. Even though until today, we have I have friends that they will – do or sell anything just to be in a position that just came because by the grace of God and the only way it just there's no other way man uh it because it's so hard it's so hard on you your body your family and everything so God has to be in the equation because he's not he's gonna hurt the most and you're gonna lose more than you
00:27:13
Speaker
If you're talking about Christian music. Yeah, totally. No, no, I'm talking about Christian music. cha do whatever you want to hear from the young guy. hot um Oh, I don't know. I mean, there's a scripture that I really like that says the hand of the diligent will rule. And so I think whatever it is that God's called, first off, make sure, kind of like what they were saying, make sure this is something God's actually called you to do because you you could succeed at something that you're not graced for and it will hurt
Diligence and Authenticity in Music
00:27:38
Speaker
you. Oh, yeah. And so, but basically the sort of idea of that scripture is whatever you're doing consistently is going to be the thing that you see the most growth and productivity in. So if you feel like that thing that you've been called to do is music, then be diligent in practicing your instrument, be diligent in writing songs, be diligent in, you know, finding places and different opportunities to get to perform that music, be diligent about posting on social media because as much as, you know, it it's not the thing. you hey Yeah, like that's the last thing. It's not what you signed up for, but essentially the social media is the billboard.
00:28:10
Speaker
So if you want to be seen, if you want people to know what you're doing, you got to put you and your music out there. so And don't show the music just to your mom because she always says that you're wrong. Oh my God, he's so beautiful. That's baby.
00:28:22
Speaker
They said, no, you got to go outside of the box and probably you need people who tell you what you need to. Yes. I know what you want to hear from them. So and i got I got a question. What's that? Of all of you real quick.
00:28:34
Speaker
What's the favorite song that you guys do? Your favorite unspoken song and why? Whatever's newest. show yeah Yeah. We have a collective joke. Is that whoever's the baby? That's what we put our attention to. it Is that right?
00:28:47
Speaker
Yeah. I would say mine. feel like I'll go back and forth between one and another one, but words on a page. It's not out yet. but it's kinda got this sort of country ballad-ish sort of feel, and it's just talking about Chad's testimony and how starting to really personally delve into the word of God for himself is what ultimately changed his life, and it's so beautifully put.
00:29:11
Speaker
Yeah, instrumentation is beautiful, and it's simple. Country? And the drums are amazing. Here's the thing, I see the face, I can hear the collective sighs from those that are watching this later. It's actually really beautiful. Some people like country music, obviously.
00:29:24
Speaker
But it's Chad singing. Words on a page. There's not too much twang in it, Chad, from up this way. But it's kind of country. Having Puerto Rican accent make it worse. Having a Puerto Rican singing in a southern accent is just diabolical.
Personal Struggles and God’s Restorative Power
00:29:42
Speaker
All right. Come on, you guys.
00:29:44
Speaker
ah ah Well, I'll say... What he says about you was the top until we start playing the new show. So, he will. I love that. Yeah. The way that thing develops. You'll like it, too. Faster, Joe. We haven't heard yet? No. We'll play all these songs tonight. Oh, we're playing a bunch of new songs. What do you like about he will? What is the... It's just the driving. It's a driving song. It feels like...
00:30:08
Speaker
like Yes. The drummers really evolve. Also the intro. just see The intro starts with him. I'm not talking about singing. He doesn't give a rip about any lyric or any melody. It's a true thing. I got in trouble in my whole life because I don't listen to lyrics. These are two drummers over here in my production team. I love this. My father said, what? You listen to that devil music? that it's to The drums are awesome. are you talking about? He couldn't comprehend why i couldn't listen to the lyrics and pay attention to the music. I'm sorry.
00:30:42
Speaker
There's a verse in Joel that talks about God restoring all that the locusts have stolen, right? And so I would say my favorite song... My favorite song is called Wasted Time.
00:30:55
Speaker
And it's, I think it's, was two records ago, the last track. And like my wife and I, like I've i've gone through addiction. um and then my wife really went through like a ah severe battle with anxiety um due to many different things. And she's on the other side of it, which is awesome. But there was like five years that were just brutal. And so I know as a mom, like always being at the brink of like breakdown because you just have anxiety in your body and there's neural pathways and there's all this stuff.
00:31:30
Speaker
But, um but she would, would feel so disappointed that like, you know, I, I didn't give my kids the best, you know, like the best that she had for sure, but she would feel like, you know, I failed because whatever.
Spiritual Connection Through Music
00:31:46
Speaker
And I'm like, so I just thought of, of that verse and Joel and, and he's the God that makes up for, you know, wasted time and, and, and, wrong turns and all it's the grace of God and the mercy of God is withholding the the judgment we do deserve and the grace of God is imparting you know the the good we don't deserve so either way God makes up for it and he can expedite he can do all the things too um but he certainly can make up for our mistakes and insufficiencies and we've seen that play out now in our lives many times music is an amazing thing it's awesome
00:32:23
Speaker
like i my favorite song is that first because it's something it's an engram in my head and it's just like music is just so spiritual it's i think about it all the time i think about sound waves how you can't see them but they have effect you know and and it's just something and and music when i see and and and at our church i have this joke It's like, be there by the first song. You better be there. That's my thing. Because I'm like, why would you miss one ounce of time to worship? yeah
00:32:55
Speaker
Like to me, I mean, I'm just a crazy pastor worshiper. I just love worship. Because it's so important. It just touches you in a way that nothing else can.
00:33:06
Speaker
And I'm really looking forward to tonight, the concert, because I love you guys. got to put a camera on because I know he's sitting the front of that corner and he go crazy all the time. He's still doing that at church? Yeah. I'm a little calmer. I'm a little calmer.
00:33:18
Speaker
People come to our church and go, who's that guy up there? That's the pastor. They do. We've heard this story numerous times, but I gave it all to Studio 54. Why wouldn't I give it all to God? There you go. And his music. Hey, explain to this guy. No, I know exactly what Studio 54 is. That's why my eyes got big. was like, you went to, I mean, granted, there were probably some really terrible things going on there. Yeah. But there's a lot of music history that's wrapped up in that.
00:33:43
Speaker
So in that way, it's intriguing. It's funny right now in my life, like we're involved in men's Bible study and we teach that where we have a lot going on. And right now I'm i I'm going to confess it. And this is pastor. I'll show up to two worship services a week and leave before the sermon.
00:34:02
Speaker
I don't even it's it's not that I don't need the sermon. I'm getting so much. I just want to be in the presence of God. And the way I experience God is one of the main ways is through music.
00:34:14
Speaker
And so like some of my great friends experience God through nature. Some of my great friends experience God through, you know, different relationships or whatever. I experienced God through music and I i find at this moment in my life, I'm starving for it.
00:34:29
Speaker
And so like, I'll get there and I'll just be yeah after worship and I'll be like, you know i' i've um through may You know, I've already been to the Bible studies. I've already like we're we're dove in here. I'm not saying this is always is this season right now. I just want to go worship God and be in his presence. Amen. You know, it's beautiful. My church is because they all come. A lot of them come later, you know, just right before I'm going to be Puerto Rican. no Yes. And no. But what the heck?
00:34:58
Speaker
We have a huge, you know our church. Our church is the most multicultural church you will ever see. There's over 80 countries represented church. Y'all need to start pointing and booing when everybody somebody comes in late. Stop the music, stop the sermon, whatever. Boo! Boo! They're coming to see the Grace Father.
00:35:19
Speaker
my gosh. Get over yourself, man. I gotta understand. miss a song or two. As long as I see the Grace
Gratitude and Community Support
00:35:28
Speaker
Father. who the crazy guys you know jumping from the phone yes i'm the one that loves the word i mean we do and we we our worship culture is amazing on a sunday i mean it's like just popping there's a whole area in front crowded with like 50 people just going crazy after it's awesome yeah yeah so we only have a few minutes left so just leave us some with every each one of you guys just leave us with some thoughts some wisdom on anything you want
00:35:55
Speaker
Whatever the Holy Spirit's moving in. Don't go lead singer right away. Because he's going to take everybody's minutes. i I'm going to live with this. i I just want to thank you for the opportunity. You're always being here for us and open. The door's always open for us.
00:36:14
Speaker
And I appreciate that a lot. um Thank you for being who you are. You know? Come on. more For investing in us. You know? That was... We always... Every time we're in the area, there's always good things that we can say about you and your family. You always embrace us. We appreciate that a lot. Love you too, man.
00:36:37
Speaker
Oh, gosh. Hey, man, I'm out of here. Who's your favorite person in the band? Me, Ariel. I don't know. i I got drafted into this. I didn't have any too many thoughts prepared.
00:36:55
Speaker
So I'm just. Well, hold on. wait minute you got to like You told me the other day that God was moving um with a particular scripture. It was Proverbs. Now it's this. What is it? Yeah, let's go. If it's the one that I'm thinking.
00:37:11
Speaker
I mean, one that's been speaking to me a lot lately is Psalm 139, 14, where saying like, thank you for making so wonderfully complex. Weird. No, that that should be added in your, you know, God, thank you for making me so complex. So wonderfully strange. so beautifully odd. Yeah, no, like,
00:37:31
Speaker
Honestly, reading that scripture is one thing, but then also like taking the time to just actually like say it out loud. I think that's part of what you were talking about, the impact of worship songs and why that stuff tends to stick so well. I think it's because we're not just reading it on a screen or hearing somebody say it to us. We're saying it ourselves.
00:37:48
Speaker
and i think that's something that's super important. So like whatever the scriptures are that are sort of defining your identity in Christ, yeah, it's good to read it. Yeah, it's cool to have a tattoo of it, whatever, but like actually take the time to say that stuff out loud because that makes it so that these things take deeper root in your heart and go from being something that you know to something that you actually believe. And then when you believe it,
00:38:10
Speaker
you know walking by faith it changes the way that you behave and changes the way that you interact with other people and stuff so that would be i guess my thought and that's the real reason you're not 26 not because of his music and like because of his heart um i don't know don't i have tons of thoughts i don't know what the right one is but um about me how about that just No, I just I think, you know, for us having this awesome team and core over the years and just being grateful to God, really just the gratitude.
Trusting God's Plan in Difficult Times
00:38:41
Speaker
and And we always want the hard seasons to go away, but the hard seasons must happen so that we can be made into his image.
00:38:49
Speaker
so that we can then complete the work that he's prepared for us before we were even born. Like all this stuff's all scriptural. And so it's it's like finding the contentment in ah the presence of God and and in who Jesus is helps us weather all of the the things. But that wherever people are, wherever you are in the moment right now is for a purpose. And God is doing things that you don't know behind the scenes.
00:39:16
Speaker
um for your good in his glory. I mean, there's just that's just a fact. And so we plan it out. we've We've seen it so much. um But the ultimate thing I'll leave you with is just glory be to God. And what a good God we serve. Why wouldn't you want to know him?
00:39:32
Speaker
And that's why we do what we're we're doing now is so that we can... let you know that God loves you so much and, and, uh, and how wonderful it is to, to serve the Lord. And, you know, you can serve the Lord with nothing and be content and happy and and filled, you know, overflowing. You can have everything and not have Jesus. And, and so it's just like, we just want people to know how good God is, you know, that's why I love you guys.
00:39:59
Speaker
Because you start a fire in my soul. You give me a reason. Yes. And I know. who yeah heard Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You can hit him with the vocals, brother. Don't don't don't let him box you in. Don't let him pigeonhole you. You got the mic you say. Preach a song. Don't sing it. Just preach a song. I get it. Anyway, this is the upgrade. It's only up from here. We love you. Unspoken. Get their music. yeah Love you guys.