Driving north through the state of Illinois on Interstate 74 you can't miss it. It's a gigantic water tower looming over the city below. Inscribed on its side are words dubbing all that is below -- NORMAL. This is the town where Andy Osenga, Mark Lockett and Clayton Daily grew up. So it was only...er, fitting that they've dubbed their band The Normals. And yes, they've heard all the "normal" jokes. Don't even try.
The Normals enter the music scene with their electrifying combination of pop melodies and modern rock sounds evoking images of what might happen if you were to combine Toad the Wet Sprocket with The Prayer Chain and a little bit of Pink Floyd. The guys also cite U2, Radiohead, The Choir and Jonatha Brooke as influences.
These three guys in their late teens and early twenties have been best friends ever since they met in 7th grade. Mark and Andy started playing music together -- doing coffeehouses in the 9th grade. Then they added their buddy Clayton to form the band around 10th grade. Sounds pretty normal, right?
So what does it mean to be normal? Andy explains, "You don't have to draw attention to yourself because you realize that there is someone who cares about you enough that you're fine with who you are." Looking for this "someone" led them to Jesus and that's really why the band even started.
The mission of The Normals is to be that someone who is caring for the youth culture and guiding them towards finding their own relationship with Christ. Coming out of a Young Life background, the guys learned that people are often led to a relationship with Christ through a relationship with a Christian. Andy hopes that over time, as people come to their shows, and hear their music, they will feel like they know more about the guys. He elaborates, "If your songs are honestly about who you are, they get to know what you're thinking -- they know your doubts, fears, and joys. You can meet a kid afterwards and they know everything about you, and they're surprisingly open with you. You listen and then you pray with themÖand their eyes light up. That's what makes this all worthwhile."
The guys have each gone on to be Young Life leaders themselves in the past few years. Springboarding from the concept of Young Life that adults can be role models for teens and develop significant relationships with them, Andy recently accepted the Youth Director position at his church. "It's just doing the same thing, with a different title. I go to the high school and hang out with the kids and try to meet more kids. It makes you seem real to them, and they see that you care. It's definitely a longer witnessing process than just dragging someone to a crusade, but it affects people a lot more dramatically. Not only do they hear what you're saying...but more so, they see how you're living."
While playing their music around the Normal area, The Normals caught the attention of Whiteheart's Billy Smiley. Since they were all huge Whiteheart fans, the guys agreed to spend the next six months in Nashville with Smiley rehearsing, demoing and recording songs. Shortly thereafter, Smiley contacted ForeFront's Executive Vice President of A&R, Eddie DeGarmo and let him listen to some songs as well as having the guys perform an acoustic set. After hearing the music, DeGarmo decided he'd like to make them a part of the label and thus The Normals were signed to ForeFront Records in April 1998. DeGarmo began working with The Normals and Smiley (producer) to create and perfect their debut release, Better Than This.
The guys reveal several highlights on Better Than This. "'What I Cannot Earn' is the first song that comes to mind. According to Clayton, the song says a lot about how they think. "So many times we think we need to try to earn our salvation with our works, rather than with our faith. It's a hard thing because we live in such a 'results-based' society -- doing this and that in order to reach your goal. God's grace is something we can't even fully comprehend because its a free gift with no strings attached."
Mark also states, "A lot of fans are responding to the song 'Everything,' perhaps because it's so conversational, talking about something that people see everyday." It goes deeper for Andy, as he wrestles with feeling guilty about having had so many material things while growing up, and being comfortable with it all. "In some ways I wish I had a lot less than I did. I often think that I don't belong in this culture. But at the same time God put me here, and He made me think this way for a reason."
For The Normals, it all comes down to relationships: One they have as three best friends who are familiar with each of their own little idiosyncrasies, yet they still love and respect each other; One they have with their audience, as they seek to develop an intimacy that will open hearts to hear the Truth; and One with God who ultimately cares about you so much that you can be fine with who you are, so you don't have to draw attention to yourself.
No matter how normal you may be.
Discography
