In the relatively short history of rock,the most successful artists are the ones who keep stretching, who refuse to stop growing, who continue to mine the mother lode of their musical and lyrical imaginations. They keep reinventing themselves, never forgetting their roots yet moving forward in a never-ending exploration of the artist or artists within. Such is the case with Whiteheart a band that has been true to its artistic and spiritual quest for more than 12 years. That commitment to integrity has been a hallmark of their success, which is measured in part by some very impressive statistics; over 1.5 million in sales and a amazing 18 #1 singles; 35 top 10 singles; two Grammy nominations and a host of other accolades, spread over the life of the band's 12 albums and time spent on the road.
The core of Whiteheart has remained the same since its inception with founders Mark Getsmehl (keyboard and vocals) and Billy Smiley (guitar and vocals) holding the creative reins. Rick Florian joined the band as lead vocalist nine years ago. The other members include, Brian Wooten on lead guitar, Jon Knox on drums and John Thome playing bass.
Together, emotional lyrics combine with passionate music-fresh as any in the rock or alternative worlds- for a product of the imagination that is as compelling as it is convicting and convincing- Such is the essence of Whiteheart's release INSIDE, on Curb Records. Collectively Whiteheart shares a deeply held commitment to the tenets of orthodox Christianity, Seekers all, the men of Whiteheart are quick to acknowledge that their faith drives them to deal honestly with the realities of life in a post modem world- The album's title track, 'Inside,' addresses those realities with a probing look at the soul of a struggler trapped in the dry darkness of difficulty: I wanna feel/I wanna dream/I wanna live on the inside/gotta breath/gotta pray/I wanna heal on the inside. As Christians, the members of Whiteheart are troubled by the nihilism and despair expressed in modern music and the degree to which young people are influenced by it. They've expressed that concern through music in a song 'Living Sacrifice' evoked by the suicide of Kurt Cobain and the devotion of so many young followers; too many idols keep on trashing down/so many heroes are ten feet underground/leave flowers by their graves/don't you know the price is paid/the ultimate sacrifice has been made/you're a sheep without a shepherd/a dog without a bone/bury the dead messiah/follow the living one home.
Rather than condemning Cobain and his fans though, Whiteheart offers an antidote to despair in a song which is the first radio single called 'Even The Hardest Heart': Even the hardest heart/will break like the dawn/and be changed by the song of love/even the hardest heart/for those who have gone astray/and those who have fallen away...
"We're not offering a quick fix - that's what's going on in the culture. We are offering what we believe is hope that lasts forever" says lead singer Rick Florian, Whiteheart's approach to answering life's questions is more profound than pedantic."When a teacher writes a question on the board, he doesn't write the answer underneath" says Mark Gersmehl. "Part of learning is asking the question and then searching for the answer" The answer according to the members of Whiteheart is found in the hope of Jesus in a vital personal relationship based on faith. The message of hope is just as important to those who have heard it before as it is for those who haven't, according to Billy Smiley."That's what we have tried to do-to offer an alternative to the alternative, something that we feel is needed in our society today.
That message of hope is what keeps Whiteheart dedicated to communicating their music in fresh ways to an ever-widening audience. To that end the band agreed to a musical partnership with a new Producer, someone who could give them an unbiased ear and create a challenging, stimulating atmosphere in which to work.
Producer/engineer Ken Scott is a music industry veteran with astounding credentials in the pop field. "He was an engineer for the Beatles at the age of 17" says Gersmehl. "His resume reads like a history of rock and roll and pop music......He worked with Elton John, played some Synthesizer on Daniel' (Elton John's classic) and mixed 'Madman Across The Water' amongst other Elton John classics. He has worked with Supertramp, Lou Reed, Duran Duran, David Bowie, dada, and Missing Persons. His discography is amazing"."Sonically, Ken is on the leading edge" says Gersmehl. "He's got the long memory of his experience, yet has the courage to do things that are visionary - I've never worked with anybody who was so focused".
"Claire Parr,VP of Contemporary Christian music at Curb Records put us in touch with him" says Smiley, "Ken listened to just our of our albums...he wanted to start fresh without any preconceived notions about the band. That made a huge difference". Rick Florian agrees."There were some things we weren't too sure about, doing things differently. But it worked and the result is that we have absolutely the best record we've ever done".
Having been stretched by these elements and with the confidence that often accompanies an artistic breakthrough, the members of Whiteheart are excited about their new direction.Still they acknowledge that music isn't the most @ important thing in their lives, even if it is the creative expression of all that they believe. Life, as they see it, isn't only lived out in the concert hall or in the recording studio.
And that's what separates Whiteheart from many rock bands in today's society. Mark Gersmehl speaks for the group when he admits his own struggles and hopes; "I'm constantly confronted with the shabbiness of my existence wondering if I adequately reflect my own beliefs...I would hope that regardless of whether someone sees this band on a huge concert stage or in the 76 truck stop that they would see the integrity of our hearts-that they would see something besides our own egos".
Discography
Go to Whiteheart's website
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