Earlier this year, Sara Bareilles challenged herself to do the bravest thing she could do: go on tour completely solo. In alignment with her latest single, “Brave,” Sara is encouraging fans across the country to overcome their fears along with her. Sara is hoping that fans will share what kinds of things they are brave enough to do by filling out “I am brave enough to…” postcards at all of her shows on this tour. It’s a beautiful idea and a theme that permeated through every aspect of her show at Seattle’s Showbox at the Market on May 11th.

For those who haven’t gotten to experience this tour yet – I don’t want to ruin the surprises for you, so I won’t give away too much. Just know that you’re in for an intimate show with an artist that is not only stunningly talented, but also hilarious and incredibly engaging. I found myself taking a quiet but big breath in every time she finished a song, because I got so lost in the emotion and immaculately delivered melodies.

If Sara isn’t stopping by your city on this tour, you can still be part of it by filling out a postcard and sending it to her via her website!

“Brave” is the first single off of Sara Bareilles’ upcoming record, The Blessed Unrest, due out July 16th! Stay tuned for more information!

Her setlist in Seattle was as follows:
—
Uncharted
Love on the Rocks
Love Song
Bright Lights and Cityscapes
Let the Rain
I just want you
Come ‘Round Soon
Once Upon Another Time
Dock of the Bay
Brave
Gravity

December
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
—

See some great photos from the show below:

Special thanks to Jason Tang! Thank you for taking these great shots for us!

Ask Amy Grant what advice she would give herself if she could go back in time and she’d tell you, “don’t waste energy measuring yourself against somebody else… Because everybody is gifted.”

Words of wisdom from a woman who has been through a lot in her life. But it isn’t the 6 GRAMMY® Awards or the countless forms of recognition that are teaching Amy the most – though they are undeniably very important parts of her journey – at the top of it all, it’s the life experience. It’s learning how to embrace blessings that come in different forms.

For Amy, one of these blessings came in the form of lessons learned from her mother, Gloria, who suffered from dementia until she passed away just over 2 years ago. “Two months before she passed away, I had gone to visit my mom and dad one evening…”

She recalls, “I was telling my mother goodbye and that I had to go get on the bus to go do a concert. And she said, ‘oh, you sing!’ And I said, ‘yeah, mom, I sing. I sang you the very first song I ever wrote.’ And she said, ‘would you sing something for me now?’”

Amy sang her mom an old hymn that she loved. After she finished, her mom asked her if she could go on the bus with her. “I had to tell her it wasn’t going to work out this time and I was walking out the door and she said, ‘hey, would you do me a favor?’ And I said, ‘anything.’ And she said, ‘when you walk out on that stage, would you sing something that matters?’”

Two years later, here we are… How Mercy Looks From Here, slated for release on May 14th, is a collection of songs that matter – songs with deep personal meaning and songs that we can all relate to.

“I always – always – experienced music as an amazing connector with people.” She says, “It has a healing quality to it. That’s what always made me go, ‘I want to do that. I have to do that.’”

And thank goodness she does!

I was lucky enough to have a lovely conversation with Amy about her latest record, How Mercy Looks From Here. She is an incredibly inspiring woman! Please enjoy it below!

Find Your Fav: Hi, Amy! Are you having a good morning?
Amy Grant: Yeah, I got on a bus last night at midnight and drove to Bloomington, Illinois. I’m having my second cup of coffee. Doing some interviews and then I’m going to try to sleep!

FYF: So, ten years between records. Ten years is a very long time. What’s your journey to this record looked like?
Amy: Well, I never stopped recording. I just didn’t do a whole record. And I never stopped touring. So, I would say, in the last ten years, I’ve felt like the bell-curve of my musical journey was on the downward slope and I was just going to be singing old songs, for as long as anybody would listen. That’s how it felt. It felt that way three years ago, four years ago, five years ago.

Then – and I was not expecting it the year after mom passed away – that I would feel such incredible creative energy. I’m not going to say anything hooky-spooky, like she was on the other side going ‘come on! This going to go by really fast – get out there and do something!’ Haha! But I just really found myself re-energized.

I was introduced to a producer, Marshall Altman, whom I had never met. I had heard some of the work he had done with other singers. We hit it off; we met and got along instantly. Part of the fun of making music is the fact that you’re making it with other people. So, he just said, ‘play me all your songs.’ Everything I played he would question if it were finished. He’d say, ‘I think that second verse could be better,’ and I’d think, ‘well that’s brave!’ ha! Bold, really. And he’d say, ‘no, really, it’s not nearly as good as the first verse. You should keep going.’

He was encouraging me and challenging me, and I just loved the process. And I saw the gift of having waited all that time, because I had a lot of songs that were written over those [ten] years. We tweaked and did re-writes. That’s what a lot of the co-writes were – especially with Marshall – trying to go back and and hone down an improved song. Mostly, it was just so much fun. I forgot how much fun it is to be in the studio. It didn’t feel like a job.

It felt like the first time I walked into a recording studio. I was fifteen and it was part of an extra class offered at school. And I remember thinking – really – that I had died and gone to heaven. I had that studio day marked in my calendar, and I anticipated it for weeks. I don’t know if you had things like that that you were excited about when you were a kid, but it was like that all over again. I loved every day.

FYF: That’s awesome! That’s so exciting. Well, I’ve had the privilege of listening to the full album a few times. And it’s so special. The title-track, “How Mercy Looks From Here,” is so spiritual and positive. Has the way that you practice spirituality and your connection to music changed over the years?

Amy: I think we all change as we get older, you know? I think that when we’re younger, we tend to identify with groups. Especially when it comes to spirituality or faith. Somebody might say, ‘I’m in that group,’ or ‘I’m not a part of that group,’ and I think, with time, every person – especially the longer you live life – as one brass-ring after another that you either reach or fail to reach, it doesn’t push the button you thought it was going to push on the inside. I think most of all, I realized that everything has more value when you see it in the context of faith. Life is a much bigger picture than just your own existence and how you fit into that.

Believing that God has a plan that’s for mankind – and, specifically, for you – it puts a different light on every day. And that doesn’t have anything to do with, like, church attendance, although that might be a part of it. I mean, it certainly is a part of my life, though not always. But it’s less about kind of having the right lingo and fitting into a group because you talk the talk of that particular group…

It’s more about just being still and having time alone, and keeping the conversation open with God.

FYF: I think that’s really important as well.
Off-beat question: If you were able to go back and talk to yourself just before you released your very first record, what advice would you give yourself?
Amy: What advice? I think I would have said, ‘you are not going to believe how long this is going to last!’ [laughs] Because – no kidding – there’s really not very much special about my artistry. My first record deal that came along – Buddy, is the man who made a contact call – and his exact words to the studio owner of where I was doing a little bit of work – he said: ‘she’s not that good, but she sure sounds sincere,’ ha ha!

You know what? I think I’d go back and say, ‘don’t waste energy measuring yourself against somebody else. Because everybody is gifted.’ That’s what I would say.

FYF: I love that. You’ve dealt with a lot of public and religious scrutiny. Looking back, how did you handle it? Are you looking at it differently, now that life is more settled?
Amy: You know, this might sound kind of strange: criticism that came from somebody I didn’t know – whether it was written in an article or talked about somewhere – that was so far beyond my immediate circle of relationships, I never felt that it changed my life.

Even when I was going through a divorce or seeing my face or my name on a rag magazine, I never pursued any of it. I never looked for an article; I never pulled anything up online, I never went to a chat room. Anything beyond the circle of where I lived and the people that I met in real time, it didn’t feel normal to pursue those conversations. Because, just all by myself in my real world, I was capable of screwing up enough things without looking for somebody’s opinion, who I would never meet! Ha ha!

I’m just normal. You know, good decisions, bad decisions. I always – always – experienced music as an amazing connector with people. It has a healing quality to it. That’s what always made me go, ‘I want to do that. I have to do that.’ And I told my first manager, I said, ‘I would have been happy singing in a coffee shop if you hadn’t found a bigger platform for me.’ I mean, easy to say, because that’s not what happened, but, yeah.

FYF: I know your mother had a really big impact on this record. I’d love to hear a little bit about that story, if that’s OK. If it’s too difficult, that’s OK.
Amy: No, it’s a pleasure. I was thinking about her this morning. I was actually wondering how my children will remember me, ha ha! You know, nobody’s perfect, but she was certainly steady, how I remember her.

Two months before she passed away, I had gone to visit my mom and dad one evening, and as her body failed, sometimes her mind would wander and maybe not recognize you. But it wasn’t consistent. So, when that happened, I’d try to jog her memory or go with whatever reality she was in. She wouldn’t stay there long. Anyway, I’d gone to spend time with my dad because he was so energetic. I was telling my mother goodbye because I had to go get on the bus to go do a concert. And she said, ‘oh, you sing!’ And I thought, ‘here we go!’ And I said, ‘yeah, mom, I sing. I sang you the very first song I ever wrote.’ And she said, ‘would you sing something for me now?’

It’s easier to tell now because it’s in the past, but at that moment, I had a lump in my throat the size of a golf-ball…

I picked an old hymn that I knew she loved and I said, ‘do you recognize this song?’ and she said, ‘no, but I love it! Keep going.’ I finished it and she asked if she could get on the bus with me and go. I had to tell her it wasn’t going to work out this time and I was walking out the door and she said, ‘hey, would you do me a favor?’ And I said, ‘anything.’ And she said, ‘when you walk out on that stage, would you sing something that matters?’ And I thought, wow. Dementia or not, that’s about the coolest thing she’s ever said to me.

FYF: Did she remember that you were her daughter?
Amy: It’s hard to know. I remember one time – I laugh to this day going, ‘A woman’s hair has so much to do with if they look like a bag lady in destitution or gracious and refined.’…My mom had great hair. You know, if I walked in to see her and her hair hadn’t been attended to, she would look like she had just swung in on a vine, you know? Like Tarzan and Jane.

One day, she was a little unsteady on her feet, so I put a chair right beside the shower, and wrapped her in towels and I sat on the floor and I was rubbing her feet – which she always loved with lotion – and she said, ‘this is so kind of you…to do this.’ And I could tell that she was being gracious; that she was not remembering that this had happened many times. And, you know, you just kind of go with the flow, when things like that happen. And that was the lesson we all learned. You know, she was in there, but, sometimes, she didn’t seem like herself.

I had so many unanswered questions about how she got dementia. I’d look at every bit of food I’d put in my mouth and go, ‘oh, dear God – is this taking away my mind?’ It’s strange to go through that.

It’s funny, we were out in the yard one day, and I was trying to get my mother to the bathroom and I looked at my son, and I’m gesturing from my mom’s back, and I say, ‘You and me…Like hey, someday, you’re going to take care of me like this.’ And he said to me – he said a big ‘NO – straight to the home! You’re going straight to the home!” [Laughs].

He’s 25 now. He’s in an Engineering program and it just took him forever to figure out what he wanted to do, and now he wants to get his Masters and a Doctorate. And I go, ‘ok, so, this next tour that’s paying for your education – I hope you know you have a little payback in caring for Madre here!” Haha!

FYF: Haha! Well, thank you so much, Amy! We hope to see you in Seattle soon!

Now, when I call an artist one or the other, I don’t mean to imply that they fail miserably in the other areas. I just mean that, over time, their strengths are made obvious.

For example, my favorite artist, Brandi Carlile – I’ve been a diehard fan for years and since I often look to her for inspiration and motivation in my own career, she’s an easy one to reference.

I have categorized her as a Performer for a while. And the other day, I read an online interview with her in which she said: “I’m a performer. If I can perform, writing songs is a means to an end.”

It may seem arbitrary to divide things up this way – and perhaps it is, because all artists are all three to varying degrees – but I actually find it very helpful and comforting to know where I fit in.

Because I do not identify as a vocalist and least of all, a performer. Now, that doesn’t mean I think I sing terribly or that I never play live shows. I sing constantly, and I LOVE performing. I love feeling connected to others. But what draws me in and captivates me and inspires me is Writing. I’m a writer. I love the right words. I’m often quiet because I can’t find them – I have a high filter (which can make me a poor performer, when I never open up between songs). I also love the studio. I love creating. I love hearing outside me what was once in my head and chest and knowing when it reaches someone else’s ears, it might also implant itself in their heads and hearts. I graduated college as a writer.

I don’t mean to give myself or any other artist an excuse to be anything less than amazing – we should all be working to be our best and grow stronger in areas we’re weakest in. So, calling myself a Writer first doesn’t let me off growing as a Performer or a Vocalist. But it IS meant to be an encouragement where I do feel most comfortable. Because I am cruel to myself, at times, in my criticism of my own work.

I also mean to encourage you wherever you are. Not a great vocalist? Totally ok! You might be a wonderfully charismatic story-teller and captivate people with your performances, or write songs that change people’s lives. Not a great writer? You might have a voice that brings people to tears or makes them forget their worries.

Just because you’re not all three all at once, doesn’t mean there’s no hope for you. You’re at least one. You’re a Writer. You’re a vocalist. You’re a performer.

Know who you are and embrace it, and you’ll be motivated to grow. You’ll have the foundation for growth. You’ll find the best way to share who you are and what you have to say. And what you have to say is valuable.

Write. Speak. Play.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Lisa Loeb in the Seattle area – but lucky for us, she is going to be playing at the Kirkland Performance Center tomorrow night. I was lucky enough to have a fantastic chat with Lisa just a couple of days before the show, check it out! And get your tickets here! And stay tuned for photos and a review of the show!

Hi Lisa!

How long has it been since you’ve been in Seattle? We are extremely excited to have you visit us again!
I think I was at the triple door in 2011, and I’m so excited to come back! I think I was there for another concert or event more recently, because I remember walking around a cool part of town with my husband. Yes! I remember now, I bought a hat at Byrnie Utz hats from Jeremy, and played a private event at Triple Door.

How is touring different for you now than it was in the past? What has made this particular tour special?
Touring is different now that I have kids. I don’t want to be away, but I also really want to get out and play in front of people, so I need a clone.
This tour is special because a number of my shows are with my band Nine Stories, and I have been playing solo or duo shows lately, so that’s really cool.
It’s also strange playing so late- I’m usually in bed by 10pm on the West coast in preparation for the early morning with the kids.

What do you love about playing your songs live in comparison to just recording and releasing them?
I love the energy of playing live and people singing along. The live show really lives in that moment, which is really special- some people try to capture it in a recording, but really, the live show experience is best in that exact moment. I also like tour merch. Our t-shirts are super cute!!

What’s the best fan interaction you’ve had on the road?
In Jacksonville, FL, there’s a man and his daughter who came to see me in the 90′s, then later in the 90′s they showed me the photo of me with the cute little girl, only now the little girl was a teenager, and then years go by and now I just met the father again, and they showed me the photo of their daughter who I met in the 90′s with her baby!! Wow, I can’t believe how time passes.

Every time I talk to ZZ Ward, I get just a little more inspired by her.  Her unyielding determination, her courage to do something different – to promote DIRTYSHINE – have left no question in my mind that the only direction that this woman is going is up.

ZZ was kind enough to sit down and have a conversation with me just before her set on last Sunday night.  Check it out – and if this is the first time you’re hearing about her, give her a listen – I have no doubt that you’re going to love her as much as I do!

Find Your Fav: What do you hope that your music is doing for people at this point?
ZZ Ward: Honestly, I don’t know how other artists feel, but for me, it really does make me feel good to know my songs are helping people get through situations. Because, you know, a lot of the situations I wrote about on the record were not “fun” things that I was going through. But they’re things a lot of people go through. So, I would hope that my songs would really, you know, empower people to keep going.

FYF: I read you had said you ‘hoped people could find their authentic self.”
ZZ: Yeah, definitely. That’s what DIRTYSHINE is, though, finding your authentic self. That’s where the phrase came from.

FYF: Do you feel like you’ve always been your authentic self, or was there a time in your life when you realized, “I just need to be me?”
ZZ: I think there are certain things – my upbringing was hip-hop and blues – that were definitely there. But I think it takes time to really find who you are. It takes time to embrace what kind of music you should be making.

FYF: Absolutely. What are you learning from working with people like Fitz from Fitz and The Tantrums and Kendrick Lamar? Are you learning things on a different level than you even thought when you started?
ZZ: Definitely. I think that if you’re smart – and I try to be smart – you go and you work with so many different talents and songwriters to artists to producers. People have different processes than you in the studio. I mean, watching Freddy Gibbs get in and rap his verse on Criminal, watching him write it, watching him go in there and do his ad-libs – his process is his own process. Watching that is incredible because it’s so different than mine. It’s the same thing with Kendrick and Fitz. It teaches you a lot, watching how other artists do it.

FYF: What I really like about you, is that you get on stage and just kick ass! The people you have who work with you and the parts they rap, it’s this gritty, sexy thing that you have going. Is that a challenge for you? Do you have to pump yourself up somehow?
ZZ: For some reason, for me, I’ve always felt comfortable expressing myself through music. There’s a part of it that doesn’t feel like me when I’ve gotten on the stage. It’s ZZ Ward. I feel comfortable singing about the things I’m singing about. It’s about sex or it’s about love, I don’t know. I just do it when I get on stage. I’m kind of an introvert, otherwise, talking to people about me.

FYF: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
ZZ: Yeah, we have an L7 circle cheer that we do, me and my band. It’s kind of a funny joke because there’s this movie called American Pimp. And the guys are like, ‘you have to watch this movie! It’s just crazy.’ It’s a documentary about pimps and hos, ha. So, we watched it in the van while we were on tour and you know, it’s funny and sad at the same time. But the guy in it, he says, ‘ I ain’t no L7!’ You know, like, he means he’s not a nerd – he’s a pimp. So we always joke that we are L7s; we are dorks; we are good-hearted, moral people. It cheers us up before we go out there on stage. So we always do the L7.

FYF: So what do you do when you need to take a break from everything. Because you’re touring like crazy right now! So, where do you go? What do you do?
ZZ: I usually don’t need too much time to do that. Maybe like, one day it’s nice to go to the movies, or just chill out at home or something like that. But usually, for me, there’s so many things I want to do that I can’t take that much time off because then I get kinda stir-crazy.

FYF: Do you write on the road?
ZZ: A little bit. Just starting to get into that now.

FYF: Does Evan help you with that?
ZZ: No, not yet. But we have a good time out here, on the road. (Evan: Not on the road, but we write back in LA).I’ve written with Evan a lot. Learned a lot from Evan. SXSW will mark a year since I’ve been there and then gone on tour. For an entire year that’s what I’ve been doing.

FYF: Weird question: What’s your favorite hat? You have a lot of hats.
ZZ: Jeez. I’m gonna say…there is this purple fedora, this bright purple fedora – I’ve worn it before in photos. It’s florescent purple and I don’t know where it is. I lost it somewhere along the road. I think about it all the time, haha! You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

FYF: Are you working on something new right now? Are you looking to the future right now?
ZZ: Oh, gosh. Yes. It haunts me every day. I mean, there’s so many things that I want to accomplish. I always say the best songs haven’t been written yet. That’s always on my mind.

FYF: So, your mixtape, did you write all of those songs?
ZZ: A lot of them. Evan wrote on the mixtape with me. On the record, I wrote most of the songs by myself. And then just a few co-writes at the end. We did like a few weeks of co-writes and then some of those songs ended up on the record. Some of the songs I wrote over a track with different producers.

FYF: What about the song “Home”? That’s my favorite.
ZZ: I wrote that by myself. I’ll tell you a funny story about that one – I had been working on a song in my apartment for a good four hours and what I was working on I was kind of unsure about. I went and got my nails done and I came back and just started going into the chorus of “Home”. It was a totally different song and I was like, ‘alright, forget the other song I worked on for four hours.’ I wrote “Home” super fast.

FYF: Thanks so much for talking with us, ZZ!

Those glasses. That sweet and relatable voice…

It’s no wonder that no one can captivate the world quite like iconic pop-rocker Lisa Loeb. After spending time doing some voice over work and writing children’s books, Lisa is back with her seventh album, No Fairy Tale. “This record is a return to making grownup records regularly.” She explained, “It’s full of punky/poppy/rock energy.”

With the help of producer Chad Gilbert (of New Found Glory), Lisa has released an album full of fun, intelligent pop-rock songs that’ll get you on your feet. Lisa was kind enough to sit down for an interview with us – check it out and listen to clips from the record to your right! Thanks for reading, enjoy!

Hi Lisa! What are you up to today?
I’m doing interviews about my new record, taking my daughter to school, eating leftover Chinese food, and recovering from Grammy Parties last night. I was the designated driver, but still stayed up later than I have lately.

I’d love to talk about No Fairy Tale, what does this record mean to you?
This record is a return to making grownup records regularly. It’s full of punky/poppy/rock energy. Philosophically, it’s about life with it’s ups and downs being richer than a perceived Fairy Tale life.

No Fairy Tale includes “A Hot Minute,” which was written by Tegan Quin. What originally made you feel connected to that song?
I loved that the song had an attitude and point of view that was more drastic than any I’d written from and it really rounded out the record well.

“Weak Day” is a bit of a darker track, and one of my favorites on the record. What’s the background on that song?
The song was written when I was in the middle of a very overwhelming time, which sometimes felt dark. I wanted to work through those feelings in a song. Originally it was going to be on a record with intimate acoustic recordings, but when Chad heard it, he felt like this production style would work really well for the song. The original version is also available now on Amazon.

What’s one of your favorite memories from the recording process?
I loved coloring in all of the squares on the intricate record-making chart. That’s something I used to do when I made records in the 90′s and Chad coincidentally likes doing that too. I drew portraits of Chad and Paul, the engineer as animal faces too. That was a lot of fun.

I read an article about Macklemore the other day – his song just went to #1 – and people are sort of celebrating that he is unsigned getting a number one hit. But what I love about you, is that you did that first. You created that possibility for musicians a long time ago. What’s a major thing that you’ve learned, after your experiences releasing music with and without the help of major labels?
I learned that even when you have an independent spirit and love making things your own way and doing them your way, you still need to work with other people to get the music out to an audience. I think it’s really important to follow your ear, your heart, your mind, and fight for your vision. There’s also a collaborative aspect that’s necessary to the business part of music. You have to choose your partners well.

If you could go back and talk to yourself before you recorded your first album, what advice would you give yourself?
I’d say to keep moving along, and make a realistic schedule so that you can do quality work. Don’t think that working longer hours will result in something better-it might just burn you out. (It’s hard for us to realize we’re not super-humans or robots.)

What has raising your kids and teaching them about music taught you about yourself?
Raising my kids has been reminding me that it’s important to play when writing. Remember to have fun and write and write and not worry so much about the outcome until it’s time to edit.

Will you be heading out on tour this year? (Can I put in a vote for Seattle?)
I hope I can come to Seattle. I’m touring as much as a mom of an 8month old and a three year old can. My priority is being with my family, and hopefully it also includes sharing my music with a lot of people all over the world too!

Ben Union’s got a new record and it’s a great one.  If you love having a good time with music without abandoning intelligent lyrics, then you’re going to love these guys.  After four years together, this band is starting to make some big waves in the Seattle music scene and beyond – and if you’ve been to one of their live shows, you already know why!

The band’s latest album, This Blessed Union: Volume 2 isn’t just a story of music, it’s a story of perseverance. It’s songs written by a guy who has been through a lot – a guy who has learned a lot – on his journey and has chosen to bring something positive into the world as a result of it. And on top of that, this is a group of guys that knows how to have fun with music!

Check out Ben Union’s latest, This Blessed Union: Volume 2, and get ready to have some fun.  Here’s my interview with Ben, hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Find Your Fav: 2012 was a pretty big year for you guys. What are some of the highlights for you?
Ben: I think one of the things that I’m encouraged about is how much we’ve been on the road touring. Our fan base is growing big time in Eastern Washington, and also in San Diego, CA, which is cool. Those two things have been encouraging, taking trips down to San Diego, all throughout California. It’s cool to see more and more people coming out to shows. You know you’re doing something right when more people are coming out every time you play.

I think the recording of Ben Union: Vol. II was also a highlight for me. We didn’t use a producer, really. Vol. I was very formulated and produced. Vol. II is very raw – not to say sloppy – but I learned a lot in that process, just doing it by myself.

Yeah, so, touring has been great and recording. We’ve created a lot of content this year. I think next year, we have about 50 songs to choose from to record that haven’t been recorded, so that’s cool, creating that much content. And over all, I think this year, the band has really started working really hard. We each have specific jobs throughout the week. We’re putting our passions ahead of our comfort. That’s been fun to be a part of. And there’s a camaraderie that builds from doing something together with your buddies, having a common goal and working towards that together.

FYF: I don’t know a ton about how you guys got started. How did you come together?
Ben: I grew up playing music in church. My whole family grew up in church. That’s where we all learned music. Then I think it was 2008 – yeah, the project has been going for 4 years now – my brother Jared and myself and a couple other guys (who are no longer in the band) got together and jammed on a bridge. At the time, I wasn’t doing music for my church or anything, so there was a lack of a creative outlet for me. So a couple of my buddies and my brother decided to get together and play some songs that I had been writing. Thus, the band was formed.

That was four years ago. We just passed our four-year mark in November. So, yeah, that’s how it started and we’ve been going strong ever since. I think four years is a pretty big mark for us. I mean, we’ve had success as a band together already – most bands don’t last four weeks, let alone four years. But the two of us constant members, we’ve gone through a number of guitarists and bassists and keyboardists. The two constants are me and my drummer, who’s also my brother, Jared.

I don’t want to forget my manager with Setlist Management, Gabriel Mira – he’s been with us from the beginning. We all kind of jumped into the music scene without knowing anything, without knowing anything about the industry, just going off experiences we’d had in businesses and just went for it.

FYF: So, I had a chance to listen to Vol. II and I’m loving it!
Ben: Do you have a favorite song?

FYF: Yes, actually, I have an odd favorite, because it’s a darker song: Trouble. What’s the background? Seems like it might have been something that was hard to release.
Ben: You know how they say in movies, when the audience sees a scene – like, in Lord of the Rings, when they’re all cold, in the mountains, covered in snow, and trekking on their long journey?– as the audience, what we’re seeing is a blizzard, but really, they’re hot in real life. They’re sweating. And that’s how the film industry goes – a lot of times it’s the opposite of what you’re seeing. As it is in music.

I have this song called “Frank” and it sounds very happy but it’s a very sad song. “Trouble,” it sounds sad, but I’m so happy when I play it. It’s a release for me to sing and play that song. It comes from my experiences.

Really, to sum up “Trouble,” it’s about – and I’m not the only one – it’s from different experiences I’ve had growing up where I was victimized. People who hated on you and talked trash about you, that whole idea. It’s not about one specific scenario. A lot of it has to do with church people. I really don’t like most church people. I still have a faith and everything, and I still go to church (very untraditional). But most church people, in being very honest, I really don’t like them. And I don’t like the whole church system.

So, a lot of that song has to do with that. What I grew up with and the crap I went through. But the song is a release. It’s almost like a shrink. Like, I’m going to a shrink. You’re getting all this stuff out and that would be the feeling that I have when I perform that song live.

FYF: I like that it’s something positive for you, now.
Ben: Yes, yes, there’s a line in there that I love: “I had friends for a long time, promising love, but war was in their hearts.” I’m going to give myself a pat on the back for that poetry! It has very deep meaning to me. Which comes from certain experiences that I and my family have had.

FYF: If you were to talk to someone who was in the situation you were in when you were younger, experiencing these things that “Trouble” is about, what would you tell them?
Ben: I’d say, nobody but you can determine your destiny. You are the master of your own destiny, the master of your own fate. When you’re going through hell – keep going. Because I think that those people who push through when they’re discouraged – even when the opposition comes from yourself – that’s where hard work comes in.

I think it was Stephen King who said, “talent is cheap; everybody’s got talent. But it’s those people that work hard that separates those who are talented from those who are successful.” You can have anything and do anything to want. You can do it. How much are you willing to work for it?

FYF: I’ve heard that you like to jump from high places at your concerts…
Ben: I don’t know if it’s jumping or falling. Depends on how high up it is. But, yeah, I’ve been known to jump off of things, crawl on top of things, hang from things.

FYF: What started that?
Ben: All the people! All the people ’round the world! They give me all their love and I just want to take it out by jumping on them. I want people to have a good time. And I love being caught! Nacho Libre is my hero.

FYF: So, what’s next for you guys? Touring?
Ben: Yes, this should be the busiest touring year-to-date for us. We’ll be back in Eastern Washington, south to San Diego, LA, Sacramento, San Fransisco – anywhere and everywhere between. We’ll be in Idaho some, Oregon. That’s the plan for now. I don’t know when we’ll start breaking into the Midwest.

I’m not in a huge hurry. I think the music will make a way for itself. I think the doors will open at the right time. But yeah, 2013 will be quite busy. The traveling aspect, everybody thinks, ‘oh, they get to go on tour!’ but it’s more in my mind that I ‘have’ to go on tour. In the beginning it was, ‘yeah, I get to go on tour.’ But now it’s kind of like I have to go.

Although I do enjoy traveling, it’s not as romantic as everybody thinks. You’re wearing the same clothes a lot, sometimes you don’t shower. It’s very hard to eat healthy or exercise. I like my exercise. You’re stuck in a vehicle with three other sweaty boys. We all like to play pranks on each other. I don’t know, it can get old.

On the other side, there’s the camaraderie. You get to experience things no one else is experiencing that everybody envies – the things we see, the people we meet, the cities, the shows we play. It’s worth it.

Heck Yes! Thank you, Ben.

Check out the new album from Ben Union, you won’t regret it!