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by Karen Vasey

Big changes are afoot for the band Every Day Life. Whether it be the release of their new album or their new contract with Paradigm Records, Every Day Life is more than excited and overwhelmed about their new role in the emerging rapcore scene, or as Tedd Cookerly, lead singer of Every Day Life calls it, "thirdwave metal."

At press time, EDL just signed with Paradigm Records, something that took the band by surprise. But after playing the general market for a year and a half, they could not be more excited about the prospect of finally being picked up by a major label. After seeing the rising popularity of rapcore through such bands as Korn and Limp Bizkit, Paradigm was looking for an established band to sign to their label, and they definitely found it in EDL.

The new deal could not come at a better time for EDL, which consists of Cookerly, Carl Weaver, Eric Wilkins and Mike Nocosia. With the release of their new album, Moment of Clarity, EDL feels like this is their chance to really come into the forefront of the music scene. Citing the cycle that music seems to take, Cookerly compares their wait for rapcore to become popular to a game of jump rope. "It's like pacing yourself and waiting for the perfect time to jump into the game. We've been playing jump rope and we're waiting for our time to come in."

The time to jump into the game seems to definitely be here. With their main influences coming from the general market, especially indie rock bands, EDL's new album takes on a more raw sound, which is anchored in indie rock and rap. Cookerly says that the band has never felt better about a record, and that this album gives them a legitimate shot at breaking through. The name of the album, Moment of Clarity, is autobiographical for the band. "It's a celebration of awakening for us," Cookerly says. "It means a lot of things, but especially coming to actualities about the industry."

After struggling to perfect the sound they wanted, management changes and criticism for their lyrical content, EDL feels like this album shows what the band is really like. "We realized that in the past, we were doing it totally wrong,"Cookerly says. "American Standard was where we wanted to go, but this album nailed it on the head. It's more indie rock and pop-oriented. We wanted to give some meat to the music."

The meat of the songs on their new album is more relationship-oriented than in the past, a type of coming of age album. Intended to be a concept record, Moment of Clarity stayed true to the genre of music EDL produces, since rapcore concept albums aren't the most prevalent. The album is truer to EDL's sound because they were given the direction from their new management to get into contact with the producers to give them the type of album that they wanted. Many of the songs relate personally to the band or Cookerly in particular. Cookerly's own personal testimony comes in the form of "Let It Ride," which is a song where he relays his own wrongdoings in past decisions he made.

The song "Endurance" speaks about the band's perseverance to be taken seriously in the Christian marketplace. EDL seems to get a lot of flack from the Christian market for speaking about social issues. However, Cookerly believes if one does not face the issues, then the person is not really fulfilling his social obligation, but Cookerly understands the people who do not pick up the record because of the lyical content. He feels that if the record is not relevant to their walk with God, than the buyer should not waste his money. Also, he believes that the Christian music industry needs to change their ways. "Christian culture over the past two decades has been dependent on Confirmation music like "Lead Me On" [by Amy Grant]; I personally want to know more about applications that are behind the songs, than the song."

Cookerly has no fear about losing the Christian audience that EDL has built in the past few years by touring in the general market. "We know that the Christian audience is not timid and that they will go to the general market venues," he says.

He also knows that his band does make an impact on people, even though some skeptics claim that EDL's records hold no relevance to a Christian audience. Cookerly is more concerned with meeting people where they are. Cookerly cites an email he received from a 15-year-old African-American girl who felt oppressed living in a predominantly white neighborhood, and EDL's record helped her to cope with her feelings. "Letters like that open up awareness to problems," Cookerly says. "It also makes you question what is wrong with society when a 15-year old-kid has to deal with such heavy issues. She should be concerned about what boy she has a crush on or something."

After doing a promotional tour before the release of the album with Surgance, EDL has plans to tour after the album comes out, but at press time plans were still being made. Talks are in the making for the band to tour with System of a Down, Machinehead and possibly the Deftones, but Cookerly says that EDL would love to even tour with hip hop bands.

Through it all, EDL is trying to represent both the genre of indie rock and hip hop, and trying to combine them so they play off of each other. Constant pressure looms over EDL and bands like them because, with music tastes changing like the tides, who can tell how long the popularity of rapcore will exist, but with the demand for rapcore there is a pressure to be that much better, and to be always improving. "You become that much more responsible for that scene and to set new standards," Cookerly says.

As Every Day Life opens up another chapter in their musical journey, the band is confident that they will make a great impression on their listening audience. Equipped with their polished sound and eagerness, EDL is definitely ready to rock.

©2003 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved

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