What are some life experiences that have shaped your art? What comments would you like to make about any or all of these experiences? How do you think they have shaped you and/or your art -- in defining ways and/or temporary ways (such as expressed in a song or two)?
I think that the main life experience that has shaped my art is my conversion and my ongoing relationship with Jesus. Life can bring a lot of different situations. And my life certainly has. But, I find that I am not alone in these experiences. I find that God is able to relate to us whatever the situation we are in. Whether it be love, joy, peace, sorrow, hope, laughter, etc…
We can find God in all those places.
I believe that a true artist is going to express the fullness of his or her life, worldview, and whatever experiences he or she goes through. To be a true Christian artist you should express those experiences. As a writer I have tried to write about different experiences, including my faith, or lack of faith, love, loss, and everything in between. The dividing line of course is sin.
As a young punk rock, drug addict I challenged God one day to prove to me that He was real. You see, for me, I cannot believe in something that is not real. And so I asked Him from depth of my heart to prove Himself to me, to forgive me of my sins, and to change my heart. And in that moment I could feel a flood well up within me, I remember falling to my knees and weeping for days.
In American Christianity you have all these extremes. Some who are ‘super-Christians’, the types that will preach at anything or anyone for not being as good as they are. And there is another extreme of people who are critical of the church and who don’t go to any church at all. Usually because they have been hurt by Christians who are self-righteous. But, the sad thing is that neither of these types of people are having a relationship with God. It is easy to find fault with one another, with ourselves, and with one another’s doctrine and yet that is not what faith is based upon.
I know some who have shared with me that I am not a good enough or Christian enough to come to their churches, or they are too “Christian” to come watch us rock at a club. They have the perception that there is no sin in the church and there is only sin in clubs.
Others have told me how I cannot share the gospel, teach, or preach because I did not go to seminary or bible school. And yet neither did Moses, Elijah, David, Solomon, Peter, etc…
I am sure that Paul had schooling, so much so, that he looked on with approval as Stephen was stoned. Because Paul didn’t get it, not yet. And in that moment of Stephen's stoning, Paul with all of his knowledge was not experiencing the presence of God. While Stephen was experiencing the presence of His savior.
The key for us as artists is to have an ongoing relationship with a living, loving, creative, faithful and true savior, Jesus Christ.
What is the difference between art and propaganda? How do you feel about some of the art that is released inside the Christian music industry?
Good question, I think that in these days it is hard to tell the difference anymore. And I certainly cannot be the judge of anyone’s heart.
As for how I feel about some of the art released within the Christian Music Industry. I think that for me, it is the same feeling I get when I listen to music in general. There is some music that is honest, passionate, deep and real, some music that has substance, which you can relate to. And then there is some music that is contrived, faked, made up. For me there is some music within the Christian industry that really blesses me and touches me. And there is some music that makes me want to turn off the radio as fast as I can. But it is the same way for mainstream music. There is some mainstream music that really blesses me and touches me. And there is some mainstream music that is the most contrived, rip off, shallow things you have ever heard.
What sort of encouragement could you give to an industry and/or artists on how not to be confined by certain prevailing trends and be set free to express oneself through a God-given ability to create?
I think that the issue is not about style and trends, it is more about heart, soul, and spirit. Whether or not you are a musician or a lawyer, a student, or a school teacher, it is important to be who God has made you to be.
I think C.S. Lewis put it the best when it comes to music.
Musical Taste
There are two musical situations on which I think we can be confident that a blessing rests. One is where a priest or an organist, himself a man of trained and delicate taste, humbly and charitably sacrifices his own (aesthetically right) desires and gives the people humbler and coarser fare than he would wish, in a belief (even, as it may be, the erroneous belief) that he can thus bring them to God. The other is where the stupid and unmusical layman humbly and patiently, and above all silently, listens to music which he cannot, or cannot fully, appreciate, in the belief that it somehow glorifies God, and that if it does not edify him this must be his own defect. Neither such a High Brow nor such a Low Brow can be far out of the way. To both, Church Music will have been a means of grace; not the music they have liked, but the music they have disliked. They have both offered, sacrificed, their taste in the fullest sense. But where the opposite situation arises, where the musician is filled with the pride of skill or the virus of emulation and looks with contempt on the unappreciative congregation, or where the unmusical, complacently entrenched in their own ignorance and conservatism, look with the restless and resentful hostility of an inferiority complex on all who would try to improve their taste – there, we may be sure, all that both offer is unblessed and the spirit that moves them is not the Holy Ghost.
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For more information on the band visit their website: http://www.thevioletburning.com/
Check out Northern Records too, who are The Violet Burning's current record label: http://www.northernrecords.com/
Posted by:
Philbert on February 24, 2003 08:31 PM
the violet burning is one of the greatest bands i've seen live... in both an outdoor, large setting like Purple Door and an intimate coffee house setting... mmm mmm.
peace.
Posted by:
The Theory on February 25, 2003 02:13 PM
very good interview....i am always impressed with michael's humble attitude and overall classy way of putting things. the violets are an incredible band that deserve all the attention they can get.
Posted by:
ryan luther on February 25, 2003 10:38 PM
Hey for all of you V.B. fans that live around Ohio. The bands new album comes out April 29th and they will be in wapakoneta OH that night for a show. For info contact me
arockproductions@hotmail.com
Posted by:
Andy Rock on February 27, 2003 10:16 AM
Wonderful band! Too bad i cant get their CDs in Malaysia. anyway rock on. They are one of my all time fav bands and is the epitome of great music that combines elements from the 70's to the 90's into a relevant, inspiring version for the post 2000 crowd. If the band reads this, do take note that they are Violet Burning Fans in Malaysia that are starving for their CDs. Especially the self titled, demonstrates, faith & obviously the much awaited moment.
Posted by:
Adrian Kam on March 6, 2003 09:55 PM
THE VIOLET BURING WILL BE IN WASHINGTON DC ON MAY 4TH BE THERE. THE NEW CD IS COOL>>>>
Posted by:
tom on April 14, 2003 03:20 PM
voilent burning is really good my friend loaned
me there cd one time and it was really cool.
i forgett which one it was but there pretty entense
emotional rock .
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