Starfield: Interview with Sparrow Records artist Starfield

We recently met up with the two brothers in the band, Jon and Tim, and got to learn more about them and the band...

MQ: Did you guys come from a music family...any musical influences?

Tim: Yeah, we did. Both of our parents sang in choirs. Our dad played guitar for a long time. He got into playing worship music back when choruses were first coming into the church. They are very musical. Regarding musical influences....not my parents...

all: laughing

Jon: Definitely not!

Tim: - lots of artists.

Jon: Some mainstream secular stuff...like U2, radiohead...

Tim: Delirious.

Jon: I'm a big fan of the Canadian band 'Our Lady Peace' - not necessarily the lyrics, but the music was really innovative.

Tim: - really cool.

Jon: Yeah...I grew up with them.

Tim: In my cd player right now is David Gray. I can't get enough of 'White Ladder.' It's one of his older albums.

MQ: What would somebody expect at one of your concerts? I've read that it's directed as more of a worship experience...

Tim: Yeah, it is. More than anything we just want to connect with our audience. We want to have a shared experience of worship with them. It's just relevant, and easy. Also, I want it to be good art. I want people to be inspired by the music. We recently saw Sara Groves and her music just moved me. I think our concerts do that to some extent. I'd like them to do that more, as we progress as a band. Overall, I just think we want people to be moved by the music, and to be able to worship.

MQ: How do you see technology influencing music production, distribution, and creation?

Jon: I think it definitely makes things easier. It may make people lazier,because you don't have to do as much work to make a great sounding album. Yeah, it's interesting how technology does sort of shape the sound of a generation. I think still, though, it's going to come down to great songs and great music. It always comes down to songwriting, no matter what. I don't think the most technologically advanced cd is going to sell better or be more well received than one that isn't...that has better content. It's always about the content. Then with internet piracy, I think it's about easier access. Everybody wants it fast, they want it now. We're sort of losing our patience - this generation. Everything is so easy and at our fingertips all the time...

Tim: I think it's also about getting it free. It's about saving twenty dollars on a cd. That's a big part of it. To add to that...I think that technology allows a lot of people that weren't able to make a cd, to do it in their own living room or basement. So there is a lot more music to be offered. The quality of music - I think even the status quo of music was dragged down a little bit as well. Those that maybe wouldn't have the best art - anybody can get it out there. Maybe that's a good thing for us because we don't have the best art! ( laugh) So we're able to get out stuff out there regardless.

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