In a prior AIM discussion you and I had, you mentioned a trip to Portland for a project you were working on. How was your trip and would you care to elaborate on the project?

"Portland was wonderful. I'm working on a new side project called PRISTINA. It's a downtempo/chillout record with various female vocalists. I'm the behind the scenes guy writing and programming it."

 

Wow, that is cool. That saves me one question. What made you want to do this side project?

"I was in Portland working with Anita and Kevin Robinson of VIVA VOCE . She's doing vocals on the Pristina tracks and we all wrote a song together while I was up there- it was great. I've always toyed with the idea of having a real relaxing (but not like Musak or anything) record with all female vocals. I just never had the opportunity to realize the idea until now. It's just a cool chance for me to step out of the Echoing Green for the first time and have some new perspective."

So when can we expect this project to hit our market?

"It's scheduled to be released this fall—hopefully it will actually be done by then."

I guess the next question would be 'Just who are and is the Echoing Green?' Not just the names of the band members, but *who* are you?

"Hmmmm. That's a good one. The EG has been a lot of things and has taken many forms over the last ten years. The only constant has been me. It started off as a duo, then became solo, then a four piece and has now returned to a duo again. Live, there are more than two of us—but in studio and on record it is Chrissy Jeter and myself. Chrissy is like a sister to me. I've known her since she was a little junior high brat with braces. OF COURSE, she is not a brat now (so that she doesn't punch me in the arm when she reads this)—in all truthfulness, she's one of the most wonderful people I know and she has an amazing voice and sense of melody."

She does have a very hypnotic voice. What made the line up of the band change so frequently over the years?

"Well, remember that our first record came out in 1994. So that's a whole decade of music and I think change was hard to avoid. In the late 90's, I had gotten stuck playing a lot of hard rock and punk festivals. As I, by default, became more into harder music, I wanted to muscle up our live show a bit and I brought in some extra live players. Once I did that, our shows started to explode. We were the electronic band that hardcore kids thought it was cool to like---so after playing tons of shows and touring our brains out, I decided I wanted to get out of the whole 'techno' stereotype and I just wanted to do something different. I recruited some permanent band members and we started shaping our form of 'rocktronica' or whatever you want to call it… Now all that came to a peak when the Supernova album was recorded...."

And what happened after that album was recorded?

"I felt that we actually pulled it off…. We made an electronic rock record. We were at such a high and then ran into some serious record label problems. It really took the wind out of our sails. But the cool thing is that, even though the Supernova record was everything I dreamed it to be, I don't have those dreams anymore. It's like I pulled it off and I had nothing left to do. That's when I fell in love with the machines again. I decided to explore the darker textures I've always toyed with and went on to create The Winter of Our Discontent."

So in the beginning, what got * you* interested in making music? What was the one thing that made you decide one day you will be a musician, especially a musician that plays what is considered 'goth' (and that term is used very loosely, I mean it to encompass all forms of the genre).

"Well, I think the fascination I had with electronic music, everything from New Order, Depeche Mode to Frontline Assembly to Book of Love to NIN, mixed with my love of The Smiths, The Cure and the like; inspired me like crazy. I was a music major in college when I signed my first deal".

Isn't it funny that we 'old folks' can remember when bands like New Order and Depeche Mode were ground breaking for the time and now they are the bands that everyone is trying to emulate?

"Yeah, I feel old saying I like The Smiths. As for shows, the funny thing is that nowadays we play almost exclusively to Goth crowds. Which is a bit of a homecoming for us. We are not a 'goth' band necessarily (I hate categorizing!) but we are quite pro-goth. :)".

What I find even funnier is that in the clubs the people seem to 'know' you are a Christian band, yet every time one of your songs comes on, it packs the dance floor—BUT--- we will get to that part in just a second. J Now the next question I have for you is: From the forward on your website, it says 'Yet Belville has spent eight years steering his band from frothy synth-pop to four-on-the-floor dance and club music to the rich and explosive atmosphere that envelopes Supernova' - Why or what was your choice to steer the band from that frothy syth-pop to the –four-on-the-floor dance? I personally love both, but what was it that made you change the format of your music?

"The reason is pretty much what I mentioned earlier. It was hard finding synth-pop crowds to play for in the 90's. If you didn't have a Nirvana cover in your set, nobody wanted to hear you. We had to change a bit to survive. But to be fair—nobody was twisting my arms… I was just trying to feel out different things."

Of course that makes sense. You must do what you can to stay alive with the masses. Now I have a few questions from our Fearless Leader and Webmaster Balaam and our Music Reviewer Kreg.

Balaam asks 'Speaking of your last album, The Winter of Our Discontent, it is a bit darker sounding than previous albums. Are we to expect future albums to get even more darker in sound?'

"I think so. I think the next EG album will be a proper follow up to Winter instead of a 180* turnaround like Winter was to Supernova. I feel that the Winter album is the record I've always had in me that wanted out—but until I broke ties (not all, but most) with the Christian Music Industry, it couldn't happen."

Interesting you speak on that last bit. Would you be willing to clarify it--- the breaking of the ties with the Christian Music Industry?

"We were the red-headed (and black dressed) stepchildren of the CCM industry. Nobody knew what to do with us. Our music was danceable and therefore put a confusing mix of fear and excitement into most radio programmers. Then there was also my refusal to cheese out my lyrics so that they can be printed onto 'GO JESUS!' youth group t-shirts".

Aha. I do understand it all now. That makes perfect sense and I thank you for not going against what you believe in just to please the mass-market. This, of course, leads me into my next question for you. It is from Kreg and he asks - 'What kind of problems have you run into being a Christian band in the dark/electronic/goth scene?'

"Depends on what side of the fence you are asking about. If you're asking if we've gotten any hassles from our electronic/goth audience—the answer is absolutely not. It's only the Christians that point fingers at us and say we're not doing things right or good enough. The 'non-Christian' audience (so-to-speak) knows who we are and accepts us as is. It's quite interesting. Even though I call myself a Christian, I am ashamed to be on the same team as some of the jerks I've run into. But, to be fair, the jerks rear their ugly heads only on occasion. We usually get a lot of support from anybody who hears us."

How do you do that? You've done it again---- lead into yet another question that I was going to cover with you. I will go on record to say though, that I totally agree with you – those 'jerks' are what kept me from Jesus for 29 years!! That being said, I am going to ask you this next question—part of which you have covered in the previous one, and all of which is disheartening for me as a Christian to have to ask. But in light of the purpose of our website and the walls we have hit with other bands in asking for an interview, I feel I must peruse your thoughts on this.
Knowing that, so many bands are coming under fire lately because their music sounds or has words that could be deemed 'Christian' or at the very least 'spiritual', yet as you pointed out, the Christian community and music industry gets a hold of these bands and ends up alienating them and to some extent, the fans; because, again, as you were told, the music 'isn't Christian enough', they want you to 'cheese' out the lyrics for sale to the masses, or some other such nonsense. The purpose, as I see it, of the website, is to show people that it is o.k. to be 'goth' and be Christian as well. That one can be a 'freak', dress in black and whatnot, and still worship the Lord. That it is all right to listen to music other than praise or worship music. In essence, we can be 'Christian Goths'. So, if you do not mind doing so, for our viewers, could you elaborate on your beliefs? What is it that holds Joey together spiritually?

"Here is the crux of it………I had to face the fact that there will always be someone to judge what I do. A long time ago I made a commitment to be one thing and one thing only with my music…. And that's HONEST. Honesty is something that all humanity, no matter what you believe or don't believe, can relate to. People can detect the fake and shallow. I would rather step right up and say that I'm a Born Again Christian. Yet, I don't think I'm better than anybody because of it. I also am a total and complete failure. I believe actions speak louder than any words—so I don't bother trying to give a 'Jesus sales pitch' to anybody. I just want to be honest. I find that people respect me and the EG a lot more when I distance myself from pretentiousness."

Joey, thank you. That was absolutely the most honest and totally heartfelt thing any Christian has ever spoken to me. I've never heard it that way, because I've always received the sales pitch—as have many others. I think you will win a few more listeners with this—because Honesty does prevail over anything. You've just answer what may be the toughest question ever—and of this interview. We are almost finished.

(When the interview began, I was listening to some of EG's songs to put me in the right mindset. As I start to type the next question to Joey—Supernova came on.)

I am listening to Supernova as I type this---it was the song that turned me on to EG. As always, music is left up to the interpretation of the listener, which may or may not be vastly different from the meaning the writer intended. Knowing that, when I heard Supernova, I felt as if I were lifting my hands up in praise—all without that feeling of being preached to. Now, I am far from a 'good' Christian, I try to be, but we all tend to fail, but I simply cannot get into that 'praise music' that is so commonly heard. However, this song made me feel rejuvenated and joyous. So, just Who or What is the Supernova? Is it something or someone that would make a person feel the way I did? Why do you consider Supernova your 'finest hour and such a surprise that you pulled it off'?

"When I say 'pulled it off', I'm mainly referring to the technical aspect of making that record. It's not always easy to integrate those different elements (well). As for the actual songs and writing—I have no regrets. I love them all. I think Supernova, December, and Liberation are my favorites. Supernova is simply about my redemption. It's about the change that happened in me when I looked towards Heaven… It is almost a worship song."

Oh my, I just lost my breath with that. I became born again 1 ½ years ago and this is really blowing my mind to find out that I felt the way you had intended the song to be. This is just awesome.

Finally, for our interview, this is where I let YOU direct the conversation. You have answered some seriously touchy questions and I've received some wonderful answers in return. Now, I want to let you speak your mind. Say what you want, to whom you want. It will all go on the website.

"I think that God made me empathetic by nature. When I deal with people (fans, listeners, or friends) I don't care what you look like, what you dress like what you believe or what you don't. I do care, though, if you hurt. I would rather put my arm around you than preach at you…. So that's what I do. That's what the EG has always been about…. Sharing our hearts with those who find theirs empty. I choose to celebrate the lighter AND darker things that are in our lives. Our lives are riddled with both joys and pains. Would you want it any other way? I wouldn't. It's all in how you look at it. Instead of dwelling in sorrows, I choose to stand and be dazzled by the grandeur of our lives. Hopefully our music makes people feel the same."

I must say this about Joey and to our readers--- he has done a lot more for me these last few hours, during the interview, than he will ever know. It does not show in my questions, but I cannot explain to you in proper words the feeling I had after completing this interview. He has given you, the readers, and I, the interviewer, an honest look into just who The Echoing Green is and what they are about. It lifted my spirits up greatly after speaking with him.

Joey—From me to you—Thank you for your sincere honesty with me, for the words you have spoken and for your patience with me. This interview and your words will stand with me for some time.

"Thanks for your kind words."

As a special treat Joey added this at the end, when asked if there was anything he wished to see contributed by way of the band, to the website:

"I can put it up and give you a link that is from a song on our album 'Music from the Ocean Picture' that sums up our 'departure' from the CCM Industry. It's basically about realizing that, after all this time of striving and reaching for something, you get a closer look at it and figure out that you don't want anything to do with it. It's called Epiphany. ---- And you can quote me on that".

This song will be coming to you in its entirety. It will be something, as Joey put it, to spice up the interview. This, along with the simply gorgeous picture he sent me of him.

That is the end of the interview. Comments are welcome, post them on the message board, addressed to Adamina Cailean (that's me). Or email Balaam at the website email. I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have.

Bless.

Toni.

The Echoing Green - Epiphany

Taking ahold of destiny
and coming undone
blind the soul and stain the feet
quenching the sun

there's an effigy of who I was...
I'm tearing it down
an epiphany of who I've become
deaf to the sound
turn it around...

Reaching for something
just to push it away
Dreaming of something
to wish it away
Screaming at something
to kiss it away

A bitter sea of empty days
holding me down
A symphony gone out of phase
I'm deaf to the sound
turn it around...

Reaching for something
just to push it away
Dreaming of something
to wish it away
Screaming at something
to kiss it away
Longing for something
while stepping away

I'm stepping away

                                                             ~chello.nl

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