SF 59 bassist and VBM label head Jeff Cloud appealed to participants on the VBM Discussion Forum for questions to be posed to Jason Martin, the primary force behind SF 59. The following Q&A are the results.
1. After reading the [online recording] journal and hearing "The Sheriff" (version 1) MP3, are you taking a more rock n roll direction?
JM - Yes, we wanted to put out more of a pure SF 59 record. Taking what we did in the past, and having a lot of the jams centered around the guitar riffs. I'm pretty excited about the way the new record turned out.
2. Are the vocals on the new record going to be as strong as on "The Sheriff," or will they be more breathy?
JM - If strong means dry - yes. The vocals on the new record have a little slap back, we didn't drench them in reverb this time.
3. If you could have only 1 cd ever, what would it be?
JM - The Comforter album by Compulsion.
4. Is it strange to know that people think of you the way you think of your musical hereos? How does this feel?
JM - A little embarassing, but obviuosly I am glad people like the band. Sometimes at shows people telling me how the band has affected them has really meant a lot to me.
5. Song writing process? Do you crank out songs at home on an acoustic? Do you write songs in bursts? Do you ever feel uninspired to write? Do you feel pressure to write good songs?
JM - I write most of the songs on acoustic. I am basically always writing some song; so when it comes time for recording a new record I have have options to choose from instead of feeling the pressure of writing a whole record in 2 weeks or whatever.
6. Name a regret, pertaining to your musical career?
JM - I don't know; it changes weekly.
7. If you were on Saturday Night Live what 2 songs would you play?
JM - I'm not sure. Whatever 2 songs I thought we could pull off the best.
8. Did Gene Eugene have an impact on your walk with the Lord?
JM - We would talk about spiritual things from time to time while recording, but ya, when he died suddenly it definitely had an impact on me. The way I think about things, how short life can be, or how suddenly it can end.
9. What would you like SF 59 to accomplish before you stop making music?
JM - One big single, which means we probably wouldn't stop.
10. How was having no producer on the new record?
JM - It was a collabroative effort of the band and Aaron Sprinkle, and I think this worked really well.
11. Name a cd in your collection that you like but may be surprising (a guilty pleasure)?
JM - Escape from the Fallen Planet - Crumbacher
12. What artist or album has had the most affect on your music?
JM - Probably Daniel Amos - The Alarma Chronicles.
13. You've been on T&N a long time, and they seem to have not promoted you that much. Would you sign to a major if given the chance?
JM - T&N has been cool to us over the years. Sometimes we get lost in the shuffle, but overall the label has been supportive of us. If the the major label opportunity arose, I don't see why wouldn't make the step.
14. Do you ever read this [message] board?
JM - Ya, sometimes.
15. What do you do in your free time?
JM - Hang out with my family, play games with the kids, spend time with my wife. I like having card games or bbq's with friends.
16. What band do you think deserves more exposure?
JM - SF 59!
17. Do you still have or use the Les Paul Recording model?
JM - Yes, I have had it about 8 years and I still love it. There is a unique sound with that guitar. It somehow sounds like a Gibson and a Fender at the same time. Mostly now I am playing a new Les Paul I got.
18. What is your favorite song you have ever written?
JM - "Give up the War"
19. What is going on with The Emergency and how will it affect SF 59?
JM - The Emergency is a band I play guitar in, I don't think it will affect anything we do in SF 59.
20. Do you and your brother ever fight about music?
JM - Yes, a little bit. We both like a lot of the same albums, and disagree on a lot at the same time. He put me in my first band, and if it wasn't for him I probably wouldn't be doing music.
21. Favorite cheese?
JM - ?
22. Your first impression of Cloud?
JM - Tall
23. Something funny your kid has said or done?
JM - Kids are just funny; that's one of the reasons I love them so much. They aren't concerned with being cool; they just are who they are. My wife and I crack up at our kids all the time.
24. I enjoy your lyrics, is there an author that has influenced you?
JM - Thank you. As far as a specific author, I don't think so. What I mean is no one in particular, that I can think of.
25. Favorite actor?
JM - Marlon Brando
26. Was your show in Olympia, WA at 4:00 in the afternoon the most poorly organized, shite event you have ever been a part of?
JM - No, though we have had plenty of bad shows, this was not on the top of the list. I think Lenz and Cloud actually liked the show!
27. Where do you attend church?
JM - I am going to a Presbyterian church near my house.
28. Is Give up the War about wanting to give up from spiritual weariness?
JM - Yes. I wrote the song at what I consider a dark point in my life. It has a special place for me. It's a song I wrote about the Apostle Paul who is a true hero of the faith, who has been and will be an encouragement to me. I would say I am actually proud of this song.
29. How many children do you have?
JM - I have a little girl - Sadie, and a little boy - Charlie.
30. I heard you have been playing "Birthrite" live, is this true?
JM - Yes. We have started playing this song regularly lately.
31. What is the lyrical direction of "Old"? Are you dealing with your own mortality?
JM - The album lyrically is about the standard old rock n roll story, a guy who hits it big and leaves everyone else behind. Not saying SF 59 will ever hit it big, but if we do, we have made an agreement as a band not to leave behind those who have been with us and helped us. Probably the reason for this interview is that we have had the idea recently to have direct interaction with any and all fans or supporters of the band.
32. Do you view the track order of an album as important?
JM - Yes, very important. It can make or break the mood you are trying to put across. For the new record the song "First Heart Attack" is a favorite of the band, though we felt it was an album closer, so we took the risk of maybe it being heard less often (by being last) to complete the mood of the record as a whole.
33. Do you feel especially lucky to be surronded by a musical group of friends? (Dooley, Swift, Cloud, Lenz, Esquibel, Colbert)
JM - Absolutely. I've been so fortunate to have such cool people to work with and to have friendships with.
34. You are greatly accepted in the Christian market. How do you feel you measure up in the general market? Is there a difference in playing a bar or a Christian venue?
JM - We just do what we do. We just want to be a good band. As far as shows go - a show is a show to us. We are not going to not play a Christian venue because the "secular" kids won't think we're cool. I think a lot of people make way to much of the Christian stigma. To wrap it up, we are a Christian band that sometime plays "secular' shows. We are the same band, no matter what our surronding is.
35. Sometimes your lyrics seem to tell a story, a few songs seem to fit together with the same theme. Are there indeed songs with the same theme? If so which?
JM - Yes, this happens a lot. I write my songs in groups in 3 or 4's and the same thing is usually on my mind.
36. Do you have a take on the whole Christian vs. general market thing? Do you mind being associated with Christian music?
JM - I think the people most consumed with this are Christians, who love the idea of using the word "secular". I grew up on Christian music and it meant a lot to me as a kid. I didn't have any other options. To me it's cool that SF 59 might be the only band of this certain music that kids who were like me are allowed to listen to. So the answer, I don't mind being associated with Christian music. That's not to say I don't have problmes with some aspects of it though.
37. In Hagerstown, MD you mentioned to me that you like R.C. Sproul, is this still the case? Do you embrace reformed Christianity? Have you read N.T. Wright's The Challenge of Jesus?
JM - RC is one of my favorite teachers, and yes, I consider myself a reformed Christian. I have not read the book you mentioned, but I will check it out.
38. Do you differ with your wife on any doctrinal points, and if so how do you deal with it?
JM - No, not really. Thankfully we see most things the same.
-
velvetbluemusic
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