You know, I'll try to explain how this weekend went to the best of my ability but all-in-all it would be so much easier if Kaci and I could just remember to 1.) take our camera, and 2.) use it!
This post isn't totally devoid of props. We have a link to a newspaper article ran on Friday, May 16th in the Encore section of the Salina Journal. Here's the link to that article: http://www.saljournal.com/rdencore/story/encoremain051608
The interview for this article, done by Gary Demuth, was a blast. Gary is very gifted in what he does and he did a great job at keeping us on task. He was taking down notes like mad as Kaci and I were dumping information on him. As you will see from the article, he did a masterful job of putting it all together.
Saturday night we filled in for the worship team at Revolution. For a quick bit of history: Kaci and I were in the home group that founded Revolution. Because of our constant travel and busy life with Wur'ship Project, we were unable to be involved in this project. So Saturday night they had us come in and it was a fun time. Leading worship is definitely NOT what we do, so it was a tad awkward for us, but we made a joyful noise none-the-less.
Sunday we made a whirlwind trip to KC to play at The Main Street Cafe. What an awesome venue! Denise and Laura (both board members who pour their lives into this place) are dear people that love the Lord and love people. If they ever call...we'd go back in a heartbeat!
Through it all as we sing and speak at these places, I keep learning more about myself and who I need to become. We've been blessed to meet such amazing people!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Digital Distribution changes
We are in the process of changing our Digital Distributors. What this means is there is a time here when you won't find our music on iTunes, Rhapsody, AmazonMP3, and all the other places to download our music.
We'll throw up another post when our music is available online again.
Jeremy & Kaci
We'll throw up another post when our music is available online again.
Jeremy & Kaci
Saturday, May 10, 2008
What no one is saying about sex - concert\speaking series
We are beginning to book a concert\speaking series we've titled "What no one is saying about sex". Here's a little insight into this new series:
Kaci and I have many regrets in life. Yes, in a world where people try to tell themselves over and over that "things happen for a reason" and "I have no regrets"...we have regrets. Our major regret is having pre-marital sex.
If we could go back in time and change how we handled ourselves, we would do it in a heartbeat. Many have said, "but events like these make us who we are". In that case, we can honestly say we don't want to be who we are.
While there are great purity ministries out there that tell people not to have sex before marriage, they don't tell them why. That's where we come in. We can tell a person why not to engage in this activity. There are real consequences that will follow a person all their lives. Here's just a few:
- Men do not like to live in the shadows of other men.
- Women have insecurities when living in the shadows of other women.
- Severe depression in both men and women.
- Men internalize and become angry, retreat into their work, abandoning family.
- There are severe trust issues with your future husband\wife.
These are just a few of the MANY consequences. How do we know? As I stated earlier Kaci and I were both sexually active. In Kaci's defense, she was verbally, emotionally, and physically pushed\forced into all her encounters. Not to mention that alcohol was nearly always involved. For myself, I was the pushy young man that would tell a young woman anything just to get the defenses down.
We are living out these consequences. Even after 12 years of marriage there is still hurt and it is real. The amazing thing is, the more we speak about this in concerts the more men and women that come to us and tell us of deteriorating marriages due to these same feelings.
We plan to blog more about this topic in the future as it is an important one. As Solomon says in the Proverbs (paraphrased) 'once a man goes the way of the harlot it will follow him to the grave'. Pre-marital sex is like taking out a debt that can NEVER be repaid...think.
Kaci and I have many regrets in life. Yes, in a world where people try to tell themselves over and over that "things happen for a reason" and "I have no regrets"...we have regrets. Our major regret is having pre-marital sex.
If we could go back in time and change how we handled ourselves, we would do it in a heartbeat. Many have said, "but events like these make us who we are". In that case, we can honestly say we don't want to be who we are.
While there are great purity ministries out there that tell people not to have sex before marriage, they don't tell them why. That's where we come in. We can tell a person why not to engage in this activity. There are real consequences that will follow a person all their lives. Here's just a few:
- Men do not like to live in the shadows of other men.
- Women have insecurities when living in the shadows of other women.
- Severe depression in both men and women.
- Men internalize and become angry, retreat into their work, abandoning family.
- There are severe trust issues with your future husband\wife.
These are just a few of the MANY consequences. How do we know? As I stated earlier Kaci and I were both sexually active. In Kaci's defense, she was verbally, emotionally, and physically pushed\forced into all her encounters. Not to mention that alcohol was nearly always involved. For myself, I was the pushy young man that would tell a young woman anything just to get the defenses down.
We are living out these consequences. Even after 12 years of marriage there is still hurt and it is real. The amazing thing is, the more we speak about this in concerts the more men and women that come to us and tell us of deteriorating marriages due to these same feelings.
We plan to blog more about this topic in the future as it is an important one. As Solomon says in the Proverbs (paraphrased) 'once a man goes the way of the harlot it will follow him to the grave'. Pre-marital sex is like taking out a debt that can NEVER be repaid...think.
Monday, May 5, 2008
12 years and still going strong!
Today Kaci and I are celebrating our 12 year anniversary! The amazing part is that she's put up with me this long...hahaha!
So what are we doing on our special day? Band rehearsal!! Are you kidding me? This is what we're wired for!
So what are we doing on our special day? Band rehearsal!! Are you kidding me? This is what we're wired for!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Saturday - I left my heart in Nashville!
We made it home! Honestly though, I wish I was in Nashville still. I absolutely love it!! The fact that we bonded with the guys from Zodlounge makes it harder.
I don't know if I ever gave them credit, but I really must say it. The guys at Zodlounge are the real deal! I really don't have the words to describe them, but to try would have me write words like: kind, caring, loving, fun, creative to the max, men of integrity, vulnerable, and a slew of other words that I could only wish someone would use to describe me.
Today was just a continuation of Friday as Kaci and I were longing to see our 4 daughters so much that we couldn't sleep much. Consequently we are EXHAUSTED! The flight back was good, but we landed in 40 degree weather verse 70 - 80 degree weather.
We decided to make the drive back from St. Joseph, MO (where we left our girls) to Bennington so we could have a full day of rest tomorrow before I go back to work.
We will try to keep you posted on what is going on in the life of Wur'ship Project. In the coming weeks perhaps we will introduce you to our mission field: our 4 daughters.
Now it's back to raising funds for the rest of the CD project. We have 6 more songs to record at $1,600.00 per song. If any feel led to sponsor a song or even a portion just click on this link.
I don't know if I ever gave them credit, but I really must say it. The guys at Zodlounge are the real deal! I really don't have the words to describe them, but to try would have me write words like: kind, caring, loving, fun, creative to the max, men of integrity, vulnerable, and a slew of other words that I could only wish someone would use to describe me.
Today was just a continuation of Friday as Kaci and I were longing to see our 4 daughters so much that we couldn't sleep much. Consequently we are EXHAUSTED! The flight back was good, but we landed in 40 degree weather verse 70 - 80 degree weather.
We decided to make the drive back from St. Joseph, MO (where we left our girls) to Bennington so we could have a full day of rest tomorrow before I go back to work.
We will try to keep you posted on what is going on in the life of Wur'ship Project. In the coming weeks perhaps we will introduce you to our mission field: our 4 daughters.
Now it's back to raising funds for the rest of the CD project. We have 6 more songs to record at $1,600.00 per song. If any feel led to sponsor a song or even a portion just click on this link.
Friday - Bitter Sweet
Sorry that this post for Friday is being done Saturday evening. We just didn't have access to Internet late Friday evening and so I had to write this and save it to a Text file to post when I had a chance.
Friday was our last day at Zodlounge. The day was a busy but productive one. I had to get in the vocal booth and drop the vocals for "Don't Tell Me It's Over" as well as a few filler parts on "Peace Be Still" that I wrote to go in the second verse per Thom's suggestion.
Here's me putting the first verse "in the can" on "Don't Tell Me It's Over". I'm not talking to myself...Thom is on the other end listening and talking back through the monitors.
Kaci rocked on "Peace Be Still" and was adding some really cool yet spooky high harmonies on all the songs. We can't wait for you to hear them, they are really rocking!
After we finished all the vocals, Thom began the process of running vocal tracks through a program called Melodyne. It's a program that allows the engineer to fine tune the pitch on vocals and\or to create higher or lower harmonies with a particular vocal track. Here's a video of Thom using Melodyne and interestingly talking to himself.
Then came the bitter time. We had to leave our friends at Zodlounge. This was pretty tough for Kaci and I as we really formed a bond with Brett, Thom, and Todd. So much so that in one short week they've become almost family to us. Here's a picture of us with the crew. From left to right: Tom Michael (yeah, I call him Thom), Brett Vargason, Kaci, myself, and Todd Shay.
After we left, we went to the hotel to clean up and then to downtown Nashville once again. This time we were on a mission: Kaci was to get her nose pierced at Billy Joe's. It looks stinking SWEET!
Guess who we ran into while at Billy Joe's? Stinking Josh Brown! You know, the lead singer of Day of Fire. He works at Billy Joe's as a tattoo artist when not on tour. Josh is the real deal. You can just tell from the way he interacts with people that the guy lives and breaths Jesus! Here's a picture of Kaci and I with Josh (check out Kaci's piercing).
After the piercing it was back to the hotel to pack up and get ready to get up at 5:00AM to head to the airport. Neither one of us are really morning people...so this really stinks!
Friday was our last day at Zodlounge. The day was a busy but productive one. I had to get in the vocal booth and drop the vocals for "Don't Tell Me It's Over" as well as a few filler parts on "Peace Be Still" that I wrote to go in the second verse per Thom's suggestion.
Here's me putting the first verse "in the can" on "Don't Tell Me It's Over". I'm not talking to myself...Thom is on the other end listening and talking back through the monitors.
Kaci rocked on "Peace Be Still" and was adding some really cool yet spooky high harmonies on all the songs. We can't wait for you to hear them, they are really rocking!
After we finished all the vocals, Thom began the process of running vocal tracks through a program called Melodyne. It's a program that allows the engineer to fine tune the pitch on vocals and\or to create higher or lower harmonies with a particular vocal track. Here's a video of Thom using Melodyne and interestingly talking to himself.
Then came the bitter time. We had to leave our friends at Zodlounge. This was pretty tough for Kaci and I as we really formed a bond with Brett, Thom, and Todd. So much so that in one short week they've become almost family to us. Here's a picture of us with the crew. From left to right: Tom Michael (yeah, I call him Thom), Brett Vargason, Kaci, myself, and Todd Shay.
After we left, we went to the hotel to clean up and then to downtown Nashville once again. This time we were on a mission: Kaci was to get her nose pierced at Billy Joe's. It looks stinking SWEET!
Guess who we ran into while at Billy Joe's? Stinking Josh Brown! You know, the lead singer of Day of Fire. He works at Billy Joe's as a tattoo artist when not on tour. Josh is the real deal. You can just tell from the way he interacts with people that the guy lives and breaths Jesus! Here's a picture of Kaci and I with Josh (check out Kaci's piercing).
After the piercing it was back to the hotel to pack up and get ready to get up at 5:00AM to head to the airport. Neither one of us are really morning people...so this really stinks!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday - "Falling Down", "Peace Be Still", and the Hard Rock Cafe
Today was a day spent in the Vocal Booth. We have the lead and background vocals completely done on "Falling Down". Thom "comped" (which I don't know what that means other than an initial mix or compilation) "Falling Down" and let me tell you...AWESOME!! We can't wait for you to hear it!
We played around with the lead vocal melodies on "Peace Be Still" but at the end of it all we went back to the way Kaci has sung it in the past. Don't get me wrong, there will be tweaks that some of the old faithful (those that have followed us from the beginning) may or may not like...but all-in-all the melodic foundation of the song remains. We still have all the background vocals to lay down for "Peace Be Still" tomorrow as well as all the vocals for "Don't Tell Me It's Over".
Tonight we went back to downtown Nashville. We were just walking around looking at all the novelty shops and looking for a neat, out of the ordinary place to eat. So what did we end up doing? We took the safe route and went to the Hard Rock Cafe. Funny thing happened while there. Our waiter was the ex-guitarist for Fusebox. So we had a little in common as Christian Artists.
The thing that has been so lasting for us on this trip is the friendships that we've forged. Brett, Todd, and Thom are quickly becoming what we would consider as friends. Something we do not take lightly, but also something that speaks volumes about these men and how they do business.
Now for the weird thing. These guys have done work with Tim McGraw (actually Brett had a wrestling match with Tim), Mercy Me, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, and Watermark to name a few. What makes this so weird is the nonchalant way these guys address these people that seem so untouchable to us and how they view them as they are...as people like you and I.
Still weird? Yeah, kind of...but day by day I'm getting used to it. What I'm reminded of now is that all-in-all it doesn't matter if it is Tim, Taylor, "Smitty" (that's Michael W's nick name), or just Jeremy and Kaci...death is the great equalizer and it doesn't matter what awards or what stage we've played on. In the end it depends on our hearts, our motives, and if we are living the life that Jesus showed us to live. Bottom line is I'm reminded of the choice of name...Wur'ship Project...that's what life is.
We played around with the lead vocal melodies on "Peace Be Still" but at the end of it all we went back to the way Kaci has sung it in the past. Don't get me wrong, there will be tweaks that some of the old faithful (those that have followed us from the beginning) may or may not like...but all-in-all the melodic foundation of the song remains. We still have all the background vocals to lay down for "Peace Be Still" tomorrow as well as all the vocals for "Don't Tell Me It's Over".
Tonight we went back to downtown Nashville. We were just walking around looking at all the novelty shops and looking for a neat, out of the ordinary place to eat. So what did we end up doing? We took the safe route and went to the Hard Rock Cafe. Funny thing happened while there. Our waiter was the ex-guitarist for Fusebox. So we had a little in common as Christian Artists.
The thing that has been so lasting for us on this trip is the friendships that we've forged. Brett, Todd, and Thom are quickly becoming what we would consider as friends. Something we do not take lightly, but also something that speaks volumes about these men and how they do business.
Now for the weird thing. These guys have done work with Tim McGraw (actually Brett had a wrestling match with Tim), Mercy Me, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, and Watermark to name a few. What makes this so weird is the nonchalant way these guys address these people that seem so untouchable to us and how they view them as they are...as people like you and I.
Still weird? Yeah, kind of...but day by day I'm getting used to it. What I'm reminded of now is that all-in-all it doesn't matter if it is Tim, Taylor, "Smitty" (that's Michael W's nick name), or just Jeremy and Kaci...death is the great equalizer and it doesn't matter what awards or what stage we've played on. In the end it depends on our hearts, our motives, and if we are living the life that Jesus showed us to live. Bottom line is I'm reminded of the choice of name...Wur'ship Project...that's what life is.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Wednesday - Vocal tracks on "I'm Alive" and a trip to Alabama
Sorry Wednesday's update is coming on Thursday morning, but yesterday was grueling! We left Zodlounge at 4:00 and headed to Florence, AL to lead worship and share a few of our songs with a 737 (a college group) at First Southern Baptist Church. We didn't get in until 1:00AM, so blogging wasn't a priority then.
OK, so the Wednesday scoop...here's how it went down. First we started off by having me (Jeremy) go into the vocal booth to lay down the vocal tracks for "I'm Alive". This process took around an hour as they want 5 solid takes of each part. Each part meaning Verse, Chorus 1, Verse 2, Chorus 2, etc...so you can see why it took so long. Here's a quick video tour of the vocal booth:
Here's a picture of Kaci in the vocal booth:
Here is a video of Kaci warming up and going over some background vocals for "I'm Alive":
And here is a video of Thom adding my vocals to the other tracks while Todd is looking on admiring the killer guitar tracks he put down at 6:00AM that morning, and of course Kaci playing air guitar in the back:
It seems that Brett is quite the dancer and has some great impersonations. Here's a glimpse into the world of Brett Vargason:
Getting the vocal tracks for "I'm Alive" took the whole day and we left at 4:00PM to go down to Florence, Alabama. We were invited to lead worship and share a couple of our songs for a College Group at the First Southern Baptist Church called 737. It was really cool as there was a very eclectic group of students there. Students athletes, international students, married students, and a student that was from Wichita KS!
On our way we ran by something that we've only seen in movies...a Piggly Wiggly! Since there was an accident that stopped traffic on I-65, we were a little behind schedule, so we had to get a picture of it on our way back home. That's why the picture is a little dark. Anyhow, this Piggly Wiggly is in Athens, Alabama:
And last but not least, here's a picture of us with Kevin Johnson (yellow shirt), the leader of Student Ministries at First Southern Baptist, and our friend Derrek Fikes (blue shirt). Derrek was instrumental in setting us up with Kevin so we could share with the students at 737. Just a side note: we met Derrek at a camp we played for last summer in KS called Super Summer. Since then we've kept in contact and that's how it all came together.
OK, so the Wednesday scoop...here's how it went down. First we started off by having me (Jeremy) go into the vocal booth to lay down the vocal tracks for "I'm Alive". This process took around an hour as they want 5 solid takes of each part. Each part meaning Verse, Chorus 1, Verse 2, Chorus 2, etc...so you can see why it took so long. Here's a quick video tour of the vocal booth:
Here's a picture of Kaci in the vocal booth:
Here is a video of Kaci warming up and going over some background vocals for "I'm Alive":
And here is a video of Thom adding my vocals to the other tracks while Todd is looking on admiring the killer guitar tracks he put down at 6:00AM that morning, and of course Kaci playing air guitar in the back:
It seems that Brett is quite the dancer and has some great impersonations. Here's a glimpse into the world of Brett Vargason:
Getting the vocal tracks for "I'm Alive" took the whole day and we left at 4:00PM to go down to Florence, Alabama. We were invited to lead worship and share a couple of our songs for a College Group at the First Southern Baptist Church called 737. It was really cool as there was a very eclectic group of students there. Students athletes, international students, married students, and a student that was from Wichita KS!
On our way we ran by something that we've only seen in movies...a Piggly Wiggly! Since there was an accident that stopped traffic on I-65, we were a little behind schedule, so we had to get a picture of it on our way back home. That's why the picture is a little dark. Anyhow, this Piggly Wiggly is in Athens, Alabama:
And last but not least, here's a picture of us with Kevin Johnson (yellow shirt), the leader of Student Ministries at First Southern Baptist, and our friend Derrek Fikes (blue shirt). Derrek was instrumental in setting us up with Kevin so we could share with the students at 737. Just a side note: we met Derrek at a camp we played for last summer in KS called Super Summer. Since then we've kept in contact and that's how it all came together.
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