> Good songwriting really depends on each of our points of view, it really is a subjective question. Songs mean different things to different people, and that is the beauty of songs.

There are songwriters who can write songs that cause millions of people to go and buy a cd. There are other songwriters that inspire faith, that help bring healing, that can express the way each of us might feel at one season or another of our lives.

There are lots of things that make up those abilities I have mentioned, to be good is one thing. To be a great songwriter who is relevant in this day, this year, this season in 2003 or beyond…that is the real challenge.

2. What has been the fan reaction to some of the recent shifts in style and songwriting with the violets over the last couple of records?
>
The reaction to our recordings has been great. Better than ever. There are always a handful of people who want you to make the same recording that you already made.

You get the occasional, “I hope it sounds like ‘Strength’..” or “will you make another ‘self titled’?” But, a great artist is going to take a chance and move forward.

There really haven’t been drastic shifts in style. For example: In 1998, Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic was hailed by Mean Street magazine in southern California as, “the new new-wave...” nearly 4 years before the White Stripes or The Strokes were hailed in the same way...
The Gravity Show is obviously a tipping of the hat to great electronic/new wave/post punk rock bands, and This is the Moment which was reviewed last week in the Orange County Register Newspaper was called, “amazing” and the reviewer referred to hearing the influences of The Cure and New Order. (You can read more here: http://www.thevioletburning.com)

To get an idea what perhaps the most committed fans of The Violet Burning think, here is an example. We should ask the violet burning fan club (The Violet Underground).

In a recent poll in The Violet Underground fan club (the violet burning’s official fan club of a few hundred members from around the U.S. and Europe), the fans were asked to name their top 15 songs written/performed by the violets.

By the end we had some 60+ songs that were mentioned. 4 of the top 5 were from our new recording, This is the Moment, and 11 of the top 20 were from This is the Moment, or The Gravity Show: Fabulous, Like You.

There were of course a few ties in total overall votes. But it is a pretty good sign when songs like, “goldmine”, “I see stars”, and “gone gone gone”, “as I am”, “oceana”, “silver”, “there is nowhere else” and “underwater” all get the same amount of votes, and they all tie for 5th place in overall votes. Another interesting and diverse tie was the same amount of votes for “rocknroll star” as for “song of the harlot”. I was just as pleasantly surprised to see “Slowa” at number 2, “Lovesick” at number 3, and “Manta Rae” at number 4.

4. What VB song is hardest for you to play - technically or emotionally?

> None really.

5. What happened to the Tubbs brothers? Do they still work with you in any way?
> Great question, they are great guys, and I enjoyed playing with them, and having them support our ministry. They are awesome musicians and great men. I have a great privilege of making records, and I enjoy having lots of musicians contribute. Some of them have contributed on more than one recording, and some for only one. Either way, I think that many musicians don’t get the chance to play on recordings, and so from the very first recording “Chosen”, and on you will notice the inclusion of lots of players. Including: Michael Misiuk (of dear A 19, acoustic shack, kreepdowns, chosen, and plastic elastic, toured Europe in 2001); Scott and Shawn Tubbs (for strength and parts of chosen, Crystal Lewis); Sam West (stavesacre –vb this is the moment), Andy Prickett (prayer chain, cush – vb self titled, moment, gravity show mix) Grimaud jr. (raspberry jam – vb plastic, satellite, moment, stranger); of course the great and talented, Lonnie Tubbs (chosen, strenth, lipstick and dynamite, and more); Ed Fisher (stranger, plastic touring), Matt Payne (all star united); Daryl Dawson; Jason Lord-Mize; Glenn Pierce (chosen, currently with Michael W. Smith) and even Gabriel Wilson (Worship Circus – vb satellite heart)… so I have been real privileged to play with great musicians, and hopefully that tradition will continue.

6. Which sport do you prefer over any other (watching or playing)?
> Basketball (playing and watching), European Football (playing and watching), American Football (playing and watching), Baseball (playing or watching in person, but on t.v. it bores me), golf, surfing.

7. Are there any plans for another experiment in vibe record?

>yes.

8. have you considered re-recording any of the songs from Chosen?

> maybe for an experiment in vibe. Maybe not.

9. Will Sea Monster ever be played live?

>yes this song has been played live at least 75 times or more. Most recently performed in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in August, 2003.

10. What are your thoughts on blurring the lines between worship and performance, if at all?

>this is an interesting question. Really I think for most of us, because some of us confuse performing and the many definitions of what it is “to perform”, and what it is “to worship”. For me, at the core, it is a heart issue.

I have considered writing a book on some of these types of issues.
I will do my best not to get to long on this. But, maybe in the years to come a longer chapter may be written.

I love that Jesus Christ laid His life down for someone like me. When I reflect on the suffering and horrible pain that Jesus bore in His trials and in the finality of the cross on Calvary, I am truly deeply humbled. This really makes me want to worship God, it does not make me want to perform.

Knowing that He died and has risen from the dead, and that He would love and accept someone like me, just as I am, makes me want to worship, it doesn’t really make me want to perform.

If lifting my guitar over my head in praise to God becomes performance, then I no longer wish to lift it, or even play it.

10. What is your favorite part of touring?

>My favorite part is definitely playing. There has always been something special for us on most nights when we play live.

13. What is your opinion on the current state of the "Christian" indie scene and the "Christian" music scene in general?

>I think that there are lots of great artists who are Christians, just look at the artist rosters at Velvet Blue, Tooth and Nail, and Northern. It could be one of the best seasons of Christian Music in church history. (Not including the “Creed sound alike bands/artists”.)

Though I do not think that things are perfect, I do feel that God is really changing the face of the music and that begins with the hearts of the musicians.

There are many who really have a genuine heart to serve God and to serve their brothers and sisters. This is really the great witness to me as a Christian. Many of them do this usually without words or preaching.

On the other hand there are sometimes those who are embarrassed by the church or their fellow brothers and sisters. They would rather deny having faith in Jesus, or any association with church. And yet the very fans that follow them, follow them mainly due to their once proclaimed ‘faith’.

I too have understood this sort of feeling embarrassed by other Christians sometimes different behavior. Yet, having seen both the mainstream and the Christian music industry my conclusion is that there are many great people in both mainstream and Christian streams. There are also incredibly shallow, revolting, and sometimes embarrassing people in both streams/industries.

Glenn Kaiser in his book “The Responsibility of the Christian Musician”, makes some interesting points, at one point Glenn points out something that is true and should be taken to heart by all of us, he says, “I fear that there is a multitude of Christian musicians out there who are basically more in love with their art, than with their ‘Lord’ and more committed to their own pursuit of happiness than to winning the lost or encouraging fellow Christians with their music. We are talking selfishness, plain and simple…”

Those are definitely some valid words. I think many of us (musicians or not), can fall into that sort of selfishness. Sometimes we love the worldly pursuit of happiness more than our own Savior who has granted to us eternal life.

Sometimes we find that people of faith, musicians or otherwise would rather walk away from Christ or be embarrassed to be known as a Christian. It reminds me of the story where a great number of those following Jesus turned away from Him. We pick up in John 6:66-68 ‘As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life”

I understand one thing. Jesus Christ is deeply in love with His bride, the church. And far be it from me to despise my brothers and sisters whom I will spend eternity with. I am not ashamed to call them brother or sister. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. All men and women at one point or another in their lives realize their need for something or someone that is beyond them. Sex + drugs + rocknroll + money + fame, does not equal peace or happiness for that void inside of you.

If I have the honor of sharing the gospel with those around me who are looking for hope or meaning in life, then I am blessed. If I have the honor of standing before the Lord of Song with my own humble songs, fragile voice or various instruments then I am also blessed. And if I can do both together, then I am doubly blessed.

Copyright 2003 Michael J Pritzl.
Used by permission.