Interview: Darren Badorine
Darren Badorine, a seasoned drummer, talks to Louder Than The Music about his song 'Mercy Met Me There' and discusses his decision to use AI on his new album, 'From Death To Amen'.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
I’m originally from the Fresno, California area, where I grew up before relocating to the Reno/Sparks region in 2010 to work in my family’s fire protection business. Today, I’m a realtor, a husband to my wonderful wife, and a proud father to our 15-month-old daughter and my stepson. While my career path has evolved, music has remained a constant and deeply meaningful part of my life.
I’ve been playing drums for over 30 years and have performed and toured nationally with several groups. A couple of those projects experienced moderate success, but ultimately the Lord closed those doors. In November of 2020, my prodigal journey came full circle when I surrendered my life back to Christ. From that point forward, the music I began writing shifted in focus and became centered on Him. I’ve always loved the creative process—both writing and performing—and that passion has only deepened over time.
My journey with music began when my dad took me to a White Heart concert when I was nine or ten years old. Watching their drummer, Jon Knox, perform that night sparked something in me, and I knew I wanted to play drums. I started playing at age eleven. I grew up taking lessons and playing in jazz bands and marching bands throughout school. In junior high and high school, I also picked up the guitar and later began experimenting with Pro Tools and songwriting during college.
I attended Fresno State University, where I played snare drum in the marching band and participated in the pep band and symphonic band. That experience opened doors into the broader music industry through connections I made there. Fast forward to today, and music continues to be an essential part of who I am—both creatively and spiritually.
Tell us about your new single 'Mercy Met Me There' and what the inspiration behind it was?
Mercy Met Me There is essentially about someone who is lost, whether unsaved or prodigal, having a raw encounter with the Lord. God’s mercy meeting them in that moment also serves as a reminder of his faithfulness when trials and tribulations come in the future. It’s spiritual inventory so to speak. I wanted to write a song that spoke about the mercy of God in a simple, honest way. When I looked back on my own life—my prodigal years and the road I had walked—it naturally gave me the lane I needed to write from. For that reason, this song is also personal to me.
I was previously in an unhealthy, unequally yoked marriage. I was struggling with alcoholism, had gained a significant amount of weight, and had recently filed for bankruptcy. I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of emptiness and discouragement, convinced that this was simply what the rest of my life was going to look like.
During that season, I was alone in my hot tub one cold November night, and I looked up to the sky with tears pouring down my face and said something to the effect of, “God you can have everything. Take it all, I’m done trying to do things my way and live apart from you. I’m not happy, and I need you to help me.” God moved in a powerful way over the next six months. My ex-wife decided to pursue divorce, I got plugged into the church I serve at now, and I found an amazing community of brother and sisters. The Lord brought an unbelievable amount of peace and restoration. God’s mercy met me there in that moment in the hot tub when I surrendered everything, and I will never ever forget it. That experience is the heart behind the song.
That song is taken from your recent album 'From Death To Amen', what more can you tell us about the album?
This album is something I’ve never done before on multiple levels. First, it’s the first Christian and worship-focused record I’ve ever been part of. Second, it has elements of several styles—rock, funk, and contemporary praise and worship—reflecting both my musical background and where I am creatively today.
It’s also unique in that this is the first album I have produced using AI as part of the process. Some of the songs were pieces I had written and recorded previously and then revisited with the help of AI. Others started as ideas that I developed further using AI.
Using AI allowed me to release an album in a far more time-efficient and affordable way than traditional production. I did wrestle with the idea at first, but I ultimately landed at this truth: the Spirit of the living God dwells within me. I was made in His image, and God alone knows my heart. AI, for me, is a tool—not a crutch. As Scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:6–8, the gospel doesn’t take root just because of the seeds we plant and water, but because of the work of the Holy Spirit. I see AI as simply one more tool to help share the good news of Jesus and proclaim the grace and glory of my Heavenly Father.
The album touches on themes of God’s grace, faithfulness, mercy, goodness, power, everlasting love, and our identity in Him. It also includes three shorter scripture-based tracks designed to clearly share the gospel and encourage the listener. My hope and prayer are that this music plants seeds in the hearts of those who don’t yet believe, while also encouraging and strengthening my brothers and sisters in Christ who listen to it.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
I want the message to be that God is so good, and the grace and mercy he offers us is enough. God, who doesn’t owe us a thing, loves us enough to offer us freedom and salvation while we are so wicked. He desires intimacy with us through surrender, obedience, and spending time in his presence. I love the verse in Exodus 15:11 when Moses says, “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” We serve an amazing, sovereign yet relational, wonder-working God.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
The style of this album is what I touched on earlier. At its core, it’s praise and worship. It does have elements of rock, funk, etc. As a drummer, I’ve had influences all over the board from guys like David Garibaldi, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Thomas Lang, Tony Royster Jr. to rock and metal drummers like Joey Jordison, John Otto, Ray Luzier, Neil Peart, Abe Cunningham, and Eloy Casagrande. Vincent and Otis from Elevation Worship are also incredible players. In terms of bands, name any popular hard rock or metal group from the past thirty years, and most have probably had some type of influence on me. I love heavy drop tuned guitars, groovy stuff, double kick drum stuff, etc. In all honesty, however, I just don’t listen to a ton of music anymore. The majority of what I listen to is Psalty the Psalm book and Listener Kids with my little girl (there are some bangers in there, ha ha), current Christian praise and worship, a few Christian hard rock/metal bands, or the songs that I may need to learn for a particular weekend when I’m playing at the church.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
There are so many good ones in the industry. There are also so many good song writers that people don’t know about because they’ve never been given an opportunity. It’d be cool to sit down and write with the guys and gals from Skillet or Brandon Lake. I appreciate their unwavering pursuit of the Lord and their faith to boldly declare the gospel in both Christian and secular settings. Not only do they all seem very genuine in their faith, but they are undeniably extremely talented.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
Before, I would’ve probably looked at the totality of my career and thought of it as a failure because I never accomplished the ultimate goal of being a well-known artist/drummer and of music being the financial backbone for my family. If I zoom in from 30,000 feet, however, in retrospect, I see the fingerprints of God all over my story. He protected me from things that I was too spiritually immature to see in those seasons of my life. I’ve been able to travel and play all over the country and Canada, gain insight into the industry a little bit, perform with some top tier musicians, and experience God’s grace in a unique way. So, success to me is relative. I’ve been as successful as I was intended to be up to this point. I love football so I’ll use this analogy – is success winning a Superbowl, getting a massive second contract, or just making it to the league? Some guys turn down money to win. Others take large contracts with bad organizations. In the same way, success looks different for each person—and for me, it’s about faithfulness, growth, and walking in the path God has set before me.
What is your favorite album of all time?
I don’t know that I have a favorite album. I use to have a few, but I don’t listen to much secular music anymore. Some of the music I enjoy listening to right now are from Wolves At the Gate, Seventh Day Slumber, Love and Death, Skillet, Red, NF, Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship, and Phil Wickham.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
Probably Gratitude by Brandon Lake. That song is powerful.
What does the next year hold for you?
Lord willing, continuing to grow as a man, husband, and father. My wife and I will probably find a place to serve in ministry together again in our church. I’d like to see my real estate business continue to grow. I will be surrendered to whatever the Lord has for me regarding this album, and possibly a second one. I do have another collection of songs that I’ve already started to work on.
