Interview: West of Here
West of Here, an Alternative/Christian rock band made up of three brothers from Alberta Canada, have just released their new single 'Reach For The Sky'. Louder Than The Music caught up with band member Matt Adams to find out more about the band, and what it's like to be in a band of brothers!
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about the band and how you got involved in making music?
Well we grew up into a musical family, our parents were both musical, our father played guitar and sang while our mother played piano. We grew up listening to them and their worship band write songs and play them for events in and around our small community as well as for church events. It didn’t take long for us to want to pick up instruments and follow our parents lead, and before we new it we writing and performing our own music.
Tell us about your new single 'Reach For The Sky' and what the inspiration behind it was?
The idea behind our new song “Reach For The Sky” was conceived on a day by which so many people, hope for a brand new start, New Years Day. The thought that no matter who you are or where you are it is never too late to shoot for the stars, rung through my head as I was on my morning drive. However, the “stars” I was thinking of were not idols of earthly achievement such as wealth or fame, but of dreams bigger. Instead to me they represented the eternal purpose of which we all were created to pursue. Eternity itself. So with this song we want to inspire people to dream big, really big.
Any plans for an album or EP?
We have a collection of new material we are very excited about so yes at some point in the near future we will be releasing a new album.
As a band consisting of three brothers, how do you guys handle sibling rivalries and family tensions when on the road together?!
It can definitely be a struggle at times but the common goal of wanting to inspire hope and change in others definitely keeps us all on the right track. We definitely count it as a blessing to be touring and performing together as family.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
Our style of music we would say has a Rock foundation with Alternative and Pop influences. Our biggest musical influences since the very start have been Switchfoot, Needtobreathe, Imagine Dragons, and Judah and The Lion.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
We love this question. Our favourite songwriter of all time is Jon Foreman lead singer of Switchfoot. He writes music and lyrics that can make almost anyone out there believe in something bigger than what the world is offering them. Lyrics like “But I’m not sentimental, this skin and bones is a rental”. Or “There’s a fire coming that we all go through, you possess your possessions or they possess you.” We could go on and on...
How would you define success in your career as a band?
Success for us would be to inspire people dig deep into themselves to unearth, and to live out their true purpose in the universe. That has always been our goal and we wish to carry out that mission through our music until our time runs out.
What is your favourite album of all time?
For the three of us it would be between, “Where The Light Shines Through” by Switchfoot or “Only The Lonely” by Colony House.
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 “Where I Belong” by Switchfoot, but its almost seven minutes long so I might only make it through half the song before my battery dies. But that would be worth it.
What does the next year hold for you?
Releasing new music, touring throughout Canada and hopefully building into the United States.
