Jeremy Koering of Music Faith: What’s it feel like to be nominated for a Grammy?
Mike Smith of Leeland: Well dude, that’s been amazing! All of us have been kind of been, I guess just in awe. It’s just an honor to be nominated, with the people we’ve been nominated with. They’re people we’ve looked up too and are people we’ve grown up listening too. And to be nominated is just amazing; all of us have been kind of on cloud nine about it.
Jeremy Koering: I’m guessing the video on your MySpace about you guys getting nominated was staged?
Mike Smith: (Laughs)… Yeah, a little bit. We wanted to do something kind of funny so the only plan we had was to go into Foodtown and find each other. So they didn’t really know what they were going to find when they went around the corner. I guess it turned out pretty funny, and it was pretty over the top. Definitely could tell it was staged but it was funny. (Laughs)
Jeremy Koering: Do you have your acceptance speech ready?
Mike Smith: (Laughs)… Y’know I haven’t really thought about it too much about what I’m going to say, but it’d probably be along the lines of the normal: parents, family, friends and the Lord first and foremost because He’s the one who got us there.
Jeremy Koering: What are Leeland’s shows like?
Mike Smith: Well our shows are one of those things we try to more than just entertain we try to create an atmosphere of worship. And we just pray that God will show up at our shows. If it came down to just entertain people, I don’t think we’re that kind of band, I don’t think we could survive just off of entertaining. I think the thing that does it for us is the fact that we feel lead to worship and even in our concerts we try to get past playing our songs, it goes deeper than that, it goes into trying to express our love for the Lord through worship and trying to get the people in the crowd to do the same.
Jeremy Koering: I want to ask about “Carried to The Table.” Last week I was at a church retreat and they played that song during our communion service and when it finished, I realized what Leeland was really saying, how and powerful that song is. What does this song mean to you personally?
Mike Smith: The song stems from the story of Mephibosheth and David bringing Mephibosheth in because he wanted to bless anybody in the house. And so he brings Mephibosheth in and what he was is a rival to the throne. Basically [the song] just talks about the story, how David brings Mephibosheth and Mephibosheth was scared for his life, because back in those days the kings would take out anyone who was their rival to the throne. Instead David looks to Mephibosheth and says ‘Forever you’re going to sit at my table and eat with me’. And he was crippled, and back in those days to be crippled you were the lowest of lows in society. And so for me I just compare it to me and to my life, being “crippled” without him. He makes me a king, and I’m as good as the best when I’m with him. So that song is one of the band’s favorites and it’s such an awesome song, and I think anyone can catch on and make it a comparison to themselves, because that’s what the gospel is all about.
Jeremy Koering: These next questions are directed towards you personally. What’s your favorite scripture?
Mike Smith: My favorite scripture… gosh… I’ve really been reading a lot of Psalms right now, and the Songs of Solomon, it’s just a love story that for me I’ve really enjoyed reading, because I got married in October and it’s just a love story, and I think more than that its God’s love for his church. That’s kind of what I’ve been reading lately…
Jeremy Koering: Looking at your personal MySpace I’m guessing you’re a fan of Soccer?
Mike Smith: (Laughs)… Yeah… I use to play back in high school, and [the band] really got back into soccer during the last World Cup we were watching together and we’d go out and play. So yeah, I’m a pretty big fan of soccer.
Jeremy Koering: Also when I was at your MySpace I saw the picture of you wrapped in saran wrap, what’s that all about?
Mike Smith: (Laughs)… Well we were at a festival this past summer, somebody had a bunch of saran wrap and so me and a group of bands were just hanging out and they convinced me to let them saran wrap me and so I walked up and down where the vendors were set up and I stopped at the Relevant table and they put stickers all over me and so… we do a bunch of funny stuff like that… (Laughs)
Jeremy Koering: One of my writers wants to know how long it took you to grow out your beard.
Mike Smith: Well… I trimmed it over Christmas vacation, it’s not really long anymore, and I’m trying to grow it back out, I wish I hadn’t, but it probably took a year to a year and a half.
Jeremy Koering: What are your hobbies outside of drumming?
Mike Smith: I play soccer when I’m at home, with some buddies here in town, we started a little club and we have about 15 guys who play. And we play with the headlights so that’s fun. And also hanging out with my wife and playing video games.
Jeremy Koering: What’s next for Leeland?
Mike Smith: Well we’re going to be pretty busy this year, we’re going to be doing some touring this fall with Casting Crowns. We’re getting back in the studio in April, we don’t have a set date for when that will come out, but we’re looking forward getting back in the studio so that’s one of the major things we’re doing this year. Then just being busy out on the road promoting the album. Another thing we’re doing is going to Japan soon.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have any last comments?
Mike Smith: Dude, one thing I was looking over the web site and I’m sitting here looking at it now going over some different stuff and I think it’s cool how you guys give a different look towards album reviews and stuff like that. I like the recent and upcoming albums and I think it’s really cool, especially for someone my age. It’s hard to find… I guess cooler Christian reviews; it’s normally like older people doing the reviews and stuff, not that that’s a bad thing (laughs). But it’s really cool!
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