Jeremy Koering: First off, how is the band doing?
Fred Butson: We are doing well! We have had a very busy year of traveling and promoting our new CD. We experienced our first top ten single and will release “Let It Be Love” to radio this month.
Jeremy Koering: How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard of you before?
Fred Butson: We are a pop-rock band. We don’t scream; we love good sing-able melodies, a lot of cool guitar stuff, tight rhythm section, and big drums.
Jeremy Koering: What song would you recommend from the new Atmosphere, to that same person?
Fred Butson: Man…that’s tough. There are several songs that I really like. But I guess if I were to suggest one….it might be “Let It Be Love.” It’s a fun song, full of energy and good catchy hooks. We’re not afraid of catchy hooks, but Sevenglory also likes to stay away from anything too poppy. So for those who tend not to like poppy hooks as much, I would say check out “Even the Blues” or “Atmosphere.” Those are good tracks as well.
Jeremy Koering: I read that you wrote the song “The Hope” after Katrina and the tsunami of ’04. When I was listening to the song I instantly could relate, in ’05 I went to Sri Lanka in relief of the tsunami. Has anyone told you how this song has made a difference, and started to help?
Fred Butson: At the moment, we’ve only played it live a handful of times. We are excited to see what the response to it will be.
Jeremy Koering: Can you tell me a little about your song “Even the Blues” and what it’s about and the message in it?
Fred Butson: All of us go through times when it seems no one understands; we feel alone or hurt. We tell people we’re okay, suppressing the hurt, becoming numb to life. But what if we allowed ourselves to hurt a little and not to let the circumstance make us become someone we’re not. Healing begins when we admit our pain, bring it into the light, and realize that there is a reason and a time for everything.
Jeremy Koering: What has the response to Atmosphere been like?
Fred Butson: So far everyone who knows anything about Sevenglory loves it. The album’s reviews all say that we “stepped it up” on this record, when really we’ve just started making music that we really enjoy. We’ve learned how to do that. Our current line-up has been playing together for several years now, and we’re beginning to understand how to function as a band. We’re learning how to blend our different musical tastes to create something distinct.
Jeremy Koering: What do you guys do outside of music?
Fred Butson: We just love to be home. I have a wife and two kids, our guitar player is married, and the other guys have friends, family, loved ones that they miss while Sevenglory is out on the road. We have a pretty tight-knit community in our hometown of Valparaiso. If we are ever home longer than a couple days, we usually try to have some kind of get-together. It may just be the band and wives, or friends that we don’t get to hang out with much. Barbecue is usually on the menu.
Jeremy Koering: What’s your favorite bible passage/scripture?
Fred Butson: Prov 3:5,6 has always stuck with me. The most rewarding times in my life have been when I’ve trusted what God was telling me to do, even when it didn’t make sense. That is not to say that everything we do shouldn’t make a bit of sense, but there is a difference in having every move planned out and having to rely on God for the next step. It’s usually in those times of faith when I have to rely on God that I find the most growth.
Jeremy Koering: What’s next for Sevenglory?
Fred Butson: I would say that Sevenglory is on a journey. We’ve found music and have started to find real meaning, but continuing to unravel what that looks like for us as a band is our prayer. We’d love to partner with a ministry where our gifts, not only in music, can be used. Short-term, we are looking forward to a few days off during the holidays.
Jeremy Koering: Any last comments?
Fred Butson: We are a fun group of guys who enjoy hanging out with fans after our shows. We frequently share advice and stories that help to encourage other people, but most of the time we are the ones who walk away encouraged. We are constantly working out what it means to be a “Christian band” or Christians in a band. But the bottom line is that we want to be good followers of Christ and good musicians. I think anyone can respect that. Our music will continue to evolve as we grow as a band.
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