Louder Than The Music

Hugely talented California based singer and songwriter Jeff Abercrombie recently came to our attention at LTTM. When we heard this independent artist's 'Everything Grace' EP we knew we had to find out more about the man behind the music. So settle down with us and get inside the mind of a very humble, intelligent and fascinating musician.

For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about yourself Jeff and how you got involved in making music?

Not much to say really, let's see if I can paint a picture. I live in Eureka (Northern California) in a smaller community that at times seems cut off from some "main stream". Humboldt County's 'back-yard' is full of beautiful mountains, redwood forests, rivers, beaches and people. I live here with my wonderful wife and 3 kids. A day in the life for me could include work (carpenter), a few hours of surf, playing music, working on my boat that will never run, and the majority goes to my family. As a family we're all about the little adventures, camping, fishing, and probably too much time at the beach. My time right now also includes helping a local church (Bethel Church) with their music/worship aspects.

I've always loved music, and am very sensitive when it's used in context of life. My life always has a sound track running if you would.

Tell us a little bit about your new CD and what the inspiration behind it was?

The EP (Everything Grace) was created in efforts to record the songs/ideas that I've been using in both corporate worship settings and my private time. Songs that are definitely God centered and responsive. The material written was aimed to be simple but also hoping to capture truths that I lean on, are currently discovering, or celebrating. To me songs are like a photo, or perhaps a painting by an artist. So often they capture or in a sense document information, feelings, understanding and have the ability to communicate it in ways that can be articulated by many different people. I don't want to loose some of these markers in life, so I put them to song. They are soundtracks to a season of experience in my life, and some are for chapters of this story that have yet to take the stage.

Which is your favourite track off the album and why?

Not sure. They're all so different to me for different reasons. When the track 'Rest' plays, its always exciting to listen to all the work and all the layers spilling together. The more than 30 different percussion/drum tracks on the song show that we probably went overboard, but also the time involved to make it magic. Jonathan Berlin did the programming and really set it apart along with Jeremy Edwardson's production of it all. Brilliant guys.

What's your song writing process?

Hah! I've read many responses to this question, and rarely read much information in people's answers, beside of some mystic 'muse' of their recent past. (Which I encourage anyone to look into Dan McCollum's thoughts about muse & searching for wisdom.) So I'll try to be as transparent as possible.

I seem to store up two separate files in my head. First one is full of single sentences, phrases, and questions that I chew on daily. These topics usually determine the direction or the gaze in which my heart is set (which reminds me of the responsibility of what we allow our minds to fix on). The second 'file' is a collection of riffs and chord progressions that I store up from leisure practice times and brief visits to the guitar that sits at the feet of my surfboards in the corner of my living room. Eventually I draw from both files to make a pair in times when I feel like writing something or (mostly) in prayer times when I need something to meditate on. I have piles of un-used mis-matches that seem to stack up on the side. Once in awhile a connection is made and resonates at many levels. I try to keep my left side of the brain out of the process at this stage. I just play and sing and bury the idea with a pile of creative ideas (most of them poor ones). After some time I take the train wreck of melodies, lyrics, feelings, and heart responses and I release the left side of the brain out of its cage to have its turn. This is where the idea gets broken down into parts, realistic approaches/flow, and reaches to turn what you hear into something pleasing to both sides, as well as communicate effectively as a song. If I still like what I hear 'the next morning' then it is sent/shared to a few friends who I trust would tell me if it's a good idea or if I should have left the train wreck to continue off a nearby cliff. They then are welcome to pour ideas and parts into the song. Hope that made a little sense?

If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?

I'm surrounded by such great singer/songwriters (within the same genre) who I have had the privilege to hang out with, meet, and/or possibly have access to, such as; Brian & Jen Johnson, Anthony Skinner, Sue Rinaldi, Aaron Frith, Dan McCollam, and Kevin Prosch who dwell at a whole other level of their craft and anointing. To work with any of these alone would increase myself by leaps and bounds. In comparison, I feel like a fraud, someone over to the side pretending his way through it all with a fraction of what these guys carry. To answer your question, I would love to meet and work with the confident, more focused version of me. The version who has a better grasp of his identity, charges all things fearlessly, and is proud to let his material be heard. I'd like to work with that singer/songwriter.

As an independent artist, how do you go about promoting your music and getting yourself heard?

I don't, I don't know, don't really care.

I probably would enjoy finding a product or service that I could dump loads of resources and energy in to marketing it and creating a dependable reputation for, in efforts to raise demand, and generate capitol. But not my music. Don't know really how to answer this briefly, and would love to chat with anyone who cares to unpack this topic more. I'm not pursuing a music career, and I feel uneasy with the consumer driven commodity that the "worship" genre is building upon. Tough one! Raises my thoughts to what the definition of success is, and how we should pursue that answer.

What would be the definition of a successful career in music for you?

In all honesty it would be obedience and quality.

I'm not trying to win a beauty pageant with that answer either. I would love to be used or of value within a music scene. I love the art. But what I personally use music for can be achieved with or without other human ears. I adore settings where people are gathered and we're all singing of the vastness and wonder that is God, I love when God's spirit uses song to pierce a heart, lift them up, and raise that heart's focus on its' Life source. I love when music celebrates what has occurred or speaks of things to come. I hope I get to be used in such settings. And if so, I hope it's done with integrity of character and music. But my goal is to be obedient and get good at not only identifying where the finger of God is pointing, but to also have the courage to follow it. This may or may not have anything to do with music tomorrow. See my point? Too often success is identified with sales numbers or member counts. A tragedy occurs when someone is doing something they shouldn't be and the positive results, attendance, sales (definitions of success) confirms to them to continue down a path that surely is the correct road. When all along it isn't. The question rises inside, "am I called to succeed?" my answer is "probably not", but definitely called to obey and cultivate a close relationship with the Author. This results in a life of effectiveness. That... I'm called for.

You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?

Ahh this is good news!!! Stuck on a hot island (with no mention of it being the last time I get to listen to music) hmmm I'd probably pick something like 'Three Little Birds' and let Mr. Marley fill the salty air whilst I wax my board and head to the water.

What does the next year hold for Jeff Abercrombie?

The next year is hard to see. Clarity seems to be a luxury that I worry less about attaining these days as I understand grace & courage more. I see within 2010 some travel of course (the U.K being one destination). I would like to think that the next CD would be underway. I already visited the studio this month to lay some song ideas & scratch tracks for the next project. In dream land: I would love to raise some funding to dive into and FINISH the next CD within this year (every sale of Everything Grace puts us closer to the new project). And meet more great folks like you guys. Thanks for your time and interest.

Find out more about Jeff, and buy his album at jeffabercrombie.com and iTunes.