Louder Than The Music

British worship band Yfriday perform their final ever concerts at the end of October. LTTM caught up with frontman Ken Riley and drummer Dez Minto to find out why the band is ending, what their favourite memories are and what they'll be doing next.

Can you tell us why the band came to the decision to finish?

DEZ: It's been an amazing journey and the same feeling we had when God prompted us to go full time, we all felt again the feeling that we had done our job and it was time for something new for us. Time to celebrate the past and move into God's future.

What are your plans for the future once YFriday ends?

KEN: Well the first Ken Riley solo album is being written and I'll be out playing with a new band next year all being well. I'll also build upon my role as producer and focus on developing new writers material. I've already started a new initiative here in the North East with a view to have a strong core of writers whose songs can impact the world - we'll see.

You've got a couple of farewell shows coming up in October, will that be emotional for you?

DEZ: Absolutely!! The Live DVD recording was emotional enough but looking out at the final gigs and seeing faces that you've been on the journey with over the years will be very special. Playing the songs for the LAST time will be very weird. Except for Holy, Holy Holy... I wont be sad to never play that again!

KEN: Disgraceful!!! Holy is like an old faithful friend and I'll make sure Dez gets to play the full extended version on the last dates!!!

What has been your proudest moment during the time YFriday have been together?

KEN: There have been many amazing times and there are so many incredible memories, but I'll only boast in what God has done: so if I say there are around 15,000 new Christians, many healed and even more whose faith has been strengthened, then that to me is a legacy that was worth travelling away from family and worth the sacrifices.

Which was the most memorable gig you played?

DEZ: Too many to mention!! All memorable for different reasons, from the rush of playing the National Stadium in Singapore to the intensity of a sound check in Carlisle where God's spirit was so tangible everyone in the room just had to lie down on their face! 

'Everlasting God', co-written with Brenton Brown, is one of the biggest worship songs of recent years. Tell us how that song came about and how it feels to know it's being sung in so many churches around the world?

KEN: I got together with Brenton Brown in London to write. He was pretty wiped out with illness and was hanging on to the scripture from Isaiah 40. We sat down with a coffee and the verse and bridge happened straight away. We knew there was something great about it, but there were three different choruses spread a few weeks apart before Brenton persuaded me that we had the right one. Now of course it's being sung everywhere - and the world's church has seems to have taken ownership of it.

What's your song writing process?

KEN: 5% inspiration then a lot of hard work. It could be a sermon, a scripture, a dream. I'm pretty sure we get Holy Spirit ideas, but then we have to be disciplined to work hard at the idea until we've got great words, great melody, great singability and hopefully an unsung melody that God adds.

In your opinion, what makes the perfect worship song?

KEN: I don't really think we'll hear it this side of eternity.
 
What advice would you give to any aspiring bands out there?

KEN: In my personal life and on stage I try to continually lift up Jesus. I've found that the artists and bands who do so, have an authenticity that infects what they are able to do in their music. I don't feel that you can lead people somewhere you haven't been yourself. A man is never so big as when he's on his knees!

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?

DEZ: As long as it's not 'Holy Holy Holy' I don't mind!

KEN: The loudest alarm so someone would hear and rescue me!

Yfriday play at Leicester's Athena on 29th October and Newcastle City Hall on 31st October 2010.
Visit the Yfriday website for tickets and details.