Interview: Altarmotive
The Texas based alternative rockers Altarmotive recently released their new album 'Afterglow'. But as LTTM discovered when we chatted to them, there's more to this band than first meets the eye. Read on to find out more!
For those who haven't heard of Altarmotive before, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
We are five guys from El Paso, Texas USA. We've been making music as a band for 15 years. We started in high school playing every little gig we could get. We even played a graduation ceremony for a graduating class of TWO people! Now we're worship leaders at our church, Abundant Living Faith Center.
Tell us a little bit about your new album 'Afterglow' and what the inspiration behind it was?
We wanted to make a worship album that non-Christians would listen to. There are definitely church worship songs in there, but we also tried to make some songs that didn't sound like worship songs. The theme of the record is letting our light shine in the darkness. It's a message to the church to rise up and be the light. Jesus said "the Kingdom of God is within you". We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are so equipped to change the world and we don't even realize it sometimes.
Which is your favourite track on the album and why?
"Kingdom Come" because it sums up everything we're about. Rising up and loving your neighbor, reaching out and helping orphans, visiting those in prison, feeding the hungry, proclaiming the good news that God loves us unconditionally - Jesus said that when we do this, He will meet us there.
What's your song writing process?
We tend to write by committee most the time. Josh and I will bounce lyric ideas off one another, and in the end we all have our hand in writing the songs.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
I think our style of music is really guitar driven, on Afterglow you can hear a very distinct "Wall of guitar sounds" that is accompanied by edgy heart felt vocals. Some of our personal influences growing up are; Sting and the Police, U2, MuteMath, Jimmy Eat World, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Jars of Clay, Foo Fighters, and Peter Gabriel.
How would you define success in your career as a band?
At the end of the day, if we can look back and say that we've helped people, we've lived Christ-like, and we've shown people God's unconditional love - then that's ultimate success for us. Right now, we're involved in helping the largest orphanage in Mexico. When they finish the facility, they will be able to house at least 300 children. It's amazing, they are building a football field sized orphanage in the shape of a cross - right in the middle of the murder capitol of the world, Juarez, Mexico. We live just minutes away, in the safest large city in America, El Paso, Texas. So we feel compelled to help bring peace to the chaos.
In your opinion, what makes the perfect worship song?
A perfect worship song is anything that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus. Some of the most amazing moments I have experienced in worship have come from my alone time with God. I believe it is those moments that shape us and help us write better worship songs to our Savior.
What advice would you give to any aspiring singers or bands out there?
Be anchored to a "Cause" bigger than your band! When push comes to shove, we have found that it's the Cause of Christ that keeps us moving forward! Helping people and being a light brings us more joy than playing music ever could.
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?
Black Bird by the Beatles
What does the next year hold for Altarmotive?
Helping a local ministry (Tapestries of Life) to open their doors in Juarez, Mexico. 300 kids will have a home, and come to know the love of Christ.
Find out more at altarmotive.com
