Family Force 5
Soul Glow Activatur, lead singer, is Solomon Jerome OldsCrouton, drummer, is Jacob Jackson OldsFatty, bassist, is Robert Joshua Olds (he goes by Josh)Nadaddy, keytar/DJ, is Nathan Thomas CurrinChap Stique, lead guitar, is Derek Richard Mount
* Soul Glow Activatur- lead vocals, guitarAKA Solomon Olds (born April 14, 1979) was married in January 2007 to his wife Lauren aka Lalipop, and they recently had their first child, Cash Solomon (aka Boopers), on September 5, 2007. Solomon was homeschooled as a child. He and Jacob sang scales backwards in their elementary years. Besides being the lead singer, Solomon is also a music producer, producing for tobyMac, John Reuben, and Falling Up among others. He is also featured in one of Showbread's new albums, Anorexia. Solomon and his family reside in Atlanta, Georgia. Solomon often gets the crowd pumped up by break-dancing.* Crouton - drums, vocalsAKA Jacob Olds (born August 11, 1981) is from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the twin of Joshua Olds. He is missing a large portion of one of his teeth due to an accident on an unstable drum riser at Rock the Coast in May 2007. He often performs a handstand on his drums during the songs. He married singer/fiddler Bethany Dick on December 14, 2007.* Fatty - bass, vocalsAKA Joshua Olds (born August 11, 1981) is from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the twin of Jacob Olds, and has filled in as front man for 5 shows to date. According to the Really Real Shows, he takes care of the band's accounting. His name is often misspelled "Phatty," but he has made it clear that it is spelled correctly as Fatty. He has three tattoos. He appeared as an extra in the children's TV show Zoobilee Zoo.* Nadaddy - keytar, turntables, vocals, hardcore tambourine.AKA Nathan Currin (born April 26, 1977) is from Ellington, Connecticut. He has many roles in the band, such as deejay, percussion, and his very own "hardcore tambourine" (which is basically a very violent version of everyday tambourine-ing).* Chap Stique - guitarAKA Derek Mount (born August 6, 1982) is from the Indiana. He is a self-proclaimed "health geek," but he will splurge for Red Vines. He is engaged to be married to his long-time girlfriend, Sarah, in March 2008.[citation needed]* One of the band's greatest assets is its video man, "Tub-O" (aka Isaac Deitz), the mind and hands behind "Tub-O-Popcorn Productions". He hails from Syracuse, NY and has produced 21 Really Real Shows to date (11/03/2007)* The band also includes "Xanadu" who is their stage tech, and primarily dances and plays tambourine during shows while checking monitor mixes and fixing any technical problems on stage. Xanadu is responsible for helping the band get through hectic touring situations. According to their Youtube series, Xanadu was formerly responsible for driving their tour van.
Jeremy Koering of Music Faith: Can you tell me a little about the re-release?
Chap Stique: Alright, Family Force 5 is so pumped up to have the Diamond Edition out. It’s been a lot of work to get these new songs out. I think it’s really helping having good distribution through mainstream markets and big block retail. We’re just, really, really pumped that kids have easier access to the music now and that we can throw on some songs, that shows a little bit more of the direction that Family Force 5 tends to go.
Jeremy Koering: On the new re-release you’ve got “I Love You To Death” how did that come to be?
Chap Stique: “I Love You To Death” is a song that just means a whole lot to us. It’s really, really raw in terms of the music, it’s very simple, kind of punk-rock, Ramones, kind of vibe, with a little bit of pop thrown in there. But lyrically it’s very deep song to us. It kind of picks up where “Luv Addict” left off. Just talking about how love is the most important thing in the world to us, and how we love Jesus Christ, with all of our hearts. The song is almost kind of a worship song, just talking about how blessed we are, and how much we are in awe.
Jeremy Koering: What about “Facedown”?
Chap Stique: I love “Facedown”! Because I think sonically we explored some areas that Family Force 5 really, really loves. Kind of going with a little bit of a RadioHead vibe or kind of almost something you would hear from a band like Filter and then you have just the big anthem Queen-like chorus. I think that was kind of a new direction for us. It’s a little more serious than songs than some of the other songs we’ve done. That song just hit home for a lot of us, it’s a very humbling song, and about sometimes when we feel pride getting in the way, and when we as a band, Family Force 5, are all guilty of trying to take our careers and our music into our hands far too often and not being facedown and letting God basically be the driving force behind it. So that was just kind of a the point where we all looked around and we all just said we’re all feeling a little humbled right now with what’s going on in our lives and what’s going on with Family Force 5. And we just wanted to take some time and with that song, beg to be humbled again and beg to be forgiven, well not forgiven but centering that we often let ourselves become the focus, rather than things that are more important in life.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have a favorite part of the song or lyrics?
Chap Stique: Well Y’know I’m Chap Stique so I always like the guitar solos. (Laughs) I really had fun with this whole song. I think the verses are the most touching part. They really cut to the chase and they get a little more specific than some of the choruses do. I think we were very excited to do something more melody based and pretty. Originally we were going to use that riff, the electronic sound, as the verses, and at the last minute Soul Glow came up with that airy ambient synth part, and to me that’s where it took on that Peter Gabriel vibe. Became a new direction of where we see, or actually I guess it’s just a new step for us to take and I really, really appreciated the effort to go deeper there.
Jeremy Koering: What are you thoughts on labeling music Christian vs. secular?
Chap Stique: I think it’s kind of a passing phase. I understand why it’s happened, but I think Christian music’s purpose is changing a lot. I think when it first came out it people used it as a way to escape the music that they thought was influencing the kids negatively, or music that was bad, or demonic, or whatever. I tend to laugh at that, because I think whenever Christian music is labeled as the safe haven from the scary out-side world, it makes it lose a lot of creditability, and it becomes just a pathetic bubble for people to hide in. Don’t get me wrong I love Christian music, and I understand that people want an alternative; I think the term “Christian music” is going to go out or change soon. There are a lot of cool bands like: Underoath, Anberlin, P.O.D, Switchfoot and Family Force 5, who are all doing music, that is basically music, we talk about our relationships with God, we talk about things that are going on in our lives, but kids who aren’t Christians like it just as much as Christians do. If people can connect with it on any level, that’s all that matters. People don’t want to be preached to, to have it shoved down their throat. What Family Force 5 tries to do is write songs that kids can relate to. That maybe something that happened in a person’s life. It’s so incredible, we’ve had kids come up to us in clubs, because most of our shows are in the club circuit, we’ve had kids come up and say “man I was contemplating suicide, and your song was the first thing that made me happy in a long, long time, and it helped me change my mind” to me that’s mind blowing. And the funny thing is they may be talking about a song like “Earthquake” which is a song about dancing in a club, there is no spiritual agenda or hidden message behind the song, sometime it is a song like “Replace Me” or “Love Addict” something that does have the spiritual message behind it. But to me Christian music vs. mainstream is a kind of a strange concept and I think there’s a box around Christian music that is slowly being torn. There is a beautiful place for worship or the artists that only appeal to Christians, I totally understand that concept, but for Family Force 5 we want to appeal to everyone.
Jeremy Koering: Speaking of your shows, are they any different when they’re at the mainstream clubs compared to church crowds?
Chap Stique: No. Family Force 5 plays the exact same show no matter where we are, and sometimes people will come up to us and be like hey you didn’t talk about God tonight. A lot of that is to do with the set lengths we have, sometimes we have 15 minutes and we have to blow through as many songs as possible. I think the strongest ministry of Family Force 5 is hanging out with the kids, because that is the main thing. Regardless of where we’re playing we try to be at our merch booth and just talk to kids, if they come up with problems or they want to pray or want to blab at us, we love to do that. Whether it’s at the merch table or online; through email, MySpace, Facebook or whatever, we try to talk to people because our ministry is more relational based. We can be so much more effective, when we’re a peer and not an idol. We’re not perfect guys and we are just regular Christian guys who are trying to fulfill God’s will. So no when we’re at a club, we normally say the same things as we would at a church or a big festival. We do like to pray after the shows, sometimes at the clubs, we’re not at all afraid, but it might not be the most relevant thing to attract the kids to Christianity, sometimes that may happen on an individual basis and not over the loud microphone.
Jeremy Koering: Do you guys do a devotional as a group or individually; how do you get in the word?
Chap Stique: Yeah… Spiritual part of life is one incredible concept on the road, totally unique to people that travel as much as we do. It’s really hard to get connected to a fellowship within a church because you can’t attend the same church every week. It’s really hard to engage in some of the relationships you’re able to when your at home. But Family Force 5 tries to make a huge effort in our spiritual growth and in each other. So every night we have a devotional before we go on, we talk to each other about what’s going on in each other’s lives, in terms of prayer requests and what we can encourage each other with different problems that may be going on in life. I individually love reading, the fact that we’re still in a band is cool, we have a lot of long drives, it allows a lot of opportunities to intellectually grow, and to learn as much about God theologically as possible. To just gather wisdom from some incredible writers. I think the internet has been an incredible source of growth for us spiritually as well. Because now we have the ability to download sermons or read blogs and hear what people are saying. We do miss the fact that we aren’t really able to engage in a church community or congregation. But we try to go to services as regularly as possible, when we can. I think the main church is just fellowship with each other and some of the devotions before we go on.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have any favorite bible verse or passages?
Chap Stique: I personally love Galatians 3:28… wait, let’s make sure that’s the right one (laughs)… I just read it the other day… But it’s basically the one about through Christ there is neither Jews or Gentile, nor male of female… the freeing aspect that Christ brought to liberating our life. I’m just blown away by that verse, because it shows that it doesn’t matter, that Christ basically came and destroyed an entire system that was put into place by people. It’s basically the ultimate statement showing us that we are able to be free. No matter who you are you are able to experience His love to the fullest and life to the fullest. That God is through living and loving and fully being who you are. To me if we really want to glorify God it comes by showing the utmost respect and grace to everybody, and when you shatter those boundaries, like being a slave or being free, to me that is absolute beauty. Because the slave as much freedom and credibility in Christ as a free man does, the same with male and female and Jew and Gentile. And I think that translates so much into today’s world because we are living in a world that is very much influenced by systems and categories and classifications. But we’re surrounded by that so much, even in the church there’s been a lot of unfair persecution and I guess hierarchy in some peoples minds. That to me… Jesus Christ came to shatter. I think to me that’s the most beautiful thing in the world. And other than that I really, really like the book of Hosea. I was just reading that, just the amount of grace and unconditional love, despite what we do or what we think we can’t get away from God is absolutely mind altering.
Jeremy Koering: Awesome! Now on a less serious note… Who’s the craziest in the band?
Chap Stique: Psh. That’s a tough question! I think Crouton is probably the most whacked out of all of us. If you give him a little dark chocolate he will stay up and entertain the rest of the bands all night and it’s hilarious!
Jeremy Koering: Do you guys pull pranks?
Chap Stique: Family Force 5 has been kind of known as a pranking band. Like the last tour we did with Disciple we wrapped there legs with duct tape in the middle of their set and hogged tied them. We’ve thrown water on people, smash bananas on peoples faces, running around on stage during other band’s sets. We toured with TobyMac and broke into his wardrobe and got out on stage and mimicked their dance moves. (Laughs). We love stuff like that, it’s all good safe fun. We’ve been gotten, or had I should say, by Disciple on the last tour. They caked Soul Glows Hulk gloves that he uses when he sings. They caked it with cocoa butter one night, it was incredible.
Jeremy Koering: That’s awesome.
Chap Stique: I tip my hat to Disciple for that one.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have any last comments?
Chap Stique: Shameless plug… Check us out on tour!
Soul Glow Activatur, lead singer, is Solomon Jerome OldsCrouton, drummer, is Jacob Jackson OldsFatty, bassist, is Robert Joshua Olds (he goes by Josh)Nadaddy, keytar/DJ, is Nathan Thomas CurrinChap Stique, lead guitar, is Derek Richard Mount
* Soul Glow Activatur- lead vocals, guitarAKA Solomon Olds (born April 14, 1979) was married in January 2007 to his wife Lauren aka Lalipop, and they recently had their first child, Cash Solomon (aka Boopers), on September 5, 2007. Solomon was homeschooled as a child. He and Jacob sang scales backwards in their elementary years. Besides being the lead singer, Solomon is also a music producer, producing for tobyMac, John Reuben, and Falling Up among others. He is also featured in one of Showbread's new albums, Anorexia. Solomon and his family reside in Atlanta, Georgia. Solomon often gets the crowd pumped up by break-dancing.* Crouton - drums, vocalsAKA Jacob Olds (born August 11, 1981) is from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the twin of Joshua Olds. He is missing a large portion of one of his teeth due to an accident on an unstable drum riser at Rock the Coast in May 2007. He often performs a handstand on his drums during the songs. He married singer/fiddler Bethany Dick on December 14, 2007.* Fatty - bass, vocalsAKA Joshua Olds (born August 11, 1981) is from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the twin of Jacob Olds, and has filled in as front man for 5 shows to date. According to the Really Real Shows, he takes care of the band's accounting. His name is often misspelled "Phatty," but he has made it clear that it is spelled correctly as Fatty. He has three tattoos. He appeared as an extra in the children's TV show Zoobilee Zoo.* Nadaddy - keytar, turntables, vocals, hardcore tambourine.AKA Nathan Currin (born April 26, 1977) is from Ellington, Connecticut. He has many roles in the band, such as deejay, percussion, and his very own "hardcore tambourine" (which is basically a very violent version of everyday tambourine-ing).* Chap Stique - guitarAKA Derek Mount (born August 6, 1982) is from the Indiana. He is a self-proclaimed "health geek," but he will splurge for Red Vines. He is engaged to be married to his long-time girlfriend, Sarah, in March 2008.[citation needed]* One of the band's greatest assets is its video man, "Tub-O" (aka Isaac Deitz), the mind and hands behind "Tub-O-Popcorn Productions". He hails from Syracuse, NY and has produced 21 Really Real Shows to date (11/03/2007)* The band also includes "Xanadu" who is their stage tech, and primarily dances and plays tambourine during shows while checking monitor mixes and fixing any technical problems on stage. Xanadu is responsible for helping the band get through hectic touring situations. According to their Youtube series, Xanadu was formerly responsible for driving their tour van.
Jeremy Koering of Music Faith: Can you tell me a little about the re-release?
Chap Stique: Alright, Family Force 5 is so pumped up to have the Diamond Edition out. It’s been a lot of work to get these new songs out. I think it’s really helping having good distribution through mainstream markets and big block retail. We’re just, really, really pumped that kids have easier access to the music now and that we can throw on some songs, that shows a little bit more of the direction that Family Force 5 tends to go.
Jeremy Koering: On the new re-release you’ve got “I Love You To Death” how did that come to be?
Chap Stique: “I Love You To Death” is a song that just means a whole lot to us. It’s really, really raw in terms of the music, it’s very simple, kind of punk-rock, Ramones, kind of vibe, with a little bit of pop thrown in there. But lyrically it’s very deep song to us. It kind of picks up where “Luv Addict” left off. Just talking about how love is the most important thing in the world to us, and how we love Jesus Christ, with all of our hearts. The song is almost kind of a worship song, just talking about how blessed we are, and how much we are in awe.
Jeremy Koering: What about “Facedown”?
Chap Stique: I love “Facedown”! Because I think sonically we explored some areas that Family Force 5 really, really loves. Kind of going with a little bit of a RadioHead vibe or kind of almost something you would hear from a band like Filter and then you have just the big anthem Queen-like chorus. I think that was kind of a new direction for us. It’s a little more serious than songs than some of the other songs we’ve done. That song just hit home for a lot of us, it’s a very humbling song, and about sometimes when we feel pride getting in the way, and when we as a band, Family Force 5, are all guilty of trying to take our careers and our music into our hands far too often and not being facedown and letting God basically be the driving force behind it. So that was just kind of a the point where we all looked around and we all just said we’re all feeling a little humbled right now with what’s going on in our lives and what’s going on with Family Force 5. And we just wanted to take some time and with that song, beg to be humbled again and beg to be forgiven, well not forgiven but centering that we often let ourselves become the focus, rather than things that are more important in life.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have a favorite part of the song or lyrics?
Chap Stique: Well Y’know I’m Chap Stique so I always like the guitar solos. (Laughs) I really had fun with this whole song. I think the verses are the most touching part. They really cut to the chase and they get a little more specific than some of the choruses do. I think we were very excited to do something more melody based and pretty. Originally we were going to use that riff, the electronic sound, as the verses, and at the last minute Soul Glow came up with that airy ambient synth part, and to me that’s where it took on that Peter Gabriel vibe. Became a new direction of where we see, or actually I guess it’s just a new step for us to take and I really, really appreciated the effort to go deeper there.
Jeremy Koering: What are you thoughts on labeling music Christian vs. secular?
Chap Stique: I think it’s kind of a passing phase. I understand why it’s happened, but I think Christian music’s purpose is changing a lot. I think when it first came out it people used it as a way to escape the music that they thought was influencing the kids negatively, or music that was bad, or demonic, or whatever. I tend to laugh at that, because I think whenever Christian music is labeled as the safe haven from the scary out-side world, it makes it lose a lot of creditability, and it becomes just a pathetic bubble for people to hide in. Don’t get me wrong I love Christian music, and I understand that people want an alternative; I think the term “Christian music” is going to go out or change soon. There are a lot of cool bands like: Underoath, Anberlin, P.O.D, Switchfoot and Family Force 5, who are all doing music, that is basically music, we talk about our relationships with God, we talk about things that are going on in our lives, but kids who aren’t Christians like it just as much as Christians do. If people can connect with it on any level, that’s all that matters. People don’t want to be preached to, to have it shoved down their throat. What Family Force 5 tries to do is write songs that kids can relate to. That maybe something that happened in a person’s life. It’s so incredible, we’ve had kids come up to us in clubs, because most of our shows are in the club circuit, we’ve had kids come up and say “man I was contemplating suicide, and your song was the first thing that made me happy in a long, long time, and it helped me change my mind” to me that’s mind blowing. And the funny thing is they may be talking about a song like “Earthquake” which is a song about dancing in a club, there is no spiritual agenda or hidden message behind the song, sometime it is a song like “Replace Me” or “Love Addict” something that does have the spiritual message behind it. But to me Christian music vs. mainstream is a kind of a strange concept and I think there’s a box around Christian music that is slowly being torn. There is a beautiful place for worship or the artists that only appeal to Christians, I totally understand that concept, but for Family Force 5 we want to appeal to everyone.
Jeremy Koering: Speaking of your shows, are they any different when they’re at the mainstream clubs compared to church crowds?
Chap Stique: No. Family Force 5 plays the exact same show no matter where we are, and sometimes people will come up to us and be like hey you didn’t talk about God tonight. A lot of that is to do with the set lengths we have, sometimes we have 15 minutes and we have to blow through as many songs as possible. I think the strongest ministry of Family Force 5 is hanging out with the kids, because that is the main thing. Regardless of where we’re playing we try to be at our merch booth and just talk to kids, if they come up with problems or they want to pray or want to blab at us, we love to do that. Whether it’s at the merch table or online; through email, MySpace, Facebook or whatever, we try to talk to people because our ministry is more relational based. We can be so much more effective, when we’re a peer and not an idol. We’re not perfect guys and we are just regular Christian guys who are trying to fulfill God’s will. So no when we’re at a club, we normally say the same things as we would at a church or a big festival. We do like to pray after the shows, sometimes at the clubs, we’re not at all afraid, but it might not be the most relevant thing to attract the kids to Christianity, sometimes that may happen on an individual basis and not over the loud microphone.
Jeremy Koering: Do you guys do a devotional as a group or individually; how do you get in the word?
Chap Stique: Yeah… Spiritual part of life is one incredible concept on the road, totally unique to people that travel as much as we do. It’s really hard to get connected to a fellowship within a church because you can’t attend the same church every week. It’s really hard to engage in some of the relationships you’re able to when your at home. But Family Force 5 tries to make a huge effort in our spiritual growth and in each other. So every night we have a devotional before we go on, we talk to each other about what’s going on in each other’s lives, in terms of prayer requests and what we can encourage each other with different problems that may be going on in life. I individually love reading, the fact that we’re still in a band is cool, we have a lot of long drives, it allows a lot of opportunities to intellectually grow, and to learn as much about God theologically as possible. To just gather wisdom from some incredible writers. I think the internet has been an incredible source of growth for us spiritually as well. Because now we have the ability to download sermons or read blogs and hear what people are saying. We do miss the fact that we aren’t really able to engage in a church community or congregation. But we try to go to services as regularly as possible, when we can. I think the main church is just fellowship with each other and some of the devotions before we go on.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have any favorite bible verse or passages?
Chap Stique: I personally love Galatians 3:28… wait, let’s make sure that’s the right one (laughs)… I just read it the other day… But it’s basically the one about through Christ there is neither Jews or Gentile, nor male of female… the freeing aspect that Christ brought to liberating our life. I’m just blown away by that verse, because it shows that it doesn’t matter, that Christ basically came and destroyed an entire system that was put into place by people. It’s basically the ultimate statement showing us that we are able to be free. No matter who you are you are able to experience His love to the fullest and life to the fullest. That God is through living and loving and fully being who you are. To me if we really want to glorify God it comes by showing the utmost respect and grace to everybody, and when you shatter those boundaries, like being a slave or being free, to me that is absolute beauty. Because the slave as much freedom and credibility in Christ as a free man does, the same with male and female and Jew and Gentile. And I think that translates so much into today’s world because we are living in a world that is very much influenced by systems and categories and classifications. But we’re surrounded by that so much, even in the church there’s been a lot of unfair persecution and I guess hierarchy in some peoples minds. That to me… Jesus Christ came to shatter. I think to me that’s the most beautiful thing in the world. And other than that I really, really like the book of Hosea. I was just reading that, just the amount of grace and unconditional love, despite what we do or what we think we can’t get away from God is absolutely mind altering.
Jeremy Koering: Awesome! Now on a less serious note… Who’s the craziest in the band?
Chap Stique: Psh. That’s a tough question! I think Crouton is probably the most whacked out of all of us. If you give him a little dark chocolate he will stay up and entertain the rest of the bands all night and it’s hilarious!
Jeremy Koering: Do you guys pull pranks?
Chap Stique: Family Force 5 has been kind of known as a pranking band. Like the last tour we did with Disciple we wrapped there legs with duct tape in the middle of their set and hogged tied them. We’ve thrown water on people, smash bananas on peoples faces, running around on stage during other band’s sets. We toured with TobyMac and broke into his wardrobe and got out on stage and mimicked their dance moves. (Laughs). We love stuff like that, it’s all good safe fun. We’ve been gotten, or had I should say, by Disciple on the last tour. They caked Soul Glows Hulk gloves that he uses when he sings. They caked it with cocoa butter one night, it was incredible.
Jeremy Koering: That’s awesome.
Chap Stique: I tip my hat to Disciple for that one.
Jeremy Koering: Do you have any last comments?
Chap Stique: Shameless plug… Check us out on tour!
Twiper
