Switcheroo?
by Martha Krienke
bandTry solving this word problem.
Christian magazines are to Seventeen as Christian T-shirts are to Old Navy.
Christian books are to Harry Potter as Christian bands are to
a. The Fray.
b. Maroon5.
c. Switchfoot.
Identifying a band as “Christian” can be complex. After all, what makes a Christian band? Is it their lyrics, the overall message, the people singing the lyrics or something else?
In 1996, Jon and Tim Foreman and Chad Butler started a group called Chin Up. They were just three young guys (all pastors’ kids) doing what they loved—playing and writing music. Eventually, the band’s demo landed in the hands of Charlie Peacock, a popular producer in gospel music. He then called the guys and signed them to re:think Records under the new name Switchfoot.
In 2003, mainstream label Columbia Records bought Switchfoot’s contract. Their fourth record, The Beautiful Letdown, sold 2.5 million copies and produced two Top 10 pop and modern rock singles. But the label exchange didn’t change Switchfoot. Jon continues to write songs about his struggles and desire for more than this life has to offer. And the band continues to play at Christian and mainstream venues.
We caught up with the band before a concert at University of Texas in Arlington. Come on over and listen in as some of the guys discuss, “Who is Switchfoot?”
Brio: Some say Switchfoot started as a Christian band and then crossed over. Others say you weren’t ever a Christian band. Who’s right?
Jon: Well, what do you mean by a “Christian band”?
Brio: Did you sign with re:think Records with a sense of, “We’re going to be part of the contemporary Christian music thing” or was it, “We’re doing our own thing, and Charlie Peacock just happens to be CCM”?
Jon: We had a naive understanding, as any songwriter or young band does. When you first start playing music as a band, you’re just playing because you love it.
With Charlie, we were all believers at the time, but being from San Diego, we had no idea of the behemoth that is the industry of Christian culture. I was just thinking, Yeah, we play in bars. We play in churches. We play everywhere. Wow—here are some believers who make music just like us! You dive in, and suddenly you realize there are Christian radio stations and this whole industry.
Chad: We saw Charlie as a mentor and looked up to him for his musical talent and ability to communicate and talk about the things we were exploring, like faith and music. We had a genuine desire to be involved with him as a person. It wasn’t about the company we were signing to. We thought, He’s great. We want to be part of what he’s doing. It seemed like a natural thing.
Brio: Growing up, did you listen to Christian radio?
Tim: We didn’t have Christian radio, but we were definitely exposed to Christian artists. People like Keith Green were part of my musical childhood.
We’re pastors’ kids, and it was a nurturing environment where there wasn’t this hard-cut line of sacred versus secular. I feel that if the God we serve were truly great and wonderful, why wouldn’t [Christian bands] want His beauty and truth fingerprints all over culture, not just making music for the church?
Jon: It’s healthy to remember as a church that the industry that is Christendom isn’t equated one to one with the body of Christ. These are the same issues that have plagued the church from the beginning. That type of conversation of what is a Christian band could go in so many different ways, but at the same time, as believers we’ve always been honored to be affiliated with the name of Christ. That’s a true honor and isn’t something to be taken lightly. In fact, our hesitancy to jump into the Christian label has more to do with the amount of respect I have for the name of Christ, and I’m not sure I’m willing to sanctify every single thing I’ve ever done in a band and say, “That’s a Christlike action.”
Brio: What do you say to people who criticize Switchfoot for not using Jesus’ name in your lyrics or correlating your music to a certain verse?
Jon: So many of our lyrics come directly from Scripture; that’s nothing new. But the thing I take solace in is that the most creative, outside-the-box thinker I’ve ever read about was Christ himself. Here’s someone who, if anything, was accused of being overly nebulous. “No one understands what you’re saying. Talk to us plain. You talk in these parables.”
I think the means and the ends of the kingdom of God need to be pursued with equal focus. The way He did His ministry is just as important as what He was saying. To be accused of being nebulous, for me, isn’t that bad of an accusation. I’ve come to the realization, too, that not everyone is going to understand us. And that has to be OK. We aren’t trying to be everybody’s favorite band. We’re trying to pursue an audience of one, essentially.
Brio: What do you mean by an audience of one?
Tim: The longer we’ve been a band, the more we’re not in it just to make other people give us their stamp of approval. There has to be a greater purpose than just making people applaud for what we’re doing, and as long as we’re convinced we’re exactly where God has us at the moment, that has to be the ultimate goal.
Brio: As musicians, even though you know better, there’s still some seductiveness in success, right?
Jon: We had no context for selling 2.5 million records. For example, Tim and I were in a band when we were in high school. We made CDs before CD burners were commonplace, so if your band had a CD, you were big time. I figured, “I’m going to save all my busboy money and make a CD.” The break-even point on those CDs was if we sold 300. And we did it! That was success. We thought, 300 CDs is success.
It’s good to keep that in mind. Success is such an elusive term. Who’s to say we’re successful since we sold a lot of units? I think it’s an American concept. But at the same time, it’s where art and commerce meet. To put food on your table, you have to be at least selling a few CDs, more than 300 perhaps.
Brio: Do you feel like you’ve met your “American Dream”?
Jon: To say you’ve achieved your dream is a dangerous thing because there are so many more things I’d like to see happen in my lifetime. I have a list of 100 songs on my laptop that I’m trying to figure out how to get out there and how to do them. We as a band have been talking about ways to impact the world, tour better, ways to love our families better. I certainly think it’s a process.
Brio: It seems that materialism and critiquing that aspect of American culture is a major theme on Oh! Gravity. What inspired you to focus on that?
Tim: Living in America and living in Southern California, I think our culture is becoming increasingly materialistic. If there’s any finger pointing, it’s at us. That’s where all our songs start.
Sometimes we use our songs to guard our own hearts. It’s one thing to discuss something; to sing about it every night on stage is a whole other thing. To sing, “This ain’t my American dream” really hits you. You’re accountable.
Jon: I find that certainly true. I’m singing, “This is your life. Are you who you want to be?” But then there’s 2,000 people singing that at me. It keeps your head in the right place.
Brio: What advice do you have for teens making career decisions?
Jon: There’s a quote from A.W. Tozer that says essentially it’s not necessarily what you’re doing or where you’re doing it that determines whether it’s sacred or secular but why you’re doing it. I found that to be true in my life with all sorts of people. Certain people have a ton of money, but they couldn’t care less about money. They’re all about people. Then certain people in charge of some charitable organization couldn’t care less about people.
I remember something Charlie [Peacock] said that inspired some kind of motto for me: “People over projects.” He said at the end you won’t look back and say, “Oh, I wish I would have won more Grammy Awards. I wish I would have produced more records.” The one thing you’ll have is the people, those relationships. Where you put your treasure, that’s where your heart will be. So be careful what you invest in, where you invest your time.
BONUS Questions
Brio: Do you approach concerts differently, whether it’s a Christian festival or a mainstream venue?
Jon: Totally. Every relationship you have you’re going to approach differently. If you’re talking with somebody who’s sitting next to you at the barber, a baseball game or church, you’re approaching every relationship in context.
I think it’s absurd to think we’d say the exact same thing and play the exact same songs every night. We switch our set list every night, not only for the people coming but also for us to keep it fresh. That’s something I had to learn to understand, the nuances of relationship.
Brio: What will it look for you to “burn out bright” at the end of your life?
Jon: I’ve burned out very dull a few times already.
Tim: Our society teaches us that burning out bright is going out with a lot of toys, a lot of cash, a lot of recognition, at the peak of stardom—whatever that looks like. The kingdom of heaven is completely the opposite. The person who couldn’t care less about what she’s wearing is devoted to serving the people around her—that’s a star right there. The idea of burning out bright looks a lot closer to that than the guy who’s all talk and has it all.
Jon: In the kingdom of heaven, the last are first, and the first are last. The people on stage in front of thousands of people who are catered to and driven around in buses are probably tying shoes in the kingdom of heaven. The people tying shoes down here, maybe that’s what burning out bright really looks like.
Brio: In your music, you aren’t afraid to talk about doubt and struggle. What would you say to teens who want to persevere in their relationship with Christ, but they doubt it?
Tim: You’re in good company. Throughout Scripture, heroes like David and mighty men of God are completely comfortable with not only doubting but also shouting their doubts to the almighty God of the universe. It’s a pretty heady concept to think we’ve been given this privilege to groan to the God of the universe about our struggles.
Jon: For me, maturity has meant to see [doubt] for what it is and to put it all in context. Most of the Old Testament is, “Remember, remember, remember,” and I think that’s a great response to doubt. Remember what has gone on already. Remember that you’re part of a bigger picture.
Brio: In your community with the band, do you help each other “remember”?
Jon: Love is always going to be the most mature response to any situation. To love one person well is many times to do something the exact opposite of what you’re going to do for someone else. All of our needs are dramatically different. Some person might need to be smacked across the face and hear, “You’re blowing it.” And another person needs an arm around the shoulder. If we’re to be the hands and feet of the omnipotent God, then that’s a high calling indeed.
Brio: Now for a fun question: How many times have you seen A Walk to Remember since some of your songs were included in the soundtrack?
Jon: I saw it once in the theaters.
Tim: At the premiere.
Brio:Are you still friends with Mandy Moore?
Jon: We hang out all the time and go out for coffee and stuff. No, actually we’re still in contact with her, but we’re not the best of friends.
Brio: If you could be in any movie soundtrack, which would you choose?
Jon: Citizen Kane or Gone with the Wind.
Chad: Life is Beautiful or Star Wars.
Brio: What’s your favorite song to play live?
Tim: Last night “American Dream” was pretty memorable because Jon started the song maybe 100 yards away from the stage in the middle of the crowd, and the crowd carried him back to the stage. He made it back by the first chorus. You never know what’s going to happen.
Jon: The reason we all love music is because of the unexpected, the X factor. The structure of the song never changes, but somehow it’s more than just notes. Sometimes that happens a couple times during a set. Other times it doesn’t happen. It’s just another day playing rock and roll.
Brio: What does the song “Dirty Second Hands” mean?
Jon: I think songs are like clouds, and they float by. It’s the same cloud, but it can resemble many different shapes. The cloud stays constant, but as it starts to cross, it changes a little bit.
That song for me has layers you can get into. When I sing it, I think about time and the idea the secondhand store is the end of us all. Proverbs says to look at the end of things is wisdom. To remember that the secondhand store is the end of all things is a good place to begin.
There are also the filthy second hands we all have. None of our hands are clean. There’s a certain amount of wanting to dismantle the pretense as well that somehow our hands could be clean. There’s a little bit of pulling off the façade of America. I think the last spoken word stands to sum it all up, the idea of fatality and that many times we’re the ones who put the handcuffs on ourselves.
Brio: Besides playing guitar, what else do you enjoy doing on tour?
Jon: I go to a lot of pawnshops and thrift stores. I love the used elements of our Western culture. I would much rather buy something that has been used. It’s a better value. It’s already had some life breathed into it. But we also love surfing and skateboarding. Skateboarding is the closest you can get to surfing on the sidewalk.
I also love writing songs, which I know is the occupation, but it’s also my favorite thing to do. When I haven’t written a song in a long time, my wife will say, “You need to write a song” because I get antsy and ornery. She also says when I haven’t surfed in a long time that I need to get baptized. There’s something about staring infinity in the face and being reminded of a bigger picture. |
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