Stephen Christian is a guy that is hard to keep up with in between
constantly touring, a new Anberlin record on Universal Records which
hits record store shelves September 30, 2008. On top of a new
Anberlin record Christian also has his solo project Anchor Braille
which has been put a hold currently. “We’re going to try to put out a
new record early ’09 that’s when the release date is set for. Right now
I’m focusing heavily on Anberlin.” He explains. If two projects wasn’t
enough Christian has just released A novella (a short novel) as well
entitled, The Orphan Anything’s Memoir of a Lesser Known, a book
that Christian has self published himself. “I put it out and it’s gotten a
great response. It’s gotten great reviews on Amazon which is great
because I’m not a writer.” Christian exclaims. “I’m more of a poet
than a writer. I‘m not Augustan Burroughs” He adds with a laugh.
Christian penned the Novella around the same time as he wrote Cities.
The line “There is more to living then being alive” was originally
taken from The Orphan Anything’s Memoir of a Lesser Known “I
took it from the book and I used it for the CD.” he says. On top of
Anberlin, Anchor Braille and a Novella, Christian and company are
also doing a repeat appearance on The Vans Warped Tour. In the
midst of all of his projects Christian appears to be very relaxed as if he
has all the time in the world although he is scheduled to take the main
stage in a mere two hours with his main squeeze Anberlin. “I’m just
glad to be back in Florida.” The Florida native says as he sits
underneath a rare piece of shade backstage at The Vans Warped Tour
at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. St. Petersburg is Christian’s
backyard considering that his home of Winter Haven is just a 100
miles north from St. Petersburg. Being able to get out of Florida and to
come back there are certain things you won’t miss however. “I
obviously didn’t miss the heat and the humidity.” He confesses.
Approaching the decade mark can either being a blessing for a band or
a plague, especially now a days considering that most bands don’t make
past the five year mark let alone the ten year mark. Once you get
there what do you do? Well if you’re Anberlin you release your first
major label debut reminding old fans why they fell in love with the
Florida band in the first place. “It’s new Anberlin, but it’s old
Anberlin” one Tampa radio Disc Jockey confesses, “But that’s why we
love it.” She adds. New Surrender is Anberlin’s sixth release and their
first on major label Universal Republic Records, a label much larger
than their pervious home of Tooth & Nail Records. New fans or old
fans Christian insists there will be something on the New Surrender for
everyone. “It’s just an extension of what we have been doing. I just
constantly touring, a new Anberlin record on Universal Records which
hits record store shelves September 30, 2008. On top of a new
Anberlin record Christian also has his solo project Anchor Braille
which has been put a hold currently. “We’re going to try to put out a
new record early ’09 that’s when the release date is set for. Right now
I’m focusing heavily on Anberlin.” He explains. If two projects wasn’t
enough Christian has just released A novella (a short novel) as well
entitled, The Orphan Anything’s Memoir of a Lesser Known, a book
that Christian has self published himself. “I put it out and it’s gotten a
great response. It’s gotten great reviews on Amazon which is great
because I’m not a writer.” Christian exclaims. “I’m more of a poet
than a writer. I‘m not Augustan Burroughs” He adds with a laugh.
Christian penned the Novella around the same time as he wrote Cities.
The line “There is more to living then being alive” was originally
taken from The Orphan Anything’s Memoir of a Lesser Known “I
took it from the book and I used it for the CD.” he says. On top of
Anberlin, Anchor Braille and a Novella, Christian and company are
also doing a repeat appearance on The Vans Warped Tour. In the
midst of all of his projects Christian appears to be very relaxed as if he
has all the time in the world although he is scheduled to take the main
stage in a mere two hours with his main squeeze Anberlin. “I’m just
glad to be back in Florida.” The Florida native says as he sits
underneath a rare piece of shade backstage at The Vans Warped Tour
at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. St. Petersburg is Christian’s
backyard considering that his home of Winter Haven is just a 100
miles north from St. Petersburg. Being able to get out of Florida and to
come back there are certain things you won’t miss however. “I
obviously didn’t miss the heat and the humidity.” He confesses.
Approaching the decade mark can either being a blessing for a band or
a plague, especially now a days considering that most bands don’t make
past the five year mark let alone the ten year mark. Once you get
there what do you do? Well if you’re Anberlin you release your first
major label debut reminding old fans why they fell in love with the
Florida band in the first place. “It’s new Anberlin, but it’s old
Anberlin” one Tampa radio Disc Jockey confesses, “But that’s why we
love it.” She adds. New Surrender is Anberlin’s sixth release and their
first on major label Universal Republic Records, a label much larger
than their pervious home of Tooth & Nail Records. New fans or old
fans Christian insists there will be something on the New Surrender for
everyone. “It’s just an extension of what we have been doing. I just
think it’s to the next level. We worked with a better producer, a better
record label.” Christian explains. On top of a better producer and a
better record label Anberlin had more time to work on New Surrender
with them spending three months to record New Surrender which may
not seem like that long for most bands on major labels. For Anberlin
that is quite a hike from spending four weeks on their last Tooth &
Nail release Cities.
From an outside perspective three months may seem like a long time
to record an album but it was no case walk especially when working
with Neil Avron who has produced the likes of Fall Out Boy. “Neil
kept us busy. There was a song that I redid, I’m talking rewrote the
melody and everything 17 times, and it never went on the record.
That’s just how meticulous he was. He kept us busy we were doing
twelve hour days for three months. It wasn’t like we were just sitting
around in the studio going play back that song I want to hear if that
one vocal melody/ harmony line is fine.“ Christian explains. It was
real work all the way until the end. While Avron was mixing the
record Christian was in the studio laying vocal tracks. “Now just
imagine what we could have done with Cities if we had three months to
record.” Christian puts an emphasis on the fact that it still sounds like
Anberlin. “I don’t like when bands totally redesign their sound and try
to change who they are. They get on a major (label) and they feel
they have to write that next pop in sync song.” He adds. “We wanted
to make sure that it was still Anberlin, and that people knew it was
Anberlin.” He continues.
Although Christian is happy with Anberlin’s new label Universal, a
label that has been pounding on their door since before Cities was
released, Christian still doesn’t have anything bad to say about Tooth
& Nail. “We wouldn’t be where we are without Tooth & Nail.” He
admits. “The only difference between Universal and Tooth & Nail is
the word Yes. We hear that a lot more now than we did on Tooth &
Nail. There are just a lot more oppurnities with Universal. We got to
work with Neil Avron who has done Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy vs.
working with Aaron Sprinkler who has worked with us. This year we
are on the Main Stage at Warped Tour that’s something that Tooth &
Nail couldn’t have done for us. We’re on the cover of Alternative
Press that’s something that Tooth & Nail couldn’t have done for us.
It’s the little things that make a huge difference.” Not having to
worry about the little things allows a busy man to be busier.
record label.” Christian explains. On top of a better producer and a
better record label Anberlin had more time to work on New Surrender
with them spending three months to record New Surrender which may
not seem like that long for most bands on major labels. For Anberlin
that is quite a hike from spending four weeks on their last Tooth &
Nail release Cities.
From an outside perspective three months may seem like a long time
to record an album but it was no case walk especially when working
with Neil Avron who has produced the likes of Fall Out Boy. “Neil
kept us busy. There was a song that I redid, I’m talking rewrote the
melody and everything 17 times, and it never went on the record.
That’s just how meticulous he was. He kept us busy we were doing
twelve hour days for three months. It wasn’t like we were just sitting
around in the studio going play back that song I want to hear if that
one vocal melody/ harmony line is fine.“ Christian explains. It was
real work all the way until the end. While Avron was mixing the
record Christian was in the studio laying vocal tracks. “Now just
imagine what we could have done with Cities if we had three months to
record.” Christian puts an emphasis on the fact that it still sounds like
Anberlin. “I don’t like when bands totally redesign their sound and try
to change who they are. They get on a major (label) and they feel
they have to write that next pop in sync song.” He adds. “We wanted
to make sure that it was still Anberlin, and that people knew it was
Anberlin.” He continues.
Although Christian is happy with Anberlin’s new label Universal, a
label that has been pounding on their door since before Cities was
released, Christian still doesn’t have anything bad to say about Tooth
& Nail. “We wouldn’t be where we are without Tooth & Nail.” He
admits. “The only difference between Universal and Tooth & Nail is
the word Yes. We hear that a lot more now than we did on Tooth &
Nail. There are just a lot more oppurnities with Universal. We got to
work with Neil Avron who has done Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy vs.
working with Aaron Sprinkler who has worked with us. This year we
are on the Main Stage at Warped Tour that’s something that Tooth &
Nail couldn’t have done for us. We’re on the cover of Alternative
Press that’s something that Tooth & Nail couldn’t have done for us.
It’s the little things that make a huge difference.” Not having to
worry about the little things allows a busy man to be busier.
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