Zach Riner of Sent By Ravens was kind enough to answer some questions by Christian Music Zine’s Jared Conatser, take a look!
CMZ: With the release of your sophomore album on Tooth & Nail just a few weeks away, was this easier or harder than the first to produce?
SBR: It was more work, but way easier in my opinion. We we’re on a much tighter schedule than than “Our Graceful Words” but knew what we wanted to say. It’s a little darker, I think, because thats naturally what we all enjoy more.
CMZ: What is to be expected from ‘MWYS’? What song were you most excited about?
SBR: I think it’s a side of us people haven’t seen before. Lyrically, I have by no means lost faith in God. However, I think it deals with some harder questions and experiences. I felt piece in being able to share it. I’m really excited about rebuild:release. That song is about the movie “A Neverending Story”. It was my favorite movie growing up. I just love the idea of completely rebuilding something from just a grain of what was left, by only being given a new name.
CMZ: Are there any plans for a new music video off the new album?
SBR: We just finished a new video for “We’re all Liars” with Daniel Davison from Underoath. I can’t express how excited we are for you guys to see this one. Daniel really pushed the envelope for us this time.
CMZ: Stepping back in time on this subject, from where did the conceptual and creative ideas for ‘New Fire’ and ‘Trailer Vs. Tornado’ come? What’s the best/worst part of making a video?
SBR: Those ideas we’re the director’s. They gave us a video treatment to see what we thought. If we like it, we move forward. There’s not really a bad part of making a video. You get to express your song in a different way. And honestly, we get to shoot a music video. We’re just thrilled to get the opportunity to do this for a living. We play a song for a day in a cool environment. Most people work a job for longer hours and don’t have fun.
CMZ: What do you feel you’ve learned from the past two years about being a band? And what knowledge has been passed down from seasoned tour mates, such as Emery?
SBR: Talk to each other. Communication is one of the most important parts of a family. If you let problems build up, they aren’t as easy to fix. Haha Emery. The coolest thing I’ve picked up from them is their lack of T.V’s on their bus. They have conversations. They’ll stop and play sports together. That says alot about people who hang out instead of constantly playing xbox and ignoring each other. They’re friends. It goes a long way.
CMZ: What goes into the naming of a SBR song? Some song titles are based directly out of the lyrics and others seem random.
SBR: It’s either my meaning or the hook. I’m ok with it being the hook but sometimes it needs to be a little more interesting/personal. Take “Stone Soup” for instance. It was a story my mom read to me as a kid.
CMZ: The band name stems from the account of Elijah, right? What attracted you to that story?
We’re all sinful people. No one is perfect. The ravens God sent as provision for Elijah we’re unclean birds. They we’re scavangers. That paralells with all of us. You don’t have to be a perfect christian/human being to follow the will of the Lord. Actually, name one person alive today that’s perfect. We’re all scavangers man. We forget that sometimes.
CMZ: How does one grow in the music scene without forsaking morals and maintaining relevancy?
SBR: I guess that depends on your morals. Be real. Know who you are, love people. I have friends that won’t play in bars. We do. Some people would question that. However, thats my point, thats not what’s important. I’m not that concerned with what people think. I want to follow the peace from God and go where that takes me. The church is more than the building you go to on sunday morning. It’s also with the people who don’t love him in return. Doesn’t he love us all the same?
CMZ: Your Facebook page gives some insight about the new album. Two themes that seemed to pop out were truth and consistency. Why are those two so essential to a personal ministry?
SBR: We hear a lot of crap on the road. We’re all faced with a lot of situations in life that question the very foundation of what you believe. I know what’s true in my heart. I can honestly love people and follow my heart consistantly. It will take me where I need to go. Our music is an expression of art and worship. Honestly, I’m not called to be a preacher. We’ll worship God and he’ll minister to the people. Not the other way around.
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Great intervie jared