A look into the life of a Mars Hill band… by D. Scott Phillips

We met between services, the band taking a much-needed break between sets. I had just watched them perform “All My Tears” and “I Look at the Cross,” songs that were given a distinctive twist through electronic distortion and melodic beats.

The band shakes out like this:
Heidi Myers sings and plays Omnichord
Her husband, Andy Myers, plays drums, triggers samples, programs Game Boy tracks, and sings

Zach Malm plays guitar, bass, glockenspiel, and sings
Matt Kenall plays Moog synthesizer and programs Game Boy tracks

We warmed up with a question about how the band itself warms up to play:

“Breakfast. At least half of us bring breakfast, and the one half takes from the other,” Zach jokes.
“Prayer,” Andy says.
“Our band is like our community group…it’s all about our friendships, and we try not to take the music too seriously,” Heidi says.
“Coffee for sure,” quips Matt.
“And we pee a lot,” Zach adds.

The band has been playing together since August, but they have been friends and attendees of Mars Hill for much longer. 3 of the 4 (excepting Matt) grew up in church and around church music. Andy’s dad managed a Christian bookstore/music store. Heidi’s mom made her sing in church, and Matt admits to “screaming in a punk band when he was 15.” “All of us have been in punk bands,” Heidi explains, “especially Andy.”

While punk has been the musical background of the band, they say their biggest influences are Devo and Low. And for readers who think they recognize those bits and bleeps? Yep, they play a Nintendo Gameboy - Sound and Vision’s contribution to the 8-bit movement.

For readers not familiar, the 8-bit movement is using old video game hardware, considered trash by the general populace, and finding ways to hack it and make music within the hardware’s limitations. In the case of Sound and Vision, the goal is to use old hardware, cast aside by society, to glorify Christ in new ways. “The voice of the Gameboy was the sound of our generation,” Heidi explains, “They are sentimental bits and bleeps.” Andy adds that, “the instruments in the Bible were played for worship, but they still required the technical piece.” This medium is especially useful to the band, whose members are all married with kids or with kids on the way; because of the instrument’s portability, Matt and Andy find themselves experimenting with ideas on their way to work. “I don’t have a lot of time for music, but I had all this time in my commute; it just seemed like a great opportunity,” Andy says.

Another balance the band struggles with is how to keep their families healthy, while still being passionate and committed to their ministry. Andy admits that this has been a struggle in the past, and he did not want to see that become an issue with Sound and Vision.

“Family comes first,” Andy says.
“We try to make a point to veg on Saturdays,” Heidi agrees.
“There was a time when I was supposed to be at a practice, but something came up with my family, and when I told Andy, he kept to his principle, family comes first, and I stayed home. It’s not something we get in the habit of, but we know what comes first,” Matt says.

Zach also mentioned the important role that their spouses play, serving behind the scenes, giving them the opportunity to serve with their music. “They are really members of this project.”

I ask them if it is difficult to be worshippers of God while still needing to lead people in worship, especially when using an artistic expression new to most congregants.

“I remember when I recorded my first song,” Andy says, “I was so excited, I took it to my brother – he was a year older than me and a really great musician – and I remember showing it to him, and he just laughed at how awful it was. I got so angry, I stopped the recorder, and I wouldn’t let him listen to anything else. I think from that time, I’ve always struggled as a musician, trying to make my music acceptable. As a worship leader, I struggle with making much of Jesus, not much of me.”
“Even if we sin or stumble, God can pick it up and use it,” Heidi says, “it’s all about God taking His name and glorifying it.”

I thank the band for taking a few minutes out of their hectic day, and tell them I have one final question. Have you seen any good movies lately?

“Oh my gosh!” Heidi exclaims, “Andy and I just saw this great Swedish vampire movie called Let the Right one In. Forget Twilight!”
“I’m about halfway through The Fall, I won’t be able to make it to The Cinemagogue showing. But I would say one of the best movies I’ve seen recently is Le Samurai, a French film noir,” Matt says.

During this final part of our interview, Zach has to step out, and Heidi advises me that Zach is really the movie buff. “He contributes to the Cinemagogue. You could probably check out his latest movie by reading his reviews.”

http://voxpopnetwork.com/cinemagogue/2008/11/29/bottle-rocket-ain’t-no-trip-to-cleveland/

If you want to check out more examples of Sound and Vision’s sound, band members Andy and Matt have side projects available for listen on Myspace.

Square Wail-  http://www.myspace.com/squarewail
Super Commuter-  http://www.myspace.com/supercommuter

And if you are wondering where the band got their name, here’s a hint: Ziggy Stardust.