Raising Shekels
Ten Shekel Shirt's latest CD, Risk, is less about vertical worship than real-world issues. Now the band is raising money to fight the very real problem of child abuse worldwide.
by Michael Herman and Russ Breimeier | posted 11/17/2003
 1 of 2
Ten Shekel Shirt made a big splash with its 2001 self-titled debut and its huge radio hit, "Ocean." The band recently released its sophomore project, Risk (INO), and is working on a worship project due this spring. Proceeds from that project will benefit the International Justice Mission (IJM), which combats injustice and abuse against children around the world. We talked to Lamont Hiebert, the band's chief songwriter, about the new music, the craft of writing, and the ministry of IJM.
Lamont Hiebert (2nd from left) and his band, Ten Shekel Shirt
Tell us about your new album.
Lamont Hiebert We moved over to INO Records, and we're doing a couple albums back to back. First was Risk [which released in August]. We love the tunes on it and we're really excited about people hearing it.
Next spring, we'll release a worship record. The proceeds from that project will go toward supporting an organization rescuing sexually exploited children in countries such as Thailand, India, Cambodia, and others. In doing so, we'll be sort of linking our vertical and horizontal love for God.
Talk about some of the songs on Risk.
Hiebert I think there's always an element of worship and dialogue with God in my songs—even though there aren't not too many on this current record you could stick up on a wall and sing in church as we had with the last record.
Some of the themes start with the first song that says, "I'm allowed to live to make the Maker smile." Sometimes Christian life seems like drudgery. But I love the way Galatians 5 says the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. It goes on to say, "Against such things there is no law." I love the twist on that, and I wanted to say that I'm allowed to live and that it's a privilege. Being a follower of Christ is a privilege. It's freeing.
Another song is about the recent deaths of my mother and brother. It's many people's favorite song on the album. There's just something honoring about remembering.
The first radio song is, "Cheer Up." It's sort of inspired by Romans 8, about all of creation waiting for the sons of God to be revealed. It's such a cool concept to think that creation is waiting for us, for Christ in us to come alive and for the incarnation to continue through us. So that's a song about dreaming big.
How would you describe your own songwriting style?
Hiebert For me, concept is everything. I don't spend a lot of time practicing my chops on guitar, or my chords on the piano, or even going to vocal lessons. I'm sure all those things would be helpful in making me a better musician. But for some reason, I spend countless hours chewing on concepts—reading, praying, and dialoguing about concepts.
Songs that don't give me anything new or put a twist on an old thing, those songs do nothing for me. If I can find a concept I love and can live and die for, then the melody and chords usually come pretty quick.
What are some of your past songs you're most proud of?
Hiebert I'm really proud of "Ocean." It's a fun worship song that feels great, and we still love playing it live. In regards to a concept, that song is about the idea that creation inspires us to worship God. That's not a new concept, but I like to think that's a good reminder. Some people in California and Florida tell us that they listen to that song every day.
Another song is, "Meet with Me." Some people say worship is all about God. Other people go to a service and say to God, "Give me more of you." Truth is, I think both are right. I think we should come in a way that we're giving to God, but he's a loving God who wants to give to us. So, "Meet with Me" is about a relational God. The lyrics say, "I'm here to meet with you, come and meet with me. I'm here to find you, reveal yourself to me." And, "As I wait, you make me strong. As I long, you draw me to your arms." I just wanted to get across the concept that getting together to worship is a two-way thing.
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free!
|
 |
|
Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.
If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
