Chic[k]s in the Pulpit
Superchic[k]'s Melissa Brock says everybody has a pulpit. Here's how her band is using theirs in marvelous ways.
by Michael Herman | posted 2/23/2004
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Long before it became a fad, Superchic[k], which just hit the road for the Free Experience tour with ZOEgirl and Joy Williams, is well aware of its pulpit—the platform that so naturally comes with being on stage. They take that responsibility seriously, and their message of God's love and grace is getting through—loud and clear—to thousands of teen girls. The band's songs have appeared in dozens of movies and TV programs, including a recent spot on "Joan of Arcadia." They've been on a run and haven't slowed down. Although we couldn't get the whole band to slow down for 15 minutes, I did manage to sit down with Tricia's sister Melissa, a former college friend who's now one of Superchic[k]'s guitarists. After talking about the good old days at Judson College, we got down to talking about music—and the ministry that comes along with it.
Are you still surprised when your music pops up on TV shows and movies?
Melissa BrockIt surprises us every time. I don't quite understand it. Whenever anybody asks us about God's hand on Superchic[k], we say it's such a God thing, because there are so many bands out there that write great music and play more than we do. We've had so many opportunities and open doors to meet the right people at the right place—it's not coincidence. We know God has a hand in that.
Can you describe an example of your reaction?
BrockTrish and I were just talking about that the other morning. We got into the hotel and turned on the TV. We turned on "The Real World." They were playing one of our songs and we both just kind of sat there and looked at each other. We kept pointing and looking. We're like, "It's just so weird to hear it in that context." It's just really cool and very humbling.
Your music is relevant to this culture, addressing important issues. What are some the issues you want to speak out about?
BrockWe wrote a song ("Real") on Last One Picked for a girl who was picked on at school and just didn't want to go on. We later had contact with her at some shows, and she was like, "You guys have changed my life." This is a 14-year-old girl who was dealing with such pressure and suicidal thoughts. To hear a girl say, "I put on your record and I don't want to kill myself" is just amazing. It gave me chills. It's really cool to think you can be used in that way.
Any other stories like that?
BrockWe met another girl recently. At our shows, I usually talk about things that I've gone through, and that I dealt with anorexia in high school. I share how God helped me through that. And this girl came up after the show and said, "I've seen you guys like ten times. I love you. I want to let you know I'm a recovering anorexic because I came to your show and because you talked. Then you talked to me afterwards about it. Because of that time you spent with me, I went and got help, and God totally changed my life."
Anorexia was a hard thing for me to deal with. But God used that. Girls come up to me all the time telling me the same thing: I'm going through this and I didn't think anybody else understood me. Can you pray with me? Can you help me? It's cool to know that you're not just about music, that our music helps at a deeper level to change people's lives because of God's love for them.
Have you written a song about your struggles with anorexia?
BrockNo, but there's a song in me to write about my experiences, and I know it. We haven't been at a place where we felt like we could be that vulnerable—at least to where kids could listen to it. But now enough kids have listened to our previous stuff want to hear more of those stories. They want to hear how I did deal with anorexia and came through it. They want to hear about how Trisha dealt with really bad acne in high school, and that made her not want to wake up every morning. So, I think we're going to take a lot more time for writing songs that are much more about our lives.
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