Home > Music > Interviews
 "What Were We Thinking!"
interview by Michael Herman
posted 11/04/02
Daily Planet (left to right): Seth Davis (bass, vocals), Bobby Reinsch (guitars), Jesse Butterworth (vocals, guitar), Danny Lund (drums)
Daily Planet started life as a band four years ago while attending Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. They almost called it quits after a couple years together. Good thing they didn't, since their debut album Hero is one of the best albums of 2002. We had a great time talking together, and yes, you may catch a serious side to these guys if you read very carefully.
How would you describe your sound?
Seth: We have a modern/pop/rock sound, something like Dave Matthews Band meets Creed, Matchbox 20, etc. There are strong influences from all, but they're sort of melted together to create a unique style.
What important themes run through your new CD, Hero?
Danny: "Flying Blind" talks about blind faith. We don't know where we're going or exactly what's going to happen each day, but we can wake up knowing that if we walk in obedience to God, he'll go before us and lead us where he wants us to go.
That song was born from our experience of moving to Nashville from California, not exactly knowing what was going to happen. But, at the same time, we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right thing to do.
Jesse: One of the big themes in Hero is heroes … no, really. The theme is woven throughout the songs. "What If I Had a Hero," is about our disillusionment with heroes. It talks about how they use their status to do whatever they want. "Tangled Web" is about the pressure of people looking to you as a hero and not being sure how to handle it.
There are also references to heroes in "Five." It talks about wanting to be Superman, and walking around in Underoos pretending to be Luke Skywalker. You know, being a superhero is really an option when you're a kid. And the guys in the band have never really grown out of that. We still believe it's an option for us!
Bobby: Another thing we were aiming for with the album was relevance for both Christians and non-Christians. We wanted to write the songs in a way that they wouldn't turn non-Christians off. At the same time we wanted to give Christians insight into their faith in a new light.
Seth: Another theme is about questioning the Lord. Sometimes people wonder how there could be a loving God when there's so much evil in the world. We realize there's no way we can know the answer to these things — we're just finite human beings. We can't see the whole picture, but God can. The theme is also about trusting that there will be a day of reckoning when every injustice will be paid. That theme is strongly woven into the song, "Questioning the Notion." The song, "Lost and Found," also has that theme.
What was the toughest period for the band?
Jesse: Right before we were "discovered," we'd gone our separate ways (in summer 2000). Seth and I were married during the summer.
Seth: And we're very happy together!
Jesse: Okay, I got married in August, and Seth got married in July – but let me make this clear, not to each other! Anyway, when we got back from the summer break, Danny said he'd received a call from someone who wanted us to open for a band called "Jake." We hadn't practiced for six months and didn't know if we'd be ready.
So we started practicing and gave ourselves just six more months for something big to develop or we'd call it quits (we'd already been together four years). Two nights later we were discovered, and within a few months we had the deal with Reunion Records and were moving to Nashville. It was bizarre.
What's the best advice you've received from another musician?
Danny: "Hit the two and four as hard as you can," and "keep it simple, Stupid."
Jesse: "Play the silence." Play the notes, but also play the silence. It would either be that or "music is played, not worked."
Bobby: "Hit it hard and wish it well." Go for each note all the way, but once it's out there, it's done.
Seth: "Listen to everyone else above all." And "get hyperfocused on what you're doing individually." Then to quote Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, "If you want to be a pink, slippery flower, then be that pink, slippery flower with all of your might. And above all, do not be lame."
If you could add an hour to your day, what would you do with it?
Danny: I'd sleep for 30 minutes and then get up and practice, because I never practice.
Jesse: I'd use it to re-watch Waiting for Guffman so I could learn every single nuance of that movie.
Bobby: I'd sleep. I've been burning the candle at both ends since we moved to Nashville.
Seth: Hang out with my wife. I know that'll become harder to do as we get out on the road more.
What job would you like to do for a day?
Danny: I'd be a test driver for Porsche.
Jesse: I would be Jean Valjean in Les Misérables on Broadway.
Bobby: I'd be a fighter pilot in the Air Force.
Seth: I'd be an airline pilot. I'd have so many people depending on me for their life, and I'd land the giant bird and bring them home like a superhero.
Who do people say you look like?
Danny: My friends in high school called me "Bob" for Bob Saget. Since then I've had a ton of people ask me if I'm related to David Copperfield.
Jesse: A mix between Keifer Sutherland and Biff from Back to the Future.
Bobby: Like Tim Robbins and Brendan Fraser.
Seth: Jimmy Fallon from "Saturday Night Live."
What qualities do you admire in people?
Danny: I like people who are "real."
Jesse: I'd say humility. Someone told me once, "If you can't laugh at yourself, you're missing the best joke of all." Okay, I made that quote up … that really wasn't very humble was it? Let me try that again …
Bobby: Striving for excellence in whatever they're doing.
Seth: I admire the ability to make any awkward situation comfortable. Jesse does that really well.
If you had to change your first and last names, what would you choose?
Danny: I'd change my last name to fit better with Daniel John. Maybe instead of Lund, my real last name, I could go with "Daniel John Love" or maybe "Daddy Love." I'm just not quite sure.
Jesse: I can't think of any other name that sounds more like a "rock star" than Jesse Butterworth. Yep, I'd have to keep my name.
Bobby: I'd change my name to something that's both difficult to spell and pronounce. This is Bobby Reinsch, R-E-I-N-S-C-H.
Seth: Orland Fessence.
When have you asked yourself, "What was I thinking?"
Danny: I used to wear turtlenecks a lot. I was so skinny I would pin the turtleneck so it was tight around my neck. Now when I look at old photos and see how I looked, I have to wonder, What was I thinking!
Jesse: I recently looked at some old photos, too. For some reason I used to think it was cool to wear a T-shirt, spandex shorts, and fake glasses. I was a hefty kid – kind of a little Tommy Boy. Now I can only ask myself, What was I thinking!
Bobby: I was driving my brother's car while drinking a large soft drink. I placed it on the console while at a stoplight. When the light turned green and I stepped on the accelerator, my drink fell into the back seat. Not wanting to get soda all over his car, I grabbed for it and ended up crashing into the car in front of me. I definitely had to say, What was I thinking!
Seth: (Looking around) You guys know the stupid stuff I do, help me. I've got nothing, sorry.
What's your favorite meal before a concert?
Jesse: A really good – not too cold, not too hot – bottle of water. I just down the whole thing and really "go for it."
Bobby: I prefer to eat after I play.
Seth: Well, earlier today I had a small nibble of cantaloupe and two raspberries. I can't eat before I play either. That's why I'm scarfing down this sandwich now!
To learn more about Daily Planet, be sure to read our artist page for the band, and click here to read our review of Hero. You can listen to song clips and buy your own copy of their album at Musicforce.com.
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