Nearly four months until the release of the debut solo project, Anthem Song, from Aaron Gillespie (former Underoath drummer, front man of The Almost), is already generating a strong buzz amongst his loyal fans. This album is set to release on Tooth & Nail Records / BEC Recordings on March 8, 2011. Fans can experience a taste of this album with the debut radio single, “We Were Made For You” (co-written with Paul Baloche), premiering now on Aaron’s
Facebook page.
“I’ve always wanted to make a record like this. The Almost is a rock band, and we didn’t want to mix the two styles,” Aaron begins to explain. “I have this desire to see our generation worshipping God. But a lot of the people I get to meet through music—kids with tattoos and swoop over haircuts—don’t think of worship as ‘cool.’ I want them to find a home and a vocabulary to experience this kind of music.”
As a dynamic, outspoken artist in the music scene, Aaron Gillespie isn’t always what one might expect to find in a faith-based performer and such is the case with this project. Aaron’s strong musical history began at the young age of 14 as a standout drummer and co-founder of the popular metalcore band Underoath, which he amicably left earlier this year.
Aaron recorded Anthem Song in Seattle with versatile producer Aaron Sprinkle (Jeremy Camp, Kutless). Both multi-instrumentalists, they played nearly everything on the album. Co-writers Paul Baloche, Sarah Hart, and Phillip LaRue also helped pen what is largely a very personal record about adoring God, worshiping Him “because He is and because you are; just because you woke up today.”
Much of that outlook was influenced by a mission trip Aaron took to Africa.“The people in Africa, which I experienced were so happy, so joyful despite their circumstances. They have nothing, but they worship so wholeheartedly,” recalls Aaron. “I went there as a rich American expecting to fix something in their world. But we are the ones who need fixing. I’ve learned that God’s goodness is an anthem that will play forever. Our job is to grab a piece of that song while we are here.”
