When I personally discovered the artistry of Andrew Peterson, it made me very happy. I’m picky when it comes to pretty everything that comes out of the Nashville machine known as the Christian music industry. I’m not diametrically opposed to the idea of music formulas, but the concept is pretty darn diabolical, wouldn’t you say? It’s not the sappy sentiments that bother me. I’m good for a tear-jerking story like the next guy (or soccer mom), but what I really don’t want to hear is schmaltz. Barry Manilow for Jesus is how I refer to most CCM music. Though Barry Manilow’s hits stacked up against any Mercy Me song would win hands down and in dominating fashion. I digress. Please excuse me. I had to describe the vomit and processed junkfood before I could talk about the beauty. It’s just where my head is at, okay?
Andrew Peterson stands apart. Sure, it’s not progressive metal. It’s not even hot and sweaty acoustic roots rock. Nope. It’s keyboards and mostly tender melodies. I think it’s music that might make Rich Mullins proud. Dude’s got taste, talent and a great melodic voice. Now, fast-foward a good decade or so. I still quicken with anticipation when I see a new release of his. I wasn’t expecting a two-inch thick hardback novel from the guy, though. I decided I should review it. Then I decided I should interview the guy.
What led you into music? Please highlight some of the big moments in your career (from early attempts as a youth, to career-changing decisions, etc)
I loved to play the piano and took just enough lessons in the beginning so I could quit and play by ear. (I don’t necessarily recommend this.) I’m pretty sure the very first song I learned with sheet music was “Honestly” by Stryper. Then it was “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. So I spent all this time before church camp during my 9th grade year learning Journey songs so I could impress girls when everyone else was playing carpet ball. And it worked! Until another kid named C.J. started playing an acoustic guitar on the other end of the gym, and the crowd followed him out to the soccer field. I was stuck there with an immobile piano and no one to listen. So I joined forces. He taught me a song called “Patience” by Guns n’ Roses. Ah, the memories. Ironically, it was the same kid (C.J.) five years later who introduced me to Rich Mullins, which changed my life. I had been in a rock band after high school, had tried my hand at writing a few of their songs, and was basically foundering as a human. Then Rich’s songs came along and gave me something to sing about—which was the “reckless, raging fury that they call the love of God,” in Rich’s words. During Bible college I managed to write a few of my own songs that didn’t stink, and my sweet wife convinced me to try doing my own concerts. Once I graduated and moved to Nashville, Caedmon’s Call rescued me from Olive Garden, and seventeen years later I’m still grateful.
How would you explain your fanbase’s devotion? What do you think connects your audience to your music?
I think part of it is the fact that, early on especially, I knew I really needed those fans if I wanted to have a sustained career. Having done music this long I’ve witnessed the wild swings a career can take—from being on a great label, to having modest success on radio, to then being dropped from a label and realizing that the music you’re making isn’t as radio-friendly as you hoped, to being an indie artist, to being on a label again. One of the consistent things through the years is the listeners. If it wasn’t for them and their support—both financially and by way of encouragement—I doubt I’d still be doing this. Not only that, I came to realize a few years ago that it’s not the music that matters as much as the connection music allows. Many people are lonely, dogged by a sadness they can’t explain, full of questions and wild hopes. As much as I love a great turn of phrase or fun guitar part, what really drives me is when my own story intersects with the listener and God uses that moment to bring us both comfort and communion. Music shouldn’t be mere self-expression, but a way to love people. And that goes both ways. I’ve felt extremely well-loved over the years by the people who support me and my family.
What led to the idea to write a book?
The simplest answer: C. S. Lewis. Since the songs I love to listen to, and try to write, are often story songs in one way or another, it wasn’t a huge leap to try my hand at a book. I had wanted to be a writer long before I ever got into music, so when I read the Narnia books to my kids and remembered that deep, deep stirring only a book can produce, I decided to stop blabbing about writing and actually do it. Or, try it at least.
Why this kind of book? What was your inspiration for this kind of tale, etc?
When I was a kid, I loved fantasy. And science fiction and comics. And movies—like Indiana Jones and Star Wars and Goonies. It seems like the common thread in all those stories is the sense of adventure, of wonder and mystery, danger and darkness—but darkness overcome by light. G. K. Chesterton wrote about how fairy tales (or fantasy novels) don’t teach children that dragons exist, because children already know that. These kinds of stories teach children that dragons can be beaten. That there’s something stronger than all the darkness. And kids know all about darkness, from a very young age. Everyone can probably remember a moment in their childhood when they realized the world was broken, that there was a snake in the garden, which can be terrifying. And a great story—the right kind of story—shows that, though the darkness is real and powerful, it is in the end tromped by light and goodness and love.
What led to the crowd-funding approach to your book project, how did that go and what surprises happened along the way?
Rabbit Room Press was publishing the final book just like the others, but I really wanted to go out with a bang. None of the other books had been published in hardback, and none of them had been jammed with illustrations the way I wanted, so we figured this last book would be a good excuse to shoot for the moon. We ended up meeting all these stretch goals, like audiobooks, a fold out map, more illustrations, a recorded song from the story, etc. It was one of the craziest thirty days of my life, culminating in my family and I first dancing, then praying in our living room.
What are your future plans for writing?
As soon as I’m out of the studio this week I’m going to get cranking on the next book—which will likely be non-fiction. Next year I’m making another new record, which means I’ll have to put book writing on hold for a while. (Doing both at once takes up too much RAM.) But I’m already excited about the next adventure story.
What are some interesting, perhaps unexpected likes/favorites that you have musically?
Someone asked me what my biggest musical influence was, and in some ways the answer is Ben Shive. He produced five or six of my albums and toured with me for more than a decade, and as a producer part of his job is to listen to everything. New stuff, old stuff—everything—so he can be literate when it comes to the artists he’s producing. So over the years, when Ben discovers a great new band or record, he passes it on to me because he knows I tend to get in a rut. I order the same thing at the Mexican restaurant every single time. Some records I love: M83’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, Beck’s Morning Phase, Battle Born, by the Killers. He’s introduced me to Vampire Weekend and Fleet Foxes. There’s so much great music being made right now, it’s nice to have someone curate it for you.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for the interview! I’m heading to the studio to approve mixes for the newest album, After All These Years, which is a best-of record. We re-recorded a bunch of old stuff and added a few new songs, which has been a blast—partly because I was able to lower the keys to the early stuff. I’m a baritone who thought he was a tenor, thanks to the 80’s. Apparently the young Andrew wished he was Steve Perry.
If you’ve never heard this guy’s music, you’re in luck. He just released a career-spanning collection called After All These Years: A Collection.
Here’s the tracklisting:
1. After All These Years
2. The Reckoning
3. After The Last Tear Falls (2014)
4. All Things New
5. Don’t You Want To Thanks Someone
6. Lay Me Down
7. Faith To Be Strong (2014)
8. You’ll Find Your Way
9. Dancing In the Minefields
10. The Good Confession
11. Isn’t It Love (2014)
12. The Far Country
13. The Silence Of God (2014)
14. Holy Is The Lord (2014)
15. Romans 11 (Doxology)
16. Nothing To Say (2014)
17. No More Faith (2014)
18. To All The Poets
19. High Noon (Live, 2014)
20. Everybody’s Got A Song
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