(title comes from royal tailor's song "hold me together" from the album black & white)
CMC sure has its share of surprises throughout the semester!
With just six total staff members, it truly amazes me the number of connections
each one has in this town alone. Each one speaks with ease about their friends,
generally settling for first names—most mentions likely go to “Kelly”
(Clarkson, of course) and “the Jars boys” (aka Jars of Clay). Clarkson’s back-up singers are CMC alums and
the director of our program taught the guys of Jars of Clay when they attended
Greenville College.
From week to week, all twenty-eight of us are given chances
to make connections and spend time with people involved in the industry at
varying levels. From conversations with long-time managers of world renowned
artists, to intimate indie performances on the stage we call home for the
semester, to load-ins and staffing major tour stops, it all happens here in
Music City.
(our room is set for the shoot!--photo credit: Brenna Lucero)
Earlier this month, recently signed and Grammy-nominated Provident
act Royal Tailor came to our building in Brentwood for a live video shoot. While
the majority of music videos are shot using playback, the young band showcased
the stamina of their stage presence and skill by playing live the whole night.
(student TK King filming--photo credit: Brenna Lucero)
The band’s bio is spot-on describing their sound as one that
“evokes Bruno Mars, Maroon 5 and a hint of Michael Jackson, Royal Tailor
captures audiences with an infectious musicality…”
The energetic, soulful quartet originally met while
attending Bible College in the St. Louis area and played around while
ministering to youth in the area. After playing a battle of the bands showcase
for INO records, guitarist DJ Cox said the guys got their hopes up only to find
that nothing would initially come of it.
Refusing to give in, the now-Nashville based guys played out
at every opportunity before finding themselves with a gig at Leeland Mooring’s
Texas home church. According to Cox, the band gained the attention of PMG’s
A&R team because Mooring got a hold of their EP.
A week later, the band signed a recording contract and began
working on the fifty songs viable for their debut album. Cox noted that their
career didn’t skyrocket as soon as they had hoped, as they lived in “lawyer
land” for 6-8 months prior to Black &
White’s May 2011 release, the first single, and a tour with labelmates
Building 429.
Currently on the road with Casting Crowns through the
spring, Royal Tailor has hit the ground running in regards to promotion. Just
off the heels of a trip down the Grammy red carpet, the band has also been touring
non-stop for months.
(photo credit: Brenna Lucero)
Following an engaging live set, the four bandmates and their
management hung around with both CMC students and staff to talk anything from gear
and early musical influences to future endeavors.
Guitarist DJ Cox grew up in VA where he played Mandolin and
Acoustic by ear before discovering his mom’s various artists Funk CD. He
laughed at the childhood memory, “I was like ooh man, so I stole it”. Cox discussed
his “monster” pedal board—featuring a vast range of brands and effects—with
resident CMC electric player Jase Hackman, and drew quite a crowd as he moved
on through his guitar collection and his favorite players.
I’m always intrigued when musicians talk in detail about
their gear. In many ways, it’s another language, but it creates the sounds that
we music freaks live for.
Cox came back to their youth ministry roots as he spoke
about the band’s current vision, visiting middle and high schools to perform
and encourage kids to speak out against bullying. The passion was evident in
DJ’s voice as he spoke about both the ministry and the music.
Like other semester 22 visitors, the guitarist talked on the
value of taking risks in life. “It’s been a rough first year [being on a label]
but whatever you’re gonna do, you just gotta get out there and do it”.
(Far Left=Guitarist DJ Cox)
(Royal Tailor at the Grammys—Photo credit: Grammy.com)
i shall post about tour prep, sooon!
be on the lookout, yall :)
thanks to everyone who's praying!
peace.
xo-hm
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