.::air1.com plus one: becoming plus one::.

plus one:becoming plus one
interview by norm mcdonald

Plus One's debut album The Promise soared to the top of the Christian music charts two years ago. Fueled by the strength of the boy-band craze, their own vocal talents and their association with renowned pop-producer David Foster (Popstars, Whitney Houston), Plus One achieved almost instant celebrity status. Nathan Walters, Jason Perry, Jeremy Mhire, Nate Cole and Gabe Combs became the top-selling Christian artists in 2000 and won the 2001 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year.

Despite their success, some people questioned the scope of Plus One's talent and true intentions. After all, the five boys were recruited from a nationwide talent search, then set up with seasoned producers and handpicked songs. And the lyrics on The Promise were vague at times. The appeal of their personas garnered mainstream media show appearances on "Days of Our Lives" and "Live with Regis and Kelly." They also performed at high-profile promotions for companies such as Macy's and Armour Foods.

Now, with the release of Obvious, their sophomore project, Plus One wants to make a few things perfectly clear. They say they are not only very firm in their faith, but they are also now much more in control of their music and the direction of their careers.

Air 1: How has Plus One changed in the last two years?

Nate: We've learned a lot. We've taken more ownership of our group. We've thought about our future, and we've realized - not the power we have as individuals - but what God has given us. We want to be good stewards of what He has given us.

Nathan: The key word would be ownership. We're taking more ownership as a band in a lot of ways. Musically we are more involved, spiritually, on a business level, in all areas of our group we are maturing. In the beginning, it was a blur. We were put together. None of us knew each other. It was hard to feel like an individual. We felt like we were one small part of a big machine. Then we realized, we're on the stage, we're singing, and it really up to us to not only perform well, but to carry the responsibility of the position. I think we all feel that greater weight now. We're at a whole new level of ownership. I have seen all the guys mature. It has been a really neat process to watch.

Air 1: Plus One had a lot more to do with this current album, such as writing 10 of the songs and producing a couple of tracks. How did that come about?

Gabe: It happened while picking the songs for the album and trying to figure out in what style and direction we were going. We really couldn't explain it without showing them (the record label staff). We wrote songs and came up with our own ideas about different ways of fusing music together. We were given the opportunity to write songs as we were showing them the direction we wanted to go with the album. The songs turned out OK in the process, too.

Nate: The song that Gabe and I wrote, we turned it in to the record label. At the time we had just made the switch over to Atlantic New York and we were down to a time crunch where we had to find songs and had to get producers right away. They said, "We have to find a producer for 'Start to Fly'." And the A&R guy said, "I like the demo. Why not let Gabe produce it?" So, Gabe got his chance to produce. I think it turned out pretty cool.

Air 1: The new album is called Obvious. What should be obvious to the people listening to the album?

Nathan: When we were writing the album we wanted to be more blunt and up front with our faith. On our first album, a lot of the messages were positive, like telling people "there's hope for you," which can go both ways, you know? We still have some songs like that on this album, but there are others that are more specific, and hopefully, more obvious.

Air 1: This album talks a lot about not being afraid to speak about your faith. Has that been a challenge for you?

Nate: I don't think it has ever really been a challenge. The challenge for us is to prove it to other Christians. We called the album Obvious to answer questions we were asked from the beginning. With our first album, because there was some blurriness, we couldn't draw the lines between Christian and non-Christian. We wanted to make it obvious so we could answer people's questions and say, "Hey look, this is what we're about." When were singing "Under the Influence," we're not singing about being under the influence of drugs and sex or being under the influence of a relationship. We're talking about a relationship with God. That has been our main struggle. I don't think any of us has ever been afraid, because it's such a big part of who we are. To deny it would be really hard. I think the reason some of those songs, like "I Don't Care" and "Camouflage," came about is to encourage other kids. Hopefully, kids are going to listen to these songs and be able go to school and say, "Man, I'm not ashamed of this at all. It's awesome to be a Christian; and this is something I'm proud of."

Air 1: Plus One has had a lot of opportunities to appear in the mainstream media. In those situations how much freedom do you have to talk openly about God?

Jason: The nature of the group is the line that we balance. We're part of the Christian music industry, yet we want to have a hand and a voice in mainstream music. We're signed with a mainstream label. We've been put into opportunities that require us to do what we're there to do in the sense of the musicianship. That's where a title like Obvious is not only helpful, but it does the talking for us in situations where it may not be conducive for us to share our personal testimonies, preach the gospel and share scriptures. We're put in situations where we've got to be the light of the world with our lives. We've got to let our lives shine for Christ and let that be the difference. When you have a Christian music act on stage you should be able to tell the difference. It doesn't always have to be that you share your personal testimony. If your life is sold out to Christ, you're going to convict people when you're around them. That's all it takes when they see a difference in your life, and in the way you act, in your face and your smile. God can use those things to compel someone to say, "Hey man, what's different about you?" Those are opportunities for us to say, "Let me tell you what it is. This is the difference in us. This is why we're really here."

Air 1: How does the music of Plus One help people?

Nate: It gives people a confidence. I think one of the other main struggles is doubt. When you're growing up, especially in high school, you're trying to discover who are you outside of your family and what you've known all your life. We've all gone through phases of, "Why do we believe what we believe? Is it because this is what I was born into, or is it because this is really a part of my life?" I think our fans get to see our discovery of who we are in Christ. As a part of that discovery, they discover on their own. They can grab a hold of things that we say from the stage and things they hear on our album and say, "God is really there for me and God is real." It's reassuring people, because a lot of our fans are Christians. So to the Christian fans, it's a statement that God is real and someone you can have a relationship with. To non-Christian fans we're able to say it a little more simply and say the same thing, but sometimes less is more when someone is not a Christian. We have songs that fit both crowds.

Air 1: You have spent a lot of time on the road. You toured with Jaci Velasquez, with Jessica Simpson, and you have toured on your own. What are some of the highs and lows of life on the road?

Gabe: It's cool to meet many kinds of people and see all the different states. Not many people our age can say they have seen most of the country and some parts of the world. I would say the low is being away from home so many months out of the year. We live in Nashville now, and it's hard to keep relationships with friends and other people. We hardly get to see our families, either.

Nate: Another low is the physical wearing down of your body. Your voice can get really tired from singing every night. You have to keep giving and giving. On our spring tour, we had a pastor with us out on the road. That really helped keep us fed so we could keep giving. It encouraged us and lifted us up.

Air 1: There have been rumors of romance for a few of you. Is there any truth to those rumors?

Nate: Depends on which person. Not for Nate! No romance for Nate! I guess Jessica Simpson, and me if you want to count that. I'm just joking!

Gabe: No for Gabe.

Air 1: We have heard rumors about romance between the "J's." Jeremy and Jaci (Velasquez), Jason and Joy (Williams).

Jeremy: The Jeremy one, that was true. But we're just friends now. That was a while back.

Jason: Joy and I are pretty much best friends. She is probably one of the most amazing girls I have ever met in my life. She's incredible. We go to the same church and the pastor that disciples me, his wife disciples her. There's a lot of connection there between us, like watching each other grow in the Lord and stuff like that. It's a really fun thing. We have a really great relationship. But as of right now, there's a lot going on. There's a career ahead of me and a career ahead of her. Without belaboring it, we are not together. We are just developing our friendship.

Air 1: So, how do you guys get along with each other?

Nathan: We really get along pretty cool.

Jason: I was just thinking about that. In a relationship, it's easy to stay on the surface of things. You don't want to offend anybody. You don't want to cause a conflict. There's scripture in the Bible that talks about iron sharpening iron. In order for iron to sharpen iron, there has to be some rubbing, some sparks that are flying. I have been thinking about that scripture and what that means, and about what relationships built on honesty really look like. You go so much deeper in a relationship when you're really honest with one another and when you're upfront with who you are and you don't dance around trying not to offend anyone. I think that's where we're at, now. I want to go to a new level of honesty with the band, and a new level of accountability. I think all of our relationships have changed. It's been fun to watch and see everybody grow. Hopefully, that can be the next step for us in our relationship.

Air 1: You are kicking off a big tour at the end of February. Any surprises planned?

Jason: Yeah, one is we're going to have a live band. We are rehearsing with them now.

Nathan: We chose the musical director.

Jason: He's a really cool guy. He's Shania Twain's musical director. He's a Christian guy, and he knows a bunch of people. We're really excited about that because it adds so much more energy to the show. I think it's going to take our show to the next level as far as energy. It's going to be pretty intense. We have a bigger set. We're taking out more people out on the road this time. We're taking Phat Chance, ZOEgirl and Natalie Grant. It will be a bigger variety of music for everyone. I think it will be a really sweet show.

Jeremy: The set is really going to be cool, too. It's going to be huge. The guy who designed Madonna's "Drowned World" tour set designed it. It's has a video wall.

Air 1: It's been a whirlwind two years. Do you ever think, "This is all too much for me? I wish life could just go back to normal?"

Nathan: Sometimes we think about what it would be like to go back and do normal things, but we never actually wish it.

Nate: Sometimes it's really overwhelming, and the work is hard. But when you're on the outside you think, "What can I do to get myself into that world?" You have to remember the desire you had before you were in it. You have to realize those desires are paying off, that you really enjoy things more than you hate it. We really love it. We can't ask for more.

Jason: Here in Nashville, at the church where I go, we have a church specifically for university students. I watch these kids come in with their book bags. One thing I miss is the camaraderie between all the students. They really carry one another, and that aspect of it is really fun. We get that somewhat, but in a bigger setting. When I leave there, I thank God for what I do, because I couldn't imagine going back to school, and trading this in to do that. This is definitely a dream come true.