10 Things about the band “We The Kingdom”
How did you get your start as a band?
Four of us came from our family and one is a close friend. Before we started We The Kingdom, we were all pursuing our own music careers. Of course, we grew up playing music around the house growing up, but there was never any intention to start a band with each other. It’s been a tradition of ours for the past several years to go play music for a YoungLife Camp in Georgia for a bunch of kids from Miami, FL. We would go down there together just for fun because it’s been something that has fired us up and inspired us. About 3 years ago at this camp, we found ourselves writing a song by the camp hot tub just for fun. We accidentally ended up writing this song called ‘Dancing On The Waves’ and we all fell in love with it. It felt so magical when we wrote it that we ran around the hot tub shouting! It resonated with each one of us in our individual journeys and our journey as a family (and close friend). After that, we joked about starting a band and taking this song out on the road. And now, here we are and it just keeps getting better.
What was your inspiration behind your upcoming release of “Don’t Tread On Me?”
One night last year, after a long day in the studio, we headed upstairs to our family piano and started jamming in a minor, moody key. We started talking about how cool it would be to write a song that was a declaration of truth in the face of fear. This song ties in with Luke 10:18, which reminds us that the power of the devil was rendered powerless by the cross of Jesus Christ.
You are known to be incredible performers, how do you all shape such an emotional experience for attendees, and what is your favorite song to perform?
Thank you! Our performance on stage has become a reflection of our personal time worshipping God. We try to sing and dance from that freedom, not for the approval of man but because we know we are deeply loved by God. ‘Dancing On The Waves’ is the first song that we all wrote together as a band and it has become an anthem for each of our personal lives. That is probably our favorite song to sing together, but we love them all!
How would you describe your sound in three words?
Someone wrote this for our Spotify bio and we like it: “An amalgamation of four different decades, We The Kingdom’s music embraces worship, rock, country, folk and pop, providing a textured sonic background for vulnerable, gritty lyrics.” So, I guess I’d say our 3 words would be: vulnerable, gritty and worshipful.
Who is your dream collaboration?
Kanye West!
What message do you want people to gain from your music?
We hope to create music and live lives that are honest. We want everyone to know that they are not alone in the struggles they face and give them anthems to sing through the ups and downs. There is something so healing about knowing that we are all on a journey together and we hope our music allows people to join arms and truly love others and themselves.
Do you have any influences from other genres in your music? If so, what are they?
Ed – Stevie Wonder/James Taylor
Scott – Jimmy Eat World/Coldplay
Andrew – Shane and Shane/Ed Sheeran
Franni – John Mayer/United Pursuit
Martin – Imagine Dragons/Fleetwood Mac
How has your songwriting process progressed since the start of the band?
All of us are pretty particular and picky. If something can slide past all of us, that’s our litmus test, that it’s probably a pretty good idea. It can be tricky finding something we all love, but it also is very refining and helps us find the gold.
How do you feel your faith plays a part in your creative process?
We all love Jesus a lot. He saved us from a dark, sad life and we wouldn’t want to do anything without Him. One time, when I was doing missions in the Himalayan mountains, I was playing some worship music and praying in the street and two girls ran up to me and said “I feel peace and love for the first time!” They felt God’s presence, which changes everything. I decided then that I didn’t want to make music without God, because after all, He is the source and Creator of all music.
What can fans look forward to on the horizon from you all?
We are in the studio right now working on new music and will be releasing out new record in late Summer 2020.
Photos: Robbie Klein