Lift up your eyes discouraged one

Memphis are a big part of who I am, but it's still just a part

I think - actually, I know - that I am, without a doubt, the world's worst drummer.

When I was growing up and wanted to be a musician, the fantasy that I had of what the music industry was is so wrong.

Progressive metal is one of the hardest styles of music to pull off live, especially while providing a tasteful show.

I do remember seeing Audio Adrenaline and The Newsboys, basically Christian rock, because that was what I was allowed to see by my parents.

Lift up your eyes, discouraged one. When you feel like giving up, when they say it can't be done, it's up to you to show them why they're wrong.

We are so proud of 'Unconditional'. I couldn't have been more honest in these songs, and I can't wait to see the impact they have. This record is exactly what it's supposed to be.

I was pretty sheltered growing up. I just started getting into heavier music with the Tooth & Nail/Solid State era, which really kind of brought this whole thing to life for me, so I am really thankful for that label.

Unless you seek out help for your symptoms, you'll never really know that that's not how everyone feels. You go through life thinking that this is how you feel in certain situations and that I can ease the tensions by doing this or that.

I had gone through a really rough patch in my life, struggling with anxiety and depression for the first time ever, and it was totally new to me. I really had no idea what was going on, and it was all I could think about, so it was all I could write about.

The thing about those conditions [anxiety and depression] that sucks the worst is that you don't address the root cause, so you never see it coming. What's worse is when you don't even KNOW what the root cause is, you can never fix the problem. So that's what's really scary.

We as humans are so imperfect. We are always looking for something more and always going astray from Jesus. Whether you believe in him or not, but he is always there with open arms. God never abandons you. He is always waiting for you to come back and when you do, you won't be scolded - you will be embraced.

At the beginning, my folks were pretty upset with the whole thing at first, the music, the tattoos - but after observing the music scene I'm in now for a couple of years, they totally get it - they actually love it. They are so proud. My dad actually flew to Japan to see us play. My mom comes to the shows near home in Washington.

I will always encourage people to seek out the word of God, because I do believe that THAT is where truth really comes from. I believe that when things go wrong if you instead of looking at that as a negative, you choose to rejoice in all things. It's the hardest thing in the world but I think that that is what ultimately leads to happiness.

When you sleep your eyes move left and right and physical movement takes trauma and moves it from your frontal lobe to the back of your brain or to another part of the brain where you can store it that memory but when you think about those things that happened, you don't associate the feeling that normally comes with it. So the problem is if you have something traumatic happen and you are not getting a good amount of rest, it will stay in your frontal lobe.

Share This Page