Not really. Our funniest artist opens up to some questions on music and faith.

1. What’s on tap for this year?

I’m busy demoing a bunch of songs I’ve written over the last few years. I’d say that I have between 20 and 25 bits demoed, of which maybe 10 I’m particularly excited about. I hope to keep on writing and waiting for more songs to show up and we’ll see what happens.

2. What was the biggest difference between your solo record and your work with Welmore Mile?

The first Welmore Mile disk was a pretty heavily produced, pop-rock album that I was proud of, but I don’t think it really sounded like what Jon and I really did. It sounded like we handed our songs over to our producer (who was awesome, I should add) and he made them his. The second disk was an acoustic EP of joke songs that I’m probably more fond of because it felt like us. The arrangements were simple and featured our harmonies and guitar work. When the opportunity came up to record the solo disk, I conscientiously modeled the sound off that “Good Times & Pumpkin Pie” EP.

Otherwise, the fun part of doing a solo disk, as ironic as this sounds, was the opportunity to invite so many talented friends to join me and play on the tracks. I’m really proud of how THE SILENT ERA just sounds like a bunch of dudes playing some tuneful songs on unplugged instruments, which is exactly what it was.

3. How does music fit into your life?

Over the last three years since Welmore Mile ended, I’ve had a lot more perspective on music’s role in my life. It’s become much more of a God thing, and something I use to explore and express my faith, rather than to entertain. Basically, it’s become a lot more personal to me as I play less and don’t have to worry about rushing out a new song for our next show. Nowdays, new songs just seem to happen to me – I fall into them. It’s like the Spirit just drops them in my lap or something. For that reason, I think the stuff I’ve written in the last two years spends a lot more time honoring God and probably a bit less time asking difficult questions, which was a theme of THE SILENT ERA.