With the gas prices at an all time high, college tuition sky rocketing, pollution, along with global warming, becoming a big issue, and the war in Iraq turning into the unpatched wound of our bleeding nation’s economy, that has sent thousands of young Americans to early graves, people have begun looking for an answer. They want to turn to a change, an improvement, a positive voice, away from the depression caused by Bush’s eight years in office. People want to hear a new note, an empowering tone, an uplifting voice; one which will reciprocate our attitudes and help make us become a proactive, forward thinking people.
You will find this voice resonating within Lunar Sway’s music. Lunar Sway became an official group when they released their first song, “Saint Mark’s Square,” on June 18, 2008. The members are: Drew Lawrence (vocals, keys), Clint Feddersen (bass), Preston Pope (guitars), and Barrett Yeretsian (drums).
Armenian Chronicles: How did you form the band?
Lunar Sway: BARRETT: At first, there was no plan for us to start a band together. I met Drew during a session for another artist who I was producing. He came to my studio to record piano on a few songs and we began chatting. It turned out that he was looking for a producer to produce his solo album and once I heard his material, we decided to work together. Our writing sessions were a success and we decided that we wanted to start a band, bringing in Preston and Clint on guitar and bass.
Clint has been a good friend of mine for almost a decade who I had played with in several of my previous projects. Preston and I were already working together mixing songs for artists who I was producing. Since day one, the chemistry has been incredible - I feel really privileged to have these guys in my band.
AC: How would you describe your style of music?
LS: BARRETT: We are a rock band that incorporates many different styles from alternative to classic to progressive rock. Our sound is heavy, uplifting, moody and different at the same time. Our live show is very energetic.
AC: What was the inspiration for the band and the music you produce?
LC: BARRETT: From the beginning we wanted this band to be different than any band we had been in. The band is all about hope, change and progress. We have a song about global warming and another song inspired by the Obama Campaign. Self-managed and selfproduced, we have chosen to forge our own path in the music industry. Our music also has progressive elements, always trying to push the envelope one step further.
AC: What is the single “America Spoke Up” about?
LS: DREW: The title “America Spoke Up” was inspired by the unprecedented turnout during the democratic primaries. Red states like Texas had over three million voters turn out on election day. Americans were rejecting the last eight years of Bush policies and Senator Obama was inspiring a new generation
with hope and a promise for change. His rallies were attended by tens of thousands of people speaking up and chanting “Yes we can.” “The crowds are swarming - it’s the sound of moving forward.” The “Broken Beacon” is a reference to our lack of moral ascendancy in the world- Guantanamo Bay, torture and pre-emptive war without solid intelligence. The “Damaged Sky” is the pollution that continues to build up in our skies because of the administration’s reluctance to invest in clean energy. We spend $10 billion a month in Iraq and our schools here at home are underfunded. Arts programs are being discontinued, classes are overcrowded and our test scores are lower than many other countries. Additionally, people are going bankrupt because they can’t afford their medical bills and they can’t get health insurance. People have had enough and they have spoken.
AC: How did you feel when Obama was elected? Did it make you see things in a new light?
LS: BARRETT: It was an amazing feeling to see what we hoped would come true actually become a reality. We were actually at my house (where we record/produce our songs) putting finishing touches on the mix for our newest song “Just an Illusion” and watching the election during breaks. I remember sitting on the couch in my living room with the guys watching Obama’s acceptance speech…we all had huge smiles on our faces.
LS: DREW: I’ve always been grateful to live in what I believe is the greatest country in the world and now more then ever, I feel proud, hopeful and patriotic. Barack imbues a calm wisdom that will help him to build consensus not only among the divided here at home, but all around the world. Finally we have a leader who listens, inspires, and understands the importance of empathy, humility and tolerance.
AC: What about the song “Saint Mark’s Square”?
LS: DREW: St. Marks Square is set in the future when the some of the world’s great cities have been flooded by the rising sea levels. A father is describing to his child the remarkable city deep below with it’s Gothic cathedrals and their gold ceilings. John Muir is referred to in the first verse as “twisting in his grave” He was the famed naturalist who protected places like Yosemite National Park. He would indeed be astounded that the year round glaciers in the park are nearly gone and the hillsides leading into the park have seen their vegetation choked by the pollution from the valley below.’ They just called for volunteers’ is a reference to this market based way of thinking. The argument is that some things are too urgent and too big to wait around for the free market.
AC: Why has Lunar Sway chosen to have such proactive messages?
LS: BARRETT: The message represents who we are as people and what we believe in. It is only natural that the message would come across in the music we create. Our music has many dimensions and the proactive message is one aspect of it.
Visit lunarsway.com for more information
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