Good. Thanks for asking. We’re currently on the last run of the Hungry For Love Tour with Leeland and The Afters. It’s been great!
It’s been a mixture of hi’s and lows. We released our new album, Pieces of a Real Heart, this year. Everything surrounding that has been very positive and very exciting. The songs have been received well, which we’re extremely grateful for. Matt, Chris, and Pete all had babies too, so home life is even more exciting and crazy than ever.
However, Matt’s baby was born with a heart condition called, “Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).” Basically, the left side of his heart has not developed properly. They had to perform open-heart surgery three days after he was born. They will do two more surgeries by the time he’s two years old. The months leading up to Bowen’s arrival were obviously hard for the Hammitts, and they were hard for the band as well. We didn’t know what to prepare for; if Matt would be able to tour or if we could continue being a band. There was a lot uncertainty.
The good news of all this is that the first surgery went very well and after nearly 3 months of recovery, Matt and his wife, Sarah, were finally able to bring their son home. They’ve kept a blog about all this at www.bowensheart.com.
As for the band, we’ve had to be very conservative with our schedule to ensure Matt can be with his family, but things are starting to pick back up from the difficulties of the recession, so that’s good. God provides.
If people don't know what you and your music are about, how would you describe yourself?
We’re a pop rock band comprised of Christians, and we write songs about life from our Christian perspective.
Mark was searching for a word in the dictionary and he came across “Sanctus.” He saw it was a hymn of praise sang at the end of the Eucharistic liturgy. We’re not Catholic, but we liked the idea of making music that was a hymn of praise to God. “Real” sums up in one word that we’re ordinary people; just believers trying to follow God.
I grew up going to church. I gave my life to God at a young age. However, it was the beginning of High School that I made the biggest conscious decision to seek God with my whole heart…not that I didn’t want to before, but adolescence brought about a slightly deeper awareness of what following God means. This was after a mission trip to Mexico, and it was the first time I felt called to action for my faith.
The band has been around for well over a decade and have released 5 studio albums. Which would you say was the most successful album? And how would you define success?
I think we’d all agree that our current album, Pieces of a Real Heart, is our most successful in every aspect. It’s currently on track to sell more copies than our previous albums, which is good because then our record label will let us make another one (I kid. I kid) More than that, it means there is a deeper connection with our audience, the church, on PoaRH than previous albums. We absolutely love making music and being a band…we all grew up listening to our dad’s record players…but what keeps us going when the challenges strike, which they do often, is the fact that we feel called to it. We’re away from our loved ones far too much, and we don’t make nearly enough money to do it for any other reason. So to release an album and have people connect with songs like, “Lead Me” and “Forgiven” as they have is confirmation that God is still calling us to it. One day he’ll tell us the time has come to wrap it up, and we’ll all be very sad, but to attempt anything other than God’s calling only leads to living as a fruitless tree.
What's your favourite track over the numerous albums? Which do you most enjoy playing live?
My favorite track is probably “Eternal” on We Need Each Other. I always think back to the feeling of worship that came over us when Chris first started messing with the guitar part.
My favorite to play live is probably “Dear Heart.” I get to play my Hofner bass like Sir Paul McCartney, and sometimes we have a friend come on stage dressed as a reindeer. He holds a giant heart balloon and dances around during the song.
“Dear Heart”…Deer Heart? Get it? Anyone? No? *crickets chirp* ok…
Our beliefs are fairly straightforward in the messages of our songs. Love God. Love your families. Serve them. Doing anything else before this is missing the point.
Back to your roots, how did you first come to music?
We all fell in love with music at an early age, growing up listening to our dad’s stereos. Some of our parents played instruments. I think just being around it so much inspired us to try making some ouselves.
Where does the band find influences?
We listen to a lot of music of all genres, so musical influence comes from all over the place. Also conversations. “Forgiven” came from a conversation within the band and “Lead Me” came from a conversation Matt had with his wife. We like to read books too. Matt reads a lot and often times lyrical ideas stem from things he’s been reading and thinking about.
Who would you love to perform with, past or present?
Keith Green, Tom Petty, House of Heroes, Conan O Brien.
What artists have you most loved sharing a stage with?
There are many, but Leeland and Tenth Avenue North have both become wonderful friends.
What are you currently listening to on your mp3 player?
As I type, I’m listening to a band called, The Middle East. A friend turned me onto them, and it’s great. Otherwise, I’ve been listening to Mumford & Sons, Band of Horses, Brandon Flowers…stuff like that…and Tom Petty is never too far away.
Lady Gaga? Smashmouth?
God's Earth is a huge place, as you've toured internationally, taking you to all corners of the globe, where have you most enjoyed visiting, what cultures have you embraced?
We’ve thoroughly enjoyed every trip we get to take overseas. We don’t get to do it enough. We played with Delirious at Alton Towers in Staffordshire a couple years ago and that was a huge deal for us. We all LOVE Delirious! Pete and I stayed several days longer and visited Manchester and London and stopped for a day in Dublin.
In Manchester, one of the places we passed through was Piccadilly Square. It was a beautiful day and people were out having a great time. It was picturesque. Two days later Manchester held the UEFA Cup Final between Scotland and Russia. A Jumbotron video screen in Piccadilly Square malfunctioned and the crowd rioted. We saw a huge photo in the paper of the aftermath from exactly where we were. It was a different kind of picturesque…it looked like an earthquake destroyed the city…
Best venue you've played?
I’ll say Disneyworld. The stage started underground and rose up to where the audience was. We were giddy as school kids while the stage rose from the ground.
What do you miss the most when you're on the road touring?
Since I’m the only unmarried member of the band, I’ll be the only one who doesn’t answer, “family.” So umm…sleeping in my bed, cooking my own food, riding my motorcycle, and playing with my great danes.
How has the Christian music scene changed over the decade or so that you've been part of it?
It’s starting to become more singular. “Christian” has been the only genre of music categorized by lyrical content rather than musical style. Ten years ago, listening to “secular” music was taboo in American churches, so there were Christian alternatives to every genre. Today there are many Christian bands whose primary audience is in the mainstream. Skillet and Switchfoot are great examples of this. These occurrences have blurred the definition between “secular” and “Christian” music, and so Christian music is coming more and more to be what was once considered strictly “worship music.”
Tea or coffee?
Coffee (I roast my own...)
Summer or winter?
Right now it’s getting close to Christmas, sooo…Winter
Superman or Batman?
Batman
Mac or PC?
Mac
Bread or Wine?
You need both for communion
Favourite passage from the Bible?
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” - 2 Corinthians 8:12
God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He only asks that we be willing. He uses us for what we CAN do, not what we can’t.
What's coming up in 2011 and next on the agenda for Sanctus Real?
Once we’re done on this tour, we’ll play spot dates until next spring. Oh, and we’re playing on a cruise ship in February that goes to the Bahamas. That’ll be a good month to go to the nice warm Gulf of Mexico.
As it is fast approaching…how will you be celebrating Christmas?
With our families, and since I’m always dreaming of a White Christmas, with any luck, I’ll be shoveling some snow from the driveway…just some, I don’t want to shovel much…
And finally, how would you describe the love of God for all those people who perhaps get embarrassed about being a Christian, those who are unsure of their direction and of course those already on their journey with Christ?
If someone is embarrassed about being a Christian, I might question whether or not they actually are one. I don’t say this in a judgmental way. What I mean is that to be a “little Christ” is to live as Jesus did. He was far too aware of himself and sure of his purpose to be embarrassed about it. I would encourage anyone who wrestles with embarrassment to ask God to make himself so real in your life, being embarrassed isn’t possible.
If you’re unsure of your direction, I encourage you to dig down and find the root of this uncertainty. If you have questions about faith and God, don’t be afraid to vocalize them. There isn’t a question you can ask that God isn’t bigger than the answer. We’re generally more frightened of these questions than He is.
Those who are already on their journey…Good deal, brother/sister. Let’s be praying for each other!
Thanks Dan!
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