Maritime Independent Christian Music Scene (MICMS, for short)
***This article was originally published in More Radio Magazine <www.moreradio.ca>***
When I was asked to write a little something about the Maritime independent Christian music scene, the first thought that came to mind was "How many adjectives is one noun allowed?" Needless to say, this is a very specific "scene". I doubt my qualification to write on the subject, since I'm by no means one of the directors but merely an actor upon the stage, yet I'll do my best to shed some light on the limelightless world which is the Maritime independent Christian music scene.
For starters, let's strip away one unnecessary word: independent. As far as I know (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), there are few Christian artists from the Maritimes signed in any capacity, and those that have been picked up are hooked to independent labels. So, sainara superfluous syllables!
Maritime Christian music scene
Who among us hasn't had an either internal or external debate on the term "Christian music"? You know, the one where you wonder whether or not music has a soul and can be saved? Well, that's not what this article's about, so for the time being, we'll stand by it. As for the sea-shanty-ish connotation of "Maritime", it might be a little misleading. There are definitely some artists holding down some East Coast flare (Stephanie Mainville, as a prime example ), but in general, the sound isn't very regional. Also, "scene" makes me feel like I should be sporting an afro and lapels straight from the 70s, like an extra from the original Shaft movie, so I'm gonna drop that too, Daddy-O. Though it may be a little semantic, I'm a sucker for clarity...
Christian music from the Maritimes
There! Now that that's out of the way, what can I say about Christian music from the Maritimes that would be either enlightening or interesting? To be enlightening or interesting is quite contrary to my nature, but I"ll give it a shot.
Though we inhabit a small area geographically speaking, said music varies greatly within our home provinces, from church worship teams that go the extra mile to metal bands and even the occasional rapper. I hesitate to mention many artists from the area, since I know I'll omit more than I include, but it's not as though this is an acceptance speech, so I'll take the risk. The band I'm in (The Silent ) has been kickin' around these shores in one capacity or another for 4 years now, and prior to that, I was with a worship team/family known as Present Reality, so I've been blessed to meet and play with many of my fellow Atlantics. The poster children for local Christian music has to be our very own The Lapointes (www.lapointes.com), who consistently do great live shows and do very well at the ECMAs. Prior to their recent split, Three Season Ant were a force to be reckoned with, touring heavily across North America and releasing 2 solid pop rock albums in the last few years. Folkish music is enjoying a revival of late, and Halifax native Thom Knowles is delivering some light but heavy material for fans of the genre to enjoy. Worship music seems to be the Maritime specialty these days, and bands like Life Support (www.lifesupportmusic.com) and Kelly Jay Band (kellyjay.ca) are helping to lead people from near and far to a closer relationship with their Saviour. Moncton based worship rockers Somers (www.jeffsomersband.com) are not only charting well across the country, but they also manage to lead a monthly worship service for young adults called The Spot (www.worshipperiod.com). In addition, they're quite charming fellows, but my relationship with them is such that my opinion may be slightly biased...it may be, but it's not.
I've also been very impressed lately with our contemporaries The Contact (www.myspace.com/thecontact). They've just released their second full-length titled Canvas Tears, and it is exactly what I needed to hear: a band without fear. It's an ambitious project that borrows from all their influences and never implies that we need dumbed down. I applaud them.
Out here, we have the highest unemployment rates in the country. We're the butt of various jokes. If someone says they like your jacket, you feel compelled to tell them that you got a "good deal" on it. Christian or not, sometimes people feel like they need to apologize for being from the East Coast, but that's rubbish. Good things come in small provinces.
For the longest time, Christian radio was a foreign concept around here. Now, there are several stations across the region trying to spread the noise to the furthest reaches. As always, though, a prophet isn't welcome in his hometown. Ok, that's a bit of a stretch. Most of Christian musicians from the Maritimes aren't really prophets, but the concept holds true: until you get outta here, they don't seem to want you here. I fall victim to it, as well. I'm much more likely to pay attention to a local band if I know that they've just returned from Toronto or New York. The trouble with this mentality is that it chokes a lot of musicians before they can bloom.
I don't wanna sound like an artsy communist or anything, because there's also a flipside theory prominent in the Maritimes which says that if we all hold hands and walk the sunny road together, we can create an atmosphere where everyone can make it. I simply do not think that's true. There's probably some middle ground between survival of the fittest and the greenhouse effect which I subconsciously subscribe to, but I've rambled enough.
All in all, if you've written off music from our area, then write it back on. And if you haven't taken the time to write at all, get your pen and paper ready.