The most obvious place to begin our interview is with the recent personnel changes. "I had to move from being the drummer to being the lead singer," Aaron shares. "It's a big jump, and it takes a toll, but when you jump in, you gotta sink or swim. You have to figure out how to stay afloat until it becomes natural. Performing has always been a pretty natural thing for me. I've been playing live shows for a long time so I made the adjustment pretty quickly. The guys have been right there to help and support me (bassist Ben Davis and new drummer Garrett Goodwin), but still it's been an adjustment for everybody."
"We hired a killer drummer," he continues. "He's only 19. He and I have a lot in common because I started playing professionally at a pretty young age also. It's another tale of God's grace, his provision and blessing. When He has a plan it doesn't matter what happens, His plan is going to continue. By The Tree still has a lot of ministry left. One of the things that fueled us and kept us going when we weren't sure how things were going to end up, or how people would take the changes, was finding that God's grace covers you. We realized then that By The Tree still has influence, it doesn't all have to stop because one guy left."
In talking about BTT's new CD, "World on Fire," (See Suite review here) I mention enjoying their cover of Delirous?' "Rain Down," and asked if they were an influence. Aaron answered that one with no hesitation, "Absolutely, we respect them, and they are a big influence because, like them, we lead so much worship. I've had a long relationship with their music, growing up with "Live and in the Can" and "Cutting Edge." All of these songs are so great, such quality music that influenced us so much growing up. Every writer wants to write like Martin Smith," he laughs.
Which leads me to ask about BTT's writing format, and who does most. "Probably me," Aaron answers, "although we do it all together. We were all in there writing on this record, and that was a change too, because Chuck (Dennie, former lead singer) was the primary songwriter. So taking over that was a big step for us and gave us a new direction as a band. I can't even begin to tell you all the good things that the Lord has done for us, how He has protected and covered us as a band. We're not all 18 years old, this isn't our first go-round. We're not a new band, but we're going at it with the intensity and the fire of a new band. It's the desperate fire of an unsigned band," Aaron laughs. When I mention that that can be a blessing, keeping things on the edge, Aaron wholeheartedly agrees, and goes out on a note of wisdom. "I agree," he says. "We would do well, industry-wide, to remember what it was like to be desperate, to keep us on that edge, reaching out for grace."
If By The Tree can hold on to that attitude, they really will set the "World on Fire."
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