Suite: Lonnie, our Suite review of "Control" referenced a few ‘80s heroes in covering your sound, both Bowie and Lou Reed. Well, maybe an anti-hero, lol. Who would you say were your main musical influences in developing your musical style?
Lonnie: I think Logan (Schelvan, guitarist) sounds more like Bowie than me. Logan sings lead on “Missing” and “Miles of Mystery.” I have written songs where I sound like Bowie, but not on this album. He sings with a great full chesty voice that I like. It reminds me of songs I like by The Outfield, Aha and DePeche Mode. Other big influences would be John Elefante, Green Day, Kevin Max, Bryan Duncan, and yes of course- U2.
Suite: I wouldn’t think of your home state, Montana, as producing modern rockers. How did your musical path begin?
Lonnie: My dad used to sing with the radio. My parents were both music fans, not music critics. They loved the music without any pretension about it, and I caught it. My parents listened to Elvis, Charlie Rich, The Beatles, and most of the 60’s popular stuff, so that was what I listened to in the cradle. But I would never have imagined performing in a band.
Here’s how far it was from my mind: As a senior in high school, we lip synched some rock tunes for our senior talent show. The reason we lip synched them is because I wouldn’t have dreamed of actually playing them. I didn’t start playing keys until my senior year, and that was mostly in my closet. I was a basketball fanatic, and actually played on a tour team to Scandinavia and Russia, didn’t think band was part of my future.
Interestingly, Montana seems to be producing some people lately and in the past. Huey Lewis lives here, and Pivitplex, good friends of ours, who we opened for last spring, are doing well.
Suite: I love the topics covered by your songs: brokenness, pride, married love. Do you make those choices deliberately, or are you writing from your personal experiences?
Lonnie: I didn’t approach the album with any specific theme. First albums are famous for bringing years of material to one album, and that was the case with “Control”. Brokenness and pride are regular parts of my walk with God, and seem to raise their head in almost all of the songs. I almost need to be intentional to NOT have them show up. They even show up in the ballad to my wife, “My Love.”
I think the big idea I saw develop unintentionally really started with our name “Tracing Days”. Ephesians talks about the fact that God has prepared works beforehand, that we should walk in them. It’s the idea of Divine Destiny. I call it super destiny. Some people’s idea of destiny is more related to some random or vague events, but God sees no accidents, being outside of time.
Suite: What is your personal favorite track on the album and why?
Lonnie: I love the guitar on “Life Outside,” and given that we almost didn’t get that one finished in time, it holds a special place for me. I personally like performing “Inside of Me” a lot. The lyrics are pretty personal, and the guitar on the bridge completely rocks my brain. I still will rewind and replay that section over and over. “Monochrome” is a really fun punkish feeling piece, kind of sassy feeling, but we’ve got to be hitting it well in concert to feel like it’s working as well as it does on the album.
Suite: Any favorite New Year’s traditions we should know about?
Lonnie: My tradition is to never call any decision a “resolution”, because I find myself weak to follow up on them. Instead, I try to quietly evaluate my previous year, and ask God to show me where He’d like me to make corrections on the way.
For more Tracing Days info, visit their website.
