8 May 2008
An Interview with David Spencer
by Jeff Bourque
On Sunday, May 11th at 6 p.m., we will have the Future Grace Celebration Concert to celebrate Future Grace and all that it means for our congregation. During the concert, you will have the opportunity to see David Spencer, Ben Shive, Wendy Wills, Laurianne Cates, Josh Wilson, and Paul Bogart perform some of their songs with a full band. The remainder of this post is an interview with David Spencer. Check this site later this week for interviews with the other artists.
A seasoned performer at the age of 25, David has shared the stage with Pat Green, Better Than Ezra, and Glen Phillips (of Toad and the Wet Sprocket) - just to name a few. Spencer’s list of performances continues to grow, with hundreds of clubs, concert halls, and colleges now under his belt. And when he’s not touring, he is writing for other artists and wearing his producer cap in his new studio, directing a symphony of sounds for other up and coming singer/songwriters.
When did you start coming to Grace, and how did you get connected with the church?
I started coming to Grace when I met a lovely young lady named Jane Lawrence (now my wife). I was living in Chapel Hill, NC but was recording a CD in Nashville. As soon as we started dating, I would come to Grace with her when I visited. That was the summer of 2004. After I moved to Nashville in the summer of 2005, we joined a community group, became members several months later, and then I got involved with Jeff Bourque and the worship team.
You recently released your second full length solo album, “Love Like a Symphony” (which is great, by the way, and produced by you and Ben Shive). What was it like putting that album together?
One word, refreshing! After being in a band for 6 years, it was very refreshing to collaborate with Ben and really talk and play through the arrangements and parts to the songs I had written. Ben is a great producer and collaborator. His ideas are so complimentary and fit right into any type of song you play him. He is amazing in that regard. It was wonderful to collaborate with great players in Nashville and talk through the artwork with Joel Anderson, another talent of Grace! Most of all, I think it was very refreshing to record at home where I could greet Ben at my door with milk and cookies…oh, and I didn’t really have to take a shower…but don’t tell anybody.
How has the “independent artist” life treated you? What is currently going on regarding traveling, touring, and life on the road? I know you bought quite a bit of studio gear to work on this past project (and your kids’ project has been a beneficiary). How do you plan to use your home studio?
It’s all glitz and glam. Touring around the east coast in a CR-V, U-Haul, Subway for lunch, and sleeping on carpeted floors…yes, carpeted! Seriously, I have loved being an independent artist. I have learned so many valuable lessons about working hard, being persistent, and striving to be a better songwriter everyday. I also closely heeded David Henry’s advice (a mentor of mine). He told me that you have to wear many hats in this business in order to do it full time. Eventually, one will pan out. I thank God everyday for where He has taken me in the past 3 years. From a band that struggled with serious illness and all kinds of “behind the music drama” to a solo artist, record producer, songwriter, and music teacher. I enjoy it all and continue to book shows and live my dream of performing and singing all over the country. I think that has been the greatest realization in recent years. The independent artist life is full time for me right now and that is already a dream come true. Of course I would like to sell more records, draw bigger crowds, and be invited to the Grammy Awards, but working full time to use the gifts God has given me is success in my eyes. I am so thankful.
You know what is amazing about God’s hand in my life? I bought that recording gear to produce my own records in the future and I thought that would be as far as it went. As soon as I released “Love Like A Symphony” and “Reveille,” the children’s CD, the phone started ringing to produce several records for artists and students in Nashville. I love wearing the producer cap, so as long as the opportunity presents itself, I’ll enjoy using this equipment for much more than just my own records. My wife and I just purchased a home with a one-car garage. We’ll be converting that into a home studio for future projects. Needless to say, I’m as giddy as a schoolboy.
What is your vision for using your music to impact culture?
Honestly, my goals include writing great music that people from all different walks of life can grasp and enjoy. Something I have noticed since I started playing 8 years ago is that people from age 7 to 70 are drawn to my music. Once I realized this, it has been my prayer that God would use my music to bring people together and they would know that my music comes from Him. Last night, I played a show in Asheville, NC. It was a blessing to greet people after the show. I spoke with a woman from Norway, a family from India, a group of kids who had been trekking through the woods for several months, and a police officer who asked if my rendition of Amazing Grace came from the heart. It is encouraging to know that a simple concert can really move and inspire folks for good from all walks of life. Thanks for the good questions Jeff, you are a gentleman and a scholar! Oh, and I need a booking agent…I just thought I’d throw that out there :).
Category: Invitations.
