Transparent Christian Magazine

Last spring I went to the CIA Summit in Franklin, Tennessee.  It was held at “Building 8″ in “The Factory”. In this instance CIA stands for Christian Independent Alliance, and the Summit is the annual meeting of some of the best Independent Christian music minds!  There are classes for learning how to improve your writing and performing skills, speakers that discuss how to manage your own music career, concerts, award ceremonies, and cd release parties.  The attendees range from groupies, photographers, promoters, studio owners, bookers, event planners, cd producing companies, merchandisers  musicians, web site designers, hack magazine editors (wink wink), pastors and entire families.

On Friday night the Summit presents a concert to the public with many of the bands that are up for awards. After I had my face rocked off by Mile7 and Bread of Stone I went to the “acoustic room” for some stripped down, acoustic roots music.  The band Crutch Field was playing and the room was full.

From their bio:

John & Kerri Crutchfield along with Erin Maynor share the lead vocal role, and blend soulful harmony throughout each song.

Christian Acker’s laid back blues-funk acoustic sound drives the music. The result is a very subtle contemporary music style with messages of praise to God ringing clear on every song.

They played a song that they had written the day before with a chorus so instantly recognizable that everyone was singing along. Imagine a room full of excellent vocalists and song writers praising God in beautiful harmony. It was as if Jesus said “here, have this song to share this weekend!” It was a moment that I wanted to bottle and take with me, just to open later when I needed something wonderful to experience again!

This week, I had a chance to catch up with Crutch Field and talk to them about their music, ministry and recent move to Nashville.

Transparent: A lot has changed since I met you at the Summit in 2008. Tell me what prompted your move to Nashville and how that transition has been?
J.Crutchfield: We were in ministry in North Carolina at a large local church, however we had a sense there was something more for the Crutchfield’s and Crutch Field. So we started praying and surrendered our will and within a few months God changed our direction at our local church and then sent a man with a to write us a check for our house. We sold just about everything we owned, and on Sept 2nd we headed for Nashville.

The transition has been great. Not that we haven’t said “what have we done to ourselves” when the moments of loneliness come up. The people in Nashville are great people and have made us feel more than welcome. We have learned the phrase “out of site out of mind” in a more real way these day being that all that we have ever known is North Carolina. I will say that God has been so faithful, compassionate, merciful and full of grace in every aspect of this move and transition.

Transparent: You have a new album! Tell me about your writing and recording process for this project.
J.Crutchfield: Well we are not finished yet but we are finished with our EP that will be out within the month. The recording so far has been amazing. We have had the privilege of working with amazing musicians and “industry people”. It’s been quite a joy so far, and we have learned quite a bit since September.

Transparent: I noticed you have gigs lined up in Georgia and North Carolina (which was your home state right?). How are you finding places to play right now? Do you have a home church in Tennessee?
J.Crutchfield: We are booking right now for ourselves and would love any help that we can get. With the economy the way it is it is hard for churches and events and many are stretched financially. But to answer the question, we send e-mails, make phone calls and build relationships mainly. We have not found a home church yet but we have been to a different church nearly every week, waiting on the Ok from the God to jump in.

We have found Fellowship Bible in Franklin very cool and Grace church in Cool Springs are probably our top picks as of right now. Both are great churches serving the community and Christ.

Transparent: I absolutely love your sound. I grew up listening to folk/bluegrass and ‘Americana’ music. Your sound incorporates these genres. John talks about Praise and Worship Bluegrass Style! How has this sound developed over time?
J.Crutchfield: It all started back in the day of sowing wild oats going to what I call hippy shows or New Grass with players such as Sam Bush Bela Fleck, and Acoustic Syndicate. But mainly it was a lot of rock and roll played with Bluegrass instruments. The first album was a bit more on the bluegrass/country side of things with some folk added to it… Good stuff but things are changing. The new project is a rocking CCM Pop Worship Produced by Carl Cartee and played all with acoustic instruments like those heard on a Bluegrass record. We are so excited about this project. We have co written with Carl Cartee on several of the songs and we are covering a tune “From The Inside Out” by Hillsong. We want this album to be about worship in every aspect.

Transparent: How is God blowing your mind lately?
J.Crutchfield: Matthew: 10 has changed my way of thinking and what we are here on this earth for. The Kingdom of Heaven is Near. I like to ask “how are we saying it AND showing it”. The Kingdom is everywhere you look so what are the Crutchfield’s doing? Life is so much more than just living for ourselves and living the American Dream, (it’s not in Scripture that I can find.) So how am I touching the untouchable, healing the sick, feeding the poor. I could go on and on…

The other way my mind is being blown is watching my family just become a family for once. We apparently had to get away from everyone we knew and learn to depend on each other. My Wife Kerri and 2 girls Georgia 5 and Lilly 17 months, they rock and I am so thankful for them.

Transparent: I can only imagine that you have a very musical home. Have your children showed an interest in music?
J.Crutchfield: Oh Yes I think Georgia came out of the womb singing, she already makes up her own tunes and shows her creative artistic way by doing things musically. Lilly, well she loves music and plucking the strings on my guitar and Mandolin just like Georgia.

Transparent: Does the entire band live in Tennessee now? Has being in Music City changed the way you view your music/ministry?
J.Crutchfield: The band is still a bit spread out. Erin and Christian are in North Carolina but we all meet up at the event ready to lead. Hopefully they will move soon, but I see it being another year at least for them… Or really until God says “go”.

Yes my view has changed a bit, not really on the ministry side of things God can only change that, but musically I am challenged to improve like never before. There are a lot of people doing what we are doing so being on top of our game is crucial and we also want to bring our best before the Lord and before the churches we lead. I have learned that there is a lot to do being full time in Ministry and music, I cant stress that enough, but one great thing about being in “Music City”, all the help you need is here.

Transparent: What are some of the biggest challenges you face with your ministry? How do you manage those challenges?
J.Crutchfield: Learning the industry and how it works and functions! It’s a lot different coming from the church setting to the wide world of music and incorporating Ministry into it. I seek wisdom from a few different people in the Industry that I trust and then we seek the Lord. Without “wisdom and understanding” working in unison, you can make mistakes… Fast… That will cost you down the road.

Transparent: Talk to me about a particular gig/show that was memorable and why.
J.Crutchfield: The Summit was a great highlight for Crutch Field. Just being able to be around people in the Industry, and getting true feedback on how to improve was great. But after the weekend the band that played with us quit. In retrospect, that was a good thing because God has given us incredibly talented Nashville musicians that play with Crutch Field.

The greatest night of Worship Crutch Field has been a part of was recently at Covenant Bible Church, A place just to be free in your worship to God, no limits… That’s what I like. We played for 2 hours and with the musicians that are behind Crutch Field it flowed as I have never seen before.

Transparent: What should we expect from Crutch Field this year? How can people keep up with you?
J.Crutchfield: The EP will be out by the end of the month and a new album will be released late spring early summer. Expect us to live by Matthew 10 wherever we go! People can follow us on our website at www.Crutchfieldband.com, be our friend and fan on Facebook.com and you can sign up to receive our newsletters on our website.

We are also on Indieheaven.com, iTunes, CdBaby or you can buy direct from the website.

Transparent: Do you have anything else to declare?
J.Crutchfield: I guess my declaration would be this…serve. Serve in your church, serve your community, serve your family, serve others. Be what Christ intended for His people, His bride to be. We are praying for a great revival in this nation and we believe that it will begin with serving and loving others. Thanks so much for the opportunity to share.