Since debuting more than a decade ago, Andrew Peterson has steadily become one of the most treasured faith-based singer/songwriters, earning critical comparisons to James Taylor, Marc Cohn, Rich Mullins, and Derek Webb. His ties with Webb date back to the beginning of his career in the late-1990s when he was invited to join Caedmon’s Call on tour (alongside another artist who was relatively unknown at the time, Bebo Norman). Between then and now, Peterson has switched between indie and major label life twice, continuously churning out thought-provoking material for both believers and those outside the church walls. Peterson is now gearing up for the release of a brand new batch of introspective expressions on his new album, Resurrection Letters, Vol. II (Centricity). Here are some highlights from a phone conversation with the celebrated troubadour from his Nashville home:
COLLIDE: How did those early shows supporting Caedmon’s Call help cement your fan base long before scoring a record deal?
Peterson: It felt like a fairly tale! I remember I couldn’t make my rent here in Nashville but I met [the group’s co-singer/songwriter] Derek Webb online. He read my lyrics and liked them, so I asked, “Can I open for you?” and he said, “Yes.” The first show I did was at Union University in Jackson, TN, and I brought a box of about 60 CDs. But Caedmon’s Call had an amazing following—especially back then as this idea of a cool, college-y Christian band was just starting—and I sold out of those CDs in about 10 minutes! So I quickly went from not being able to pay rent to a tour bus, playing shows in front of 500-2,000 people with people lined up outside. After I got off that tour, I never had to fight to find a show and was basically handed shows on a silver platter!
COLLIDE: What led you to your first record deal?
Peterson: [Caedmon’s Call co-singer/songwriter] Cliff Young was putting together Watershed Records, and he had Bebo Norman and me as the first signees on the label. Here we were two singer/songwriter acoustic guys under this big label umbrella (Provident, which housed Caedmon’s Call and Jars of Clay back then), but lo and behold, we both had radio success. Even though I don’t think we really expected that to happen, we enjoyed it immensely.
COLLIDE: Your vulnerable approach to songwriting never really seemed to fit the typical Christian artist description. How closely do you feel connected with that scene?
Peterson: I never listened to contemporary Christian music [growing up] as a preacher’s kid who was a little rebellious. I was kind of a scoundrel as a kid and was way more into Slaughter, Metallica, and Tesla, which made me kind of ignorant about old school CCM because I never found it terribly appealing. But there was one guy I really related to and that was Rich Mullins, who I always thought of as this smelly, barefoot, rebellious troubadour. When I thought of CCM, it always sounded so slick, but that just didn’t stick to me or my loneliness or the darkness in my life. I’ve always wanted to make art that makes people feel less alone and make music to get to the places that sometimes sermons don’t get to. I don’t have a [slick] voice, I’m not a virtuoso guitar player, and I like to tell stories—that kind of music is never terribly popular on a label.
COLLIDE: After you left Watershed, you were an indie artist again for awhile, so what led you to sign with Centricity for your new CD?
Peterson: When I sat down with Centricity, they were [so supportive] and asked, “What do you see yourself doing as a singer/songwriter in 10 years?” I thought about it and told them how James Taylor was such a great example of a guy with plenty of problems, but from a career standpoint, he’ll always be playing music until he literally can’t any longer. He has a great band and will be writing songs that are just as valid now as they will be 20 years down the line.
COLLIDE: What is your view of songwriting in relation to spirituality?
Peterson: I view songwriting as an act of faith where God gives me this gift of being able to commune with Him in an act of creation, and I find deep satisfaction in making things and speaking light into the world. It’s just like when you’re gardening and you trust the groundwork you laid will grow into something beautiful. Most of the time in the music business, you’re thinking about number one hits or sales, but we’re all called to a higher and more beautiful place. I hope to plant trees [with my songs] and hope they will grow into something more lasting and beautiful than just a hit song.
COLLIDE: What do you hope to specifically communicate with Resurrection Letters, Vol. II?
Peterson: It’s one more batch that’s my best attempt of putting in artistic form what I see when I look at the world. It revolves around the idea that when you look at the world, you see hints of resurrection in so many different areas of life. Once Vol. 1 is written, which will be about more specific revelations of Christ, the two together might look like one big concept album that musically intertwine.
COLLIDE: Do you think releasing a second volume before a first will cause any confusion or was it meant to be tongue in cheek?
Peterson: Yeah, but I was hoping that confusion will translate to excitement or buzz. At first I thought, “Oh, that’s ridiculous,” but the band really liked the idea [of releasing] the second volume first, and we thought it was hilarious because we’re all big dorks!
COLLIDE: Outside of getting to the first volume, what’s next in your artistic pursuits?
Peterson: I’m planning on really raising the bar on my concerts, but on the other side of nerd heaven, I’m also writing fantasy novels. My first one (On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness) already came out and the second one is on the way, and I’m hoping the second will [cease] the fears of readers that thought I was just playing around at writing a book with the first round! I also unveiled the website Rabbit Room (www.rabbitroom.com) last year, which is a writers’ collective split between a couple of pastors, singer/songwriters, and novelists who contribute music reviews and faith-oriented articles. It’s also a store where you can buy my records [and those of friends], plus used books by authors we think are all worth reading. It’s all kind of tied together and is meant to draw attention to many of the ways God speaks.
Andy Argyrakis is a Chicago-based entertainment writer/photographer who appears in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Entertainer, Daily Journal, Concert Livewire, Hear/Say Magazine, and Image Chicago (to name few). His photo credits also include Fuse TV, Live Nation, Nikon, Pollstar, Celebrity Access, Paste Magazine, MTV.com and Vibe.com.