kenya/favorite bands/ justanothertravel.com
its an interview day. a day where my publicists lines me up with one interview after another. my least favorite topic is music, seems like everyone has conspired together and asks me the same questions over and over. i love talking about india though, and once again when i went to india i knew that i had to bring others overseas with me. this winter i am going to be taking a group of band members to kenya, africa. this trip is going to be a bit longer, and the planning a bit more extensive because i want to take 30 guys/girls (from different bands) along with me.
you can help me assemble the team! please write all your favorite signed bands (i say signed bands because i want people completely concentrated on helping the people in the villages of kenya and not trying to further their own musical career) and ask them to please get ahold of me at modestyguild@gmail.com and i will put them in contact with the project coordinator.
secondly, the website JUSTANOTHERTRAVEL.COM , a travel tickets website, has agreed to give me a % of their profits to help fund the trip to africa. so if you are booking airline tickets, cruises, etc. try their website out.
well i am back to interviews. the last one i just did was incredible, we talked about india almost 1/2 the time. he said thanks for all the humanitarian work that i had been participating in lately. i said that i appreciated the compliment, but then that reminded me of watching part of the pre super bowl game interviews when they asked one of the coaches how he felt about being that this was the first time in superbowl history that 2 african americans have coached against each other in the superbowl, and it would be the first time a black coach has ever won the super bowl. the coach said that it was cool, but he cannot wait for the day when being an african american was a non-issue. people should just stop pointing out when a person of any race does anything extraordinary, because we should be counted as the same. the coach wanted to be known for winning the super bowl, not for being born a certain race. in the same way i can't wait till they stop applauding musicians for being concerned with the worlds well being. no applause for bono fighting aids, or chris martin working for free trade; because all musicians should get over themselves and work for the betterment of humanity. we all have a duty, whether we are students, lawyers, musicians, or doctors; i want to be known for inspiring all musicians to be equal in the fight against poverty, human trafficking, aids, etc. i don't want to stand alone in this industry anymore.
go help your own community! you can help africa! you can help the world!
-stephen
you can help me assemble the team! please write all your favorite signed bands (i say signed bands because i want people completely concentrated on helping the people in the villages of kenya and not trying to further their own musical career) and ask them to please get ahold of me at modestyguild@gmail.com and i will put them in contact with the project coordinator.
secondly, the website JUSTANOTHERTRAVEL.COM , a travel tickets website, has agreed to give me a % of their profits to help fund the trip to africa. so if you are booking airline tickets, cruises, etc. try their website out.
well i am back to interviews. the last one i just did was incredible, we talked about india almost 1/2 the time. he said thanks for all the humanitarian work that i had been participating in lately. i said that i appreciated the compliment, but then that reminded me of watching part of the pre super bowl game interviews when they asked one of the coaches how he felt about being that this was the first time in superbowl history that 2 african americans have coached against each other in the superbowl, and it would be the first time a black coach has ever won the super bowl. the coach said that it was cool, but he cannot wait for the day when being an african american was a non-issue. people should just stop pointing out when a person of any race does anything extraordinary, because we should be counted as the same. the coach wanted to be known for winning the super bowl, not for being born a certain race. in the same way i can't wait till they stop applauding musicians for being concerned with the worlds well being. no applause for bono fighting aids, or chris martin working for free trade; because all musicians should get over themselves and work for the betterment of humanity. we all have a duty, whether we are students, lawyers, musicians, or doctors; i want to be known for inspiring all musicians to be equal in the fight against poverty, human trafficking, aids, etc. i don't want to stand alone in this industry anymore.
go help your own community! you can help africa! you can help the world!
-stephen
Comments
I'm happy to know I'm not the only one who doesn't particularly care how much praise Bono is getting for whatever the heck he does.
At the same time i'd give respect to anyone doing humanitarian work, not just musicians. Actually I'm a little annoyed with the whole Bono thing, I mean sure he seems to be a really good guy, but everyone talks about how great he is, but all I can see is that he's a good musician with a lot of fame who is leveraging it to help others. The sad thing is that it's so uncommon that Bono stands out. I mean again he does great work, but I think it's just a commentary on how pathetic it is that other people have no desire to use their influence or money to help others, but would rather just get hammered at a bar and get their photos in the tabloid again.
So, enough about the humanitarian stuff, let's hear about the music! I bet you haven't talked about that enough recently!
if i ever get to interview you, i'll know what to ask!
love mich
wakemeupmusic
Thank you for helping the world. And encouraging other people on a higher 'level' to do the same.
Christopher
You're inspiring, Steven. The fact that you take the time out of your life to go to India and help those who really need it is incredible. And I think getting other bands involved is a great idea. Of course I'll try to help.
Also, I just wanted to say I love Adelaide. It reminds me of December 2005. I love it. Pretty much I love almost every song you guys have made. Other than the love song cover, to be honest. You did a good job on it, I'm just not a big fan of the song. I fell in love with your music when I first heard you at a Minnesota concert a little over two years ago. If I remember correctly, you weren't even supposed to be there, Letter Kills was. But I'm so glad they weren't. I'm always such a lyrics person and your lyrics always speak to me and I can relate each song to a different time in my life. I can't wait for Cities to come out. I think every one of my friends is annoyed with me for it because I won't stop talking about how excited I am for the release!
And I know you probably won't remember me, but I was at the Minneapolis Tooth and Nail Tour concert last year. I got out of school early to be downtown at noon so I could be first in line to see Anberlin. Which I was. It was amazing being in the front row. Actually (I know you wouldn't remember this) I got to talk to you afterwards and you signed my set list because you had noticed me singing along to every song you played (Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen being my favorite). The point of this is, I have the tickets to see you backstage before the show for the March 3rd Minneapolis show. And I'm hoping maybe you'll have read this by then and know who I am.
I'm grateful for everything you're doing--both in India and with your music.
i like that. stay humble, it's a good quality, hold on to that.
as far as the interviews go, i can only imagine how many times you are asked,"so stephen, was this song written about someone in particular?"
i vote next time you get asked that you tell them, "yes, i wrote it about my boyfriend actually."
i bet it'd leave them speechless.
A Smith's cover? I recall you mentioning something about needing a keyboard live for it, so I'm counting out This Charming Man...?
Take care Stephen
My missions base is sending a group to Kenya in a couple of months, then going to Rwanada, where I'm supposed to join them. I'm excited to tell their story.
Glad that you are grounded and trying to use your influence to help others to move in that direction.
The comment you made about the two Coaches in the Superbowl reminds me of the Speech by Tony Dungy head coach of the Colts.
http://www.wibc.com/wilson/dungy_speech.aspx
I think Dungy and Smith of the Bears, beyond being African American, are simply two of the best examples of positive role models you will find.
I hope everyone will take the time to read and appreciate what Coach Dungy says in this speech.
It helps to illustrate why bad things happen to good people.
Cheers
yes. its about time people stop applauding some one for doing humanitarian stuff - everyone SHOULD be doing it!!
ashleychicago
Thank you again, my friend.
-A :)
Im chris...and this is my very first comment, so it's all exciting for me and stuff! Obviously I cant get enough of Anberlin but recently I've been looking past your music and into who the members are, I think your trip to Calcutta sparked my interest. Reading your blog makes me want to just run outside and help as many people as I can...but it just feels so hard to do sometimes. I'm in my final year at school and I'm still not sure what I want to do when I get out but I don't want some job that doesn't help other people other than myself..I want to help people out, I want to make a difference but this years as confusing as it is! Anyway, that was my ramble that you probably didn't want to hear but in the end what I'd love to do is pretty much what you have done. Sort of change the world I guess.
Anyway, thanks for hearing me out...now I have a pound of homework to face, see you!
Sarah
On a side note, I'm listening to 'Cities' right now and it's wonderful. Great job!
As to this post; I respect your humanitarian tendencies and actions deeply, and I think that it's especially commendable that you aren't using your position to rail and scream and throw tantrums about American politics, but are instead concentrating on the specific issues that need to be dealt with.
And finally, I am shivery with excitement for tomorrow.
ps. I hope album launch was amazing.. I love the new album!!
All the song you've written have changed my life. Really.
I enjoy your posts a great deal. I am heading to Hungary/Romania/Ukraine in April to create a film to help get funding for some churches and aide shelters/homes in the surrounding areas. I would love to work with you sometime on one of your trips. I am passionate about helping people who don't have the same opportunities that a lot of us have in the states. Check out my blog if you ever get the chance.
www.daniel-bowen.blogspot.com
Praying for you buddy.
chris
btw. cities is ridiculously amazing
ps - gretchen and i owe you cookies
p.s. anchor and braille is an amazing side project, and cities is phenomenal.
I'm curious to find out if you do any humanitarian work stateside?
i want to share these words i got from Christianity 101:
God has deliberately called you out of the ordinary activities of life to a higher level of living. He doesn’t want you to worry about your short-term personal needs (because He will provide them). Instead, He wants you to structure your life in a way that makes Him your highest priority. When you arrange your priorities in that fashion, then everything else will fall into its proper place. Can you say that you have made God your top priority? Does your daily schedule confirm or deny it?
No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
you are an inspiration esteban. God bless u even more!
I always feel the need to ask x amount of music questions for fear of the bandmember thinking that I don't actually care about their music if I don't, though. I try not to ask the same old same old, but I have a tendency to ask quite a lot about music/lyrics since that's usually the main reason the band are there, and why I became a supporter in the first place. But of course when they do have other interests that they like to talk about, or there are things you connect with outside of music that makes for a nice detour, and makes a change in a rock mag too.
Two of my fave interviews, being into animal rights and vegan, were with vegan musicians specifically about animal rights - because it was something that both I and they were interested in, and I hoped it would inspire readers too.