Interview with Jessii Sweet, Chris Sweet, Nicole Sweet, Justin Dery and Danielle Sweet of Pointe Blank
June 29, 2008
Rocking Romans: Congratulations on winning the 2007 Rocking Romans Entry for World Youth Day 2008 Music Competition! Tell us a little bit about Pointe Blank. Where are you guys from?
Jessii Sweet: We were all born and raised in Attleboro, Massachusetts, except for Justin our bass player, who is from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. However, nobody has ever heard of Attleboro, and the closest major city - Providence, Rhode Island - is only five miles away.
RR: What originally drove you to creating music in the Catholic genre?
Chris Sweet: As Catholics, our music organically grew in that direction, and we just started playing music that was relevant to us.
RR: What have you got planned for next year?
Nicole Sweet: Finishing our second album by February is our top priority. We hope to set up a larger tour this summer, God willing.
RR: Have you picked out a name for your second album yet?
Nicole: Well we are actually still working it out. Keep us in your prayers as we discern.
RR: How far away from home will your summer tour go?
Nicole: Hopefully to Australia!
RR: Australia would be fun. What’s the farthest from home you’ve played?
Chris: Well one time we sang karaoke in Florida. It was “I’ve Got You, Babe” by Sonny and Cher.
RR: What are some of your musical inspirations, Catholic or otherwise?
Chris: I like Switchfoot, because he presents a lyrical honesty not normally found in the Christian genre. Musically, my influences include the Cure, the Strokes, the Killers, Muse and the Smiths.
Justin Dery: Some of mine are U2, the Who, the Beatles and Eric Clapton.
Nicole: Kelly Clarkson has an amazing voice! My original Christian influences were Point of Grace, Avalon and Newsboys. From the old days, it’s Whitney Houston and Pat Benatar.
Danielle Sweet: My influences range from Superchic[k] to the Beatles and from Etta James to everything in between. I’m all over the place!
Jessii: Mine are Newsboys, Third Day, Hawk Nelson, Relient K, Hanson and Postal Service.
RR: What do you think really makes Catholic music different from other contemporary Christian music?
Chris: It seems that Catholic music hasn’t really come into its own yet. However, insofar as there is truth to be found within Catholic life and belief, this will set it apart from other Christian movements within music.
RR: So what do you do in your free time?
Jessii: We all like water sports - crazy flips off the tub are always fun.
Chris: I’m a philosophy junkie - right now my favorite philosopher is Martin Buber - and a music critic.
Danielle: I like painting and playing with Hannah, my cat who wants to be a dog. She barks and rolls over!
Nicole: I don’t have free time. I do laundry and practice vocal to Kelly Clarkson. I love her voice!
Justin: I play Guitar Hero. I’m a music major and play different instruments, but I can barely play one note on it! I also watch House with Danielle.
RR: How much longer until we see a Pointe Blank song on Guitar Hero?
Chris: Guitar Hero 12 - but I have to learn how to play guitar first!
Jessii: We are just looking forward to what God has planned for us next.
RR: Pointe Blank, thanks for your time and congratulations. God bless!
What’s in a Lyric? It Doesn’t Have to be ‘Christian Music’ to be Christian Music
June 8, 2008
West Texas Angelus (www.talleypress.com/angelus)
SAN ANGELO, Texas (West Texas Angelus) - Greg Witt, a talented local guitarist in Midland, Texas, and a fellow Catholic, and I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago about music. I asked him if a tune like “Eruption” or “You Really Got Me,” both by Van Halen, were “glorifying to God.” While Greg admitted that some songs are certainly not in keeping with a higher power’s intent on music being a gift based on questionable lyrical content, plenty of “non-Christian, secular” music is pleasing to God.
It doesn’t have to be “Christian” music for God to give it the thumbs up. Musicians are gifted with an ability to bring other people enjoyment through use of a talent that most people don’t possess. Greg, in fact, said it may even be more of a challenge to be an artist who is a Christian rather than a Christian artist. Christian musicians are, in effect, often preaching to the choir, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Artists who possess a Christian faith and who play mainstream secular rock for instance, have an opportunity to gift a listener not only with their talent, but with a message.
What then are some examples? I perused through my iPod this week and found 25 songs that are “mainstream” — many of which have been played by Top 40 or rock and roll radio stations — but also contain a message that is either outright Christian or spiritual, or whose lyrical content reflects the values and ideals that Christ would have us practice in day-to-day living.
Your list would probably be different than mine. Feel free to add or disagree …
“Have I Told You Lately,” Van Morrison. It may sound like a love song from one person to another, but according to Morrison, it’s a prayer of Thanksgiving to God.
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” U2. For the searchers, and for those with questions on the journey. And there are many.
“Do Right,” Paul Davis. Three and a half decades old now, the lyrics are blatantly Christian, not the only song by the recently deceased Mississippian to address faith.
“Love is the Answer,” England Dan and John Ford Coley. “Light of the world/Shine on the world/ Love is the Answer/Shine on us all/Set us free/Love is the Answer.” Would have easily fit into any Christian Music format when it debuted over 30 years ago. John Ford Coley emailed recently after this piece was originally published and said when he and Seals wrote the song, neither were Christians.
“Shower the People,” James Taylor. Many of JT’s songs are laced with lyrics that reflect spiritual teachings. This has always been his most powerful song to me.
“I Hope You Dance,” LeeAnn Womack. Livin’ life to the fullest.
“Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth),” George Harrison. A simple prayer; had it been written in Old Testament times, it would have fit in as one of the Psalms.
“Heavenly Day,” Patty Griffin. A simple hymn of appreciation
“Morning Has Broken,” Cat Stevens. A Christian hymn from the 1920s beautifully and simply brought back to life in the 1970s.
“Wedding Song (There is Love),” Peter, Paul and Mary. “He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts. … The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain, for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name, there is love.” Pretty much sums it up.
“Jesus Was an Only Son,” Bruce Springsteen. Unless you download this song from “Devils and Dirt” you’ll likely never hear it. But its lyrics and message reflect Springsteen’s Catholic upbringing and the relationship between Christ and mother Mary. Probably the most blatantly Christian song Springsteen has ever recorded. In the final verse, he sings, “Well Jesus kissed his mother’s hands/Whispered, “Mother, still your tears,/For remember the soul of the universe/Willed a world and it appeared.”
“Almost Home,” Vince Gill. A haunting conversation with God. God played by Texas native Guy Clark.
“But for the Grace of God,” Keith Urban. I tried to steer clear of country songs on this list because there are so many in that genre. But this one is so good it deserves to be here.
“Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn. A celebration of the transcendent power of music, especially the Memphis blues and southern gospel sound. “Tell me are you a Christian, son? Ma’am I am tonight.”
“What You Give Away,” Vince Gill. Could be the theme song of faith-based charities everywhere.
“The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen. The story of first responders’ fatal climb up the World Trade Centers as they burn above and ultimately collapse on them, and what becomes of those heroes as they ascend into heaven. There is something stirring and strongly spiritual going on inside of this song.
“Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Almost word for word.
“Peace Train,” Cat Stevens. Widely known for his conversion to Islam in the 1990s, he often sang about peace and other Christian ideals in his early career.
“Heart of the Matter,” Don Henley. Forgiveness, especially when there is nothing to be gained from a selfish standpoint, is one of the best examples of a foundation of faith.
“Ngiculela-Es Una Historia-I Am Singing,” Stevie Wonder. A celebration of the joys of song.
“Yah Mo Be There,” James Ingram. “Heavenly father watching us all/We take from each other and give nothing at all/Well it’s a dog-gone shame/But never too late for change/So if your luck runs low/Just reach out and call His name.”
“People Get Ready,” Rod Stewart. If Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck had done an entire album of gospel music, it would have been spiritually transforming and magnificently uplifting.
“The Water is Wide,” David Kauffman. Eight minutes of beautiful, quiet contemplation. The song recorded by many musicians is a simple nod to the notion that we simply can’t do it alone.
“Go Rest High on That Mountain,” Vince Gill … and then when death comes, we are still in need of a higher power’s help to get us to the highest of mountains.
“Let It Be,” The Beatles. McCartney’s song was, like Harrison’s “Give Me Love,” a simple prayer-like hymn and an acquiescence that we need help — from Mother Mary, in this case, on the road from here to there.
This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of West Texas Angelus, official newspaper of the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas.
