In this interview, I was able to catch up with Bryan Carman of the Michigan based Hard Rock band 'We Are Resolute' to ask the band a few questions about their debut album 'Shine The light'.
(Jacob) It's so good to finally be having this interview with your band:
(Bryan) Thanks for having me, it's an honor!
(Jacob) So, can you give us some insight into what got you involved in the music industry and what is the ultimate purpose of the band?
(Bryan) I've always loved rock music and am influenced by many bands which include but aren't limited to, Kiss, Judas Preist, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Stryper, Whitecross, BRIDE, Boston and many more!
What got me interested was my current drummer and best friend, John Mokma! When we first met we got together and listened to CD's of Christian rock bands and one thing led to another and John told me that if I bought a guitar, he'd show me a few things!
Our ultimate goal for doing music is and has been multifaceted, Glorify God, growth in our personal lives, reach the lost and encourage the believer!
This ended up starting our first band which had many names, but it eventually became, Otherwise Broken. I stayed on throughout many different members fo (12) years and stopped doing music for (3) years because of my wife getting Cushings Disease.
Once she was "healthy" again I prayed that if I were to do music to glorify God, my prayer for John to rejoin was the key... and we know the answer to that prayer!
(Jacob) Who was the founding member(s) and when did the band officially form?
(Bryan) John Mokma and myself started this whole thing around 2001, but as far as We Are Resolute is concerned, as I stated earlier, the collaboration between John and I is what I've felt God wanting me to do for sure!
We began this endeavor about (4) years ago, so around (2016)
(Jacob) Can you shed some light on where your band's name came from and what is the meaning behind it?
(Bryan) When I was putting this together again I thought about staying as, Otherwise Broken. This would have been the path if it hadn't been for the internet.
I realized that people would search for us and probably find our old stuff and that would cause some confusion so I decided to go with a new name.
As I was discussing this with one of my nephews, Kyle Rasmussen mentioned a name that he and his mother had talked about, We Are Resolute and using the acronym of, W.A.R. because we are in a spiritual war!
(Jacob) What brand of instruments do you all use and why do you prefer that specific brand over another?
(Bryan) I use a Marshall amp, Jackson electric guitars and an Ibanez Acoustic. For our recording though, we use John's Kramer guitar running through a Roland stereo chorus running through a Rockman 200 sustain box.
John uses a Pearl drum kit.
(Jacob) Do you all have any hobbies outside of music that help to rejuvenate or inspire creativity within your music?
I am a cartoonist and graphic artist as well as a writer for Bucs Life Media!
(Jacob) Are there any artists that have played a part in influencing the members of your band along with your band's sound?
(Bryan) Well our guitar set up is similar to Tom Scholz of Boston and that is because of John Mokma! My guitar style especially in my soloing is from watching Paul Jackson of Bloodgood.
The rest would be generally all of the music I've listened to through the 70's, 80's and a little of the 90's.
(Jacob) What is the biggest problem that you've had to overcome as a band?
(Bryan) I would definitely have to say that raising money is the most difficult part of this process! Even though we have gotten everything we've needed just when we've needed it to get the project completed!
Money was especially hard on us in the beginning starting with next to no equipment.
(Jacob) Can you go into some detail about your musical direction on your debut release?
(Bryan) the direction is still basic rock but this time around we have added some pretty influential artists to spice things up a bit!
As you know, we have the honor of featuring Dale Thompson from BRIDE on vocals, but this time around his brother Troy Thompson is joining us and has already recorded the Cello for one song! "Heaven."
Then, if that wasn't already awesome, we got confirmation that Tracy Ferrie bassist of Boston, Stryper, Whitecross and many more, agreed to put bass on our songs!
Then we have Chaz Bond vocalist of, BioGenesis and Dave Hulsey to collaborate on our song, "Alter of Me."
The real joy and pride for me as a father is having my daughter Lydia Carman do backing vocals and piano/Keyboard on this project!
(Jacob) Do you feel like you achieved what you set out to accomplish on your latest project?
(Bryan) on our first project, "Shine the Light" we worked so hard and we are pretty much pleased, but it was our first attempt at doing it big time, most of the songs were not written with Dale and in mind!
He ended up taking our songs to a higher level for sure!
As far as the progress on this project, "Only Human" is concerned, we're excited about the progress and the concepts of it!
(Jacob) What is your favorite song to perform and why?
(Bryan) We Are Resolute is not currently a performance centered band, we are I guess... a studio project band and that is suitable for now as our society is kind of weird at the moment.
When I was with 'Otherwise Broken', all we did was gig and my favorite song which I wrote and loved to play was the song, "Why I Cry" that's the reason it was recorded and put on our first project!
(Jacob) Were there any special or funny moments during the recording process of the album?
(Bryan) funny? Not that I recall, but special? For sure! Too many to tell all, but finding Dale's ad on Facebook and finally getting him on board was awesome!
Having my daughter do backing vocals on two songs, "Kingdom of Heaven" and "We Will See Him" is really special to me!
Seeing God totally provide throughout the process is amazing!
(Jacob) Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses to each and every question. I am excited about this release and am looking forward to hearing more from the band in the future.
(Bryan) You're welcome and thanks for having me and John says hi!
(Jacob) It's so good to finally be having this interview with your band:
(Bryan) Thanks for having me, it's an honor!
(Jacob) So, can you give us some insight into what got you involved in the music industry and what is the ultimate purpose of the band?
(Bryan) I've always loved rock music and am influenced by many bands which include but aren't limited to, Kiss, Judas Preist, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Stryper, Whitecross, BRIDE, Boston and many more!
What got me interested was my current drummer and best friend, John Mokma! When we first met we got together and listened to CD's of Christian rock bands and one thing led to another and John told me that if I bought a guitar, he'd show me a few things!
Our ultimate goal for doing music is and has been multifaceted, Glorify God, growth in our personal lives, reach the lost and encourage the believer!
This ended up starting our first band which had many names, but it eventually became, Otherwise Broken. I stayed on throughout many different members fo (12) years and stopped doing music for (3) years because of my wife getting Cushings Disease.
Once she was "healthy" again I prayed that if I were to do music to glorify God, my prayer for John to rejoin was the key... and we know the answer to that prayer!
(Jacob) Who was the founding member(s) and when did the band officially form?
(Bryan) John Mokma and myself started this whole thing around 2001, but as far as We Are Resolute is concerned, as I stated earlier, the collaboration between John and I is what I've felt God wanting me to do for sure!
We began this endeavor about (4) years ago, so around (2016)
(Jacob) Can you shed some light on where your band's name came from and what is the meaning behind it?
(Bryan) When I was putting this together again I thought about staying as, Otherwise Broken. This would have been the path if it hadn't been for the internet.
I realized that people would search for us and probably find our old stuff and that would cause some confusion so I decided to go with a new name.
As I was discussing this with one of my nephews, Kyle Rasmussen mentioned a name that he and his mother had talked about, We Are Resolute and using the acronym of, W.A.R. because we are in a spiritual war!
(Jacob) What brand of instruments do you all use and why do you prefer that specific brand over another?
(Bryan) I use a Marshall amp, Jackson electric guitars and an Ibanez Acoustic. For our recording though, we use John's Kramer guitar running through a Roland stereo chorus running through a Rockman 200 sustain box.
John uses a Pearl drum kit.
(Jacob) Do you all have any hobbies outside of music that help to rejuvenate or inspire creativity within your music?
I am a cartoonist and graphic artist as well as a writer for Bucs Life Media!
(Jacob) Are there any artists that have played a part in influencing the members of your band along with your band's sound?
(Bryan) Well our guitar set up is similar to Tom Scholz of Boston and that is because of John Mokma! My guitar style especially in my soloing is from watching Paul Jackson of Bloodgood.
The rest would be generally all of the music I've listened to through the 70's, 80's and a little of the 90's.
(Jacob) What is the biggest problem that you've had to overcome as a band?
(Bryan) I would definitely have to say that raising money is the most difficult part of this process! Even though we have gotten everything we've needed just when we've needed it to get the project completed!
Money was especially hard on us in the beginning starting with next to no equipment.
(Jacob) Can you go into some detail about your musical direction on your debut release?
(Bryan) the direction is still basic rock but this time around we have added some pretty influential artists to spice things up a bit!
As you know, we have the honor of featuring Dale Thompson from BRIDE on vocals, but this time around his brother Troy Thompson is joining us and has already recorded the Cello for one song! "Heaven."
Then, if that wasn't already awesome, we got confirmation that Tracy Ferrie bassist of Boston, Stryper, Whitecross and many more, agreed to put bass on our songs!
Then we have Chaz Bond vocalist of, BioGenesis and Dave Hulsey to collaborate on our song, "Alter of Me."
The real joy and pride for me as a father is having my daughter Lydia Carman do backing vocals and piano/Keyboard on this project!
(Jacob) Do you feel like you achieved what you set out to accomplish on your latest project?
(Bryan) on our first project, "Shine the Light" we worked so hard and we are pretty much pleased, but it was our first attempt at doing it big time, most of the songs were not written with Dale and in mind!
He ended up taking our songs to a higher level for sure!
As far as the progress on this project, "Only Human" is concerned, we're excited about the progress and the concepts of it!
(Jacob) What is your favorite song to perform and why?
(Bryan) We Are Resolute is not currently a performance centered band, we are I guess... a studio project band and that is suitable for now as our society is kind of weird at the moment.
When I was with 'Otherwise Broken', all we did was gig and my favorite song which I wrote and loved to play was the song, "Why I Cry" that's the reason it was recorded and put on our first project!
(Jacob) Were there any special or funny moments during the recording process of the album?
(Bryan) funny? Not that I recall, but special? For sure! Too many to tell all, but finding Dale's ad on Facebook and finally getting him on board was awesome!
Having my daughter do backing vocals on two songs, "Kingdom of Heaven" and "We Will See Him" is really special to me!
Seeing God totally provide throughout the process is amazing!
(Jacob) Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses to each and every question. I am excited about this release and am looking forward to hearing more from the band in the future.
(Bryan) You're welcome and thanks for having me and John says hi!