dc Talk Tour Feature

Pop supergroup {{dc Talk}} is in the midst of the spring leg of their "Supernatural Experience" tour with {{Jennifer Knapp}} and {{The W's}}, to promote their latest album of the same name. While the guys weren't able to hook up with us due to their crazy schedule, we wanted to at least keep you up to date on where they were and some behind-the-scenes thoughts they had during the recording of ==Supernatural==. (...especially since you guys voted dc Talk into winning five of the eight Crosswalk.com Music Awards!)

WHAT IS THE THEME OF ==SUPERNATURAL== AND HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?

MT: "Sometimes a word will spark a whole lyric. I just started singing that word 'supernatural' and Toby and Kevin thought it was great. Everybody wants to know about the supernatural and what's beyond this life. We started writing down the lyrics when we were in France last year. We wrote from the mindset that God is Supernatural and He's in control. We didn't want to force it on people, we just wrote from our hearts."

HOW DID THE THREE OF YOU APPROACH WRITING ON ==SUPERNATURAL==?

MT: "What helped a lot was looking at the album from a live standpoint. We considered what people would enjoy lyrically and musically, and started pairing the album as far as ballads, mid-tempos, and so on. The hardest part was writing together because we had never done that before to such a great extent. Toby has usually masterminded the whole thing and Kevin and I will come in with an idea or two here and there. This time around my limited guitar knowledge actually played a big part in the record."

DID YOU LEARN NEW THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF THIS ALBUM?

TM: "We've grown up a lot through the years. We're getting past the envy, jealousy and insecurity that's there in any band setting. Those are really tough issues to deal with. I think we've really learned to hope for each other and to be proud of each other. I know when Kevin or Michael come up with a great lyric or great vocal move, I feel so proud because they are with me. I think those feelings are becoming more of the everyday norm, and it's been a healthy process. There's way more cheering going on for each other than in the past. We learned that we could collaborate. Kevin has always written poetry and Michael is great with melodies. Finally we locked ourselves in a room and prayed and wrestled through the writing process. Jesus Freak was very much a record that was all three of us but Supernatural is a different experience."

HOW DID YOU GUYS COME UP WITH THE SONG, "INTO JESUS?"

MT: "Toby and I started brainstorming on that song in France last year. We were sitting around the lodge and I (with my limited guitar skills) started playing some chords. We came up with this little melody and all of sudden we started singing these lyrics. It's fun to see a song come together. dc Talk has been known to sing about our faith unashamedly, but never force it on people because Christ never forced His words or Himself on people. "Into Jesus" talks about, 'Hey, you want to know what I'm all about? I'm into Jesus.' "

ARE THERE ANY ODD STORIES FROM THE MAKING OF ==SUPERNATURAL==?

TM: "We went to a castle in France to write and record, and to me that's pretty odd. We were put in one room and every morning at breakfast we'd sit across the table from the lead singer of Crash Test Dummies, Carole King, and other notable writers with knights in armor around us. We were put into a room and had one day to write the lyric, the melody and record a song. We'd never done that before. It usually takes us three months. Most people knew that we were a Christian band. They even approached us at the end and said that they'd never seen people wrestle through things and hang out like we did. I guess just the fact that we would hang out together impressed them. It was just amazing to write with people who had a different mentality than we did. They totally respected our music. 'My Friend So Long' and 'Killing Me' both came out of the castle.

KM: I was locked out of the studio four times and received only three speeding tickets during this record. I live the farthest from the studio.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO GAIN FROM LISTENING TO ==SUPERNATURAL==?

TM: "I think what I want them to walk away with is that this is how spirituality plays itself out in life. I think that's what the record is about because that's what we are going through. Every day we are toiling with 'how does our faith walk out in real life?' when you listen to Supernatural, you hear a portrait of our lives over the past year. These are the things we are dealing with and I think the rest of the believers are going through it too. We are going through transitions in our life were faith is played out in how you live. It's not necessarily about the right haircut or if I read my Bible today or told someone that Jesus loves them. That's how we were raised, and it makes sense, but I think we are learning to live our faith out more and more every day. I actually told Mike and Kevin that I think this album will come back to convict us. I really do think it will. Ultimately we are speaking to ourselves. We have to decide of the things of the spirit are more intriguing than the flesh."

MT: "When people buy the record and take it home, hopefully they hear what I heard after a few listens. Now it reminds me of a novel, each song is a chapter that is filled with all kinds of interesting stories, concepts or situations that we've lived through. I hope they see the record as a congruent effort-a record full of helpful tidbits. Songs that make you smile, songs about love, songs about romance, songs about intense passionate devotion to God, songs about loving your brother or sister and putting them before yourself, songs about the Creator Supernatural."

KM: "Spiritual references applicable to real life situations."

DATE - VENUE - CITY - STATE - INFO

1-Apr Hammons Center Springfield Missouri 800-641-2048
2-Apr Municipal Auditorium Kansas City Missouri 816-931-3330
3-Apr Market Square Indianapolis Indiana 317-239-5151
8-Apr Tupelo Coliseum Tupelo Mississippi 601-841-6528
9-Apr Timmons Arena Greenville South_Carolina 864-233-2525
10-Apr Vine Center - Liberty U. Lynchburg Virginia 804-582-2131
11-Apr UTC Arena Chattanooga Tennessee 423-899-7402
13-Apr Oak Mountain Amphitheatre Birmingham Alabama 205-715-6000
15-Apr Cajundome Lafayette Louisiana 318-265-2100
16-Apr The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston Texas 281-446-5725
17-Apr Joe & Harry Freeman Coliseum San Antonio Texas 210-224-9600
18-Apr G. Rollie White Coliseum College Station Texas
20-Apr Mabee Center Tulsa Oklahoma 918-495-6000
22-Apr Nashville Arena Nashville Tennessee 615-255-9600
23-Apr Viking Hall Bristol Tennessee 423-764-0188
24-Apr Patriot Center Fairfax Virginia 202-432-7328
25-Apr Hershey Park Arena Hershey Pennsylvania 800-336-3206
27-Apr University of Dayton Arena Dayton Ohio 937-229-4433
29-Apr Palumbo Center Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 412-323-1919
30-Apr Sony Music Center Philadelphia Pennsylvania 609-654-8440
1-May Luis Palau Crusade Portland Maine 207-775-7850
2-May Hammerstein Ballroom New York New York TBA
4-May Memorial Coliseum Ft. Wayne Indiana 219-424-1811
6-May Air Canada (Cedars Theater) Toronto Ontario TBA
7-May Palace Of Auburn Hills Detroit Michigan 248-645-6666
8-May TBA St. Louis Missouri TBA
9-May Riverfront Amphitheater Little Rock Arkansas 501-374-2200

ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGES.