Hailing from the rock rich and rain soaked Seattle indie music scene, Jordan Riley seeks to utilize his talents as a singer/songwriter to positively impact the Northwest with his own blend of upbeat pop rock. As Jordan prepares to release his debut album Identity Crisis, he shares some of the background for his life and message in this exclusive hurdcore.com interview.

You noted in February of this year that you had been MIA for a bit, in a “postcard to mom” summary, what was your time away about?
Jordan Riley After doing over 500 shows around the USA I really needed to take a break. It wasn’t that I was burnt out, rather I just really wanted to take some time to find my inspiration for my album. It was also during this time away that I got the chance to buy my first house and I spent like all my time on it, so it was a good time to just live life for a while.

You hail from musically rich and yet desolate ground, as the Seattle area has birthed the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie (so many more) while also witnessing its share of rock tragedy such as the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley. What have you seen as far as music’s ability to effect people’s lives positively and negatively?
JR I have seen firsthand how music effects peoples moods and emotions. Even at my concerts I have seen how music can take someone back to an amazing place in time or can bring them down and remind them of a hurtful past experience. Also while on tour on the east coast a few years ago I was told how there was this lady that was contemplating suicide and she happened to put in my CD in her car and God got through to her and she chose to live and did not go through with it.

What are some of the key struggles that you are hearing from the people you minister to and how have you seen Jesus become the answer in the lives of individuals?
JR The real struggle for people that I see seems to be, what is real and what can people believe in these days. There is so much hurt and pain out there and people are looking for answers and Truth. I have seen that by people simply being real and transparent other people who are struggling find the ability to trust. Its when we are all fake and pretend that everything is well that we end up messing stuff up.

A new Jordan Riley album is on the way, what is the feel and theme you are working on for this release?
JR My album IDENTITY CRISIS is about real life. I decided to no write about fluffy christian stuff that most people cant identify with. I wanted to talk about the good, the band, and the ugly. In this album I deal with my hurt from my past and how i worked through my pain. My hope is that people can relate to some of the things that i went through.

What was your journey into performing as a profession?
JR Well to be honest, still to this day I am surprised that I am a professional Christian Rock singer. I grew up super shy and had zero self confidence. In fact at age 12 my aunt and uncle told me I couldn’t sing and started laughing at me, which tore me up inside. It really was a God thing to take me from a place of hiding in the shadows all the time, to being on stage in front of people all across the country.

Is music the ministry for Jordan Riley Ministries or just one of the heads for this Balaur of good news?
JR I always say that Jordan Riley Ministries is “more than just music” because it really is. Music is simply the vehicle that gets the band and I to be able to come to a city. Yes we put on a concert, and yes we rock, and yes we entertain, but we want people to meet Jesus one on one at the concert. We hope that people come to our shows and have a great time and during the night begin to want what we have, and begin to get real with things in their own lives. I also do a lot of speaking around the country too, so my desire is that Jordan Riley Ministries is very versatile.

As you embark on this mission to share Jesus through life and music, what do you do to keep your faith fresh?
JR I have learned over the years that in order to keep my faith fresh i need to do a few things: A) Take myself less serious and take Jesus more serious. B) Surround myself with other strong Christians who will encourage me and keep me accountable. C) Spend a lot of time just praising God, because when you thank and worship the Lord you take the focus of yourself.

Who in your life helps to inspire you and hold you accountable to the course you believe God has called you to?
JR The four guys in my band are like my accountability partners as well as my producer, who has become a mentor/spiritual dad to me, not to mention the pastors at my church. As far as my biggest sources of inspiration, they tend to be my friends and just the people and experiences that God brings into my life. Because I tend to write songs that reflect or are about my direct experiences I look to the things that God allows me to go through as an inspiration.

Jordan Riley band is: Singer/Songwriter – Jordan Riley; Drums – Jimmy; Guitar – DJ; Keys – Vaughn; Bass – Zhaun. Keep up to date with Jordan Riley at his website or follow on facebook.

Hurdcore.com is “fans supporting local music.” Reppin’ local by teaming with artists, fans and venues to celebrate local efforts. Hurdcore covers metal, hip-hop, pop and rock from Eugene to Seattle to Davenport and beyond. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook.

The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!” - Jesus

At times the hardcore music genre can seem like a state sponsored fishing hole, with an annual stocking of nameless bands drawing both avid fans as well as the fresh-from-Walmart posers looking for the next big catch only to find that soon after opening day the crowds die down and many of those dream catches were less than advertised. Demon Hunter continues to break the mold both musically and creatively, each year further endearing their die hard hunter-core to the mission of “storming the gates of hell” while simultaneously expanding their fan base by blowing the minds of those joining the hunt for the first time. With a complexity to their music that bears the edge of projects long deceased (note Training for Utopia) they continue to wrestle the sharpest melodic elements and fuse them with components that are just plain brutal. Demon Hunter has forged a sound which causes listeners to sing along, enticed by a depth in content, conviction and tonal package that will keep pits circling long into the night. To a large degree, Demon Hunter is a reflection of its lead singer and founding member, Ryan Clark, who is both a dominating presence as a creative mastermind as well as a man of clear convictions yet also a very private and humble individual. The Clark brothers have crafted a brand in Demon Hunter that serves as a model for successful marketing in the indie music scene without selling out your personal or musical values. Ryan continues to carry the mantle after his brother Don decided to step away from his role within Demon Hunter at the end of 2009, but this “newly” formed Demon Hunter will continue to challenge, inspire and motivate global hunters to carry their convictions forward, cowering to no one.

Are you originally from Seattle? How much do you enjoy local culture there and how has the local scene helped you get to where you are today?
RCI was born in Southern California, raised in Central Oregon and Northern California, and I moved to Seattle almost exactly 10 years ago. I love Seattle. Not every aspect of it, but it’s certainly my favorite place on earth. It’s an incredibly diverse city, and there’s never a shortage of things to do. Mountains an hour away, on the ocean, Portland and British Columbia 2 hours away, thriving arts and music scene. On the other side of the coin, I do hate the bleeding-heart hippie culture (which is massive here) and all of their phony compassion (honestly, they’re like the angriest, coldest people on earth), but truly, living in a city with such adversed ideals to my own makes for great lyrical material. I don’t have to go very far to see and understand who my enemies are.

If I recall correctly, you were raised as PKs (Preacher’s kids), what was that like growing up? Your music has never been “church music” by any stretch, were your parents always supportive of your music or have they grown into Demon Hunters?
RC Yea, that’s correct. When we were growing up, it was a love/hate thing for sure. Especially in our teens, we were probably more uncomfortable with the idea that it wasn’t cool or whatever. That’s just how kids are… some of those kids take that mentality into their adulthood and stay bitter at the church, and some are able to see it for what it is. I think that usually comes down to two factors: how your “church” experiences were (how great/terrible the people of said church were), and the effectiveness of parenting. If you attended a legalistic, judgmental church… chances are you are going to have a very jaded view of church or Christianity in general.

Our parents were awesome. They instilled values in us without being overbearing. It took them a little bit to get used to the style of music that we became so involved in, and the aesthetic that followed, but their real concern was in regard to our character. They’ve come to really appreciate our music and they’re extremely proud of what we’ve done.

The metal power duo of Clark & Clark (Ryan & Don) have been together since birth, how did this evolve into your earlier musical ventures such as Training for Utopia?
RC Well, our musical tastes progressed at a very similar pace… we liked old hip-hop growing up (Beastie Boys, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, etc.) and when we were in our young teens, we were turned onto punk rock by some friends (Pennywise, Bad Religion, Face To Face, etc.), around the same time, we were also getting into metal (Pantera, Sepultura, Metallica). Punk and metal gave way to hardcore… and that was really the scene that we dove into.

I started a hardcore band called Focal Point in 1993 and we were signed in 1995… shortly after, Don started a noisy hardcore band called Training For Utopia. After one tour, Focal Point was ready to hang it up, and ironically TFU had lost their singer at the same time. I assumed the vocalist position in TFU, and that was the start of about 15 years of doing music together.

The Clark brothers have a deep portfolio of music, especially when it comes to styles as you’ve ranged from hardcore, industrial and now metal. While Demon Hunter retains a thread of heavy lyrics and music with an edge, each progression seems to have a dynamic sound all of its own. What is different about your perspective on life and music that has come to craft the sound for Demon Hunter?
RC I would really chalk it all up to a disinterest in being “cool” or “current,” by way of maturing through a vast number of flash-in-the-pan trends. In the past, we were definitely wrapped up in whatever was happening at the time, and that was fine. However, from the very beginning with Demon Hunter, it was our goal to do something that didn’t fall under the umbrella of a fleeting scene. The fact that Demon Hunter happens to have a broader appeal than our previous projects has nothing to do with selling out our own musical tastes. Our influences are almost solely from the 90′s. The music that we create with Demon Hunter is out of pure love for a particular sound and style. The progression that you hear from record to record is just a natural maturity process- finding our style, and honing it, building upon it.

There was a hiatus from music, at least front-lining in a band, between Training For Utopia and your resurgence as Demon Hunter, was there some burnout in performing and touring with music? What got the wheels turning for Demon Hunter?
RC The biggest factor was moving to Seattle. TFU was kind of falling apart, due to a shift in priorities… and we really had to wait to get our feet planted in Seattle before feeling comfortable enough to start playing again. The desire to write and play music was/is always there.

You’ve been successfully involved with several facets of music outside of performing, from Asterik Studios, to Invisible Creature and art direction for Solid State and Tooth & Nail. Did you set out to be involved with graphic design professionally or did this aspect of your creative nature develop more organically?
RC The visual art career for me was a very organic thing. I’ve always enjoyed drawing, painting, etc. but when I got to be an adult, I didn’t really know what to do with any of it. My brother had been designing for a number of years… and when we moved to Seattle, I really started taking an interest in graphic design. Shortly after I’d really started dabbling in design, a job opened up in the T&N art department. Although my knowledge at the time was VERY limited, Brandon Ebel (owner) took a chance on me and gave me the job. I’ve been the art director here for over 9 years now. Asterik Studio and Invisible Creature both happened while I’ve been here at T&N… they’ve all kind of coincided together.

Demon Hunter takes a pretty balanced approach to music, you guys hit the road hard, but you seem to take your time between tours. Is this a calculated approach to music or more a reflection of your other commitments?
RC Our lack of constant touring has everything to do with our non-band commitments, however, this schedule really worked in our favor. I think a lot of bands tour too much and become somewhat played out. Kids get tired of seeing them every few months and they lose interest. With us, it’s become such an event when we play live, because it’s so seldom. And this means that a lot of fans show up when we play, because if they don’t, it’ll be a while before they get another chance. I don’t think it would work for every band, but this has been a really successful formula for us.

Aside from your hands-on work with art direction at Solid State, you’ve been personally involved in recognizing and developing upcoming bands such as Becoming The Archetype and The Ascendicate. Do you seek out these relationships or as a fan of music are there bands that just grab your attention and you can’t resist promoting?
RC There are a few bands over the last 10 years that have really grabbed my attention… and I felt that if I didn’t reach out and make something happen, nothing would. So despite my job not being that of an A&R rep here at the label, I’ve kind of assumed that position from time to time, in order to work with these bands that I’ve really believed in. Brandon (Ebel) being so cool and trusting, has allowed me to wear that A&R hat from time to time. All-in-all, I’m just a huge champion of the label, and I love the ability to contribute in any way.

This album and tour will showcase a revamped Demon Hunter, most notably the absence of Don, what has been the biggest impact of this transition musically and how hard was it to fill the voids? We definitely want to respect your privacy, are you willing to elaborate any on why Don chose to step away?
RC Absolutely. Don’s reasons for leaving are not necessarily a private matter. It was essentially a shift in priorities. He runs Invisible Creature, and it was getting harder and harder for him to close up shop to tour or record. For me, I’m able to take time off from work, and come back and jump right back into the saddle. For him, it was a real risk when he left each time, hoping that the phone would start ringing the day he returned. Add 2 kids to that equation (the only kids of anyone in the band) and his decision had become a really clear one.

You’ve noted that The World is a Thorn explores greater depths in both technicality and brutality, even elaborating earlier this year, “We’re definitely still working with the DH formula of groove-oriented heavy mixed with melodic… but the heavy is usually faster this time around. And the melodic tends to be a little darker, little moodier.” (Interview w/ Indie Vision Music) What excites you most about the progression in sound that will be heard on this album?
RC I feel like this album is a very natural progression for the band… but in the least boring way, if that makes sense. In other words, we’re a band that isn’t going to stray terribly far from the overall style that we’ve created over the years… but at the same time, we obviously like to keep things interesting with each record. I thing the songs on this record are extremely solid, well-written, well-executed, and are the best version of Demon Hunter to date.

You’ve crafted a PR blitz with 50 Days of Demon Hunter and a tour that includes As I Lay Dying and War of Ages, 2010 is looking like a big year for DH, does the band have any more tricks up their sleeve?
RC Well, at this point we’re just anxious to get out on the road. That’s all that we have on our radar at the moment… but I’m sure we’ll be brainstorming some new ideas very soon.

From The World is a Thorn your song “LifeWar” is basically an autobiographical retrospective on your life, yet most of your music is very personal, is there a song that stand out to you from this album?
RC That song stands out a lot to me, actually, because it is a little more personal and autobiographical. Songs like Tie This Around Your Neck and Collapsing are also stand-out tracks to me. I feel like those songs were maybe more inspired than others.

Your beliefs as a Christian have always come across in your music, what do you do to keep your faith fresh?
RC As for my faith, I do my best to read as often as I can. I get a lot from the Bible and a handful of other books. The last book I read was called The Mortification Of Sin, which was great. I also like to surround myself with like-minded people… but I have a lot of non-Christian friends that, believe it or not, really allow me to understand why I believe what I do.

“Collapsing” shares some of your perspective of living and sharing the gospel with others, in a sense you admit that many are not receptive to the truths that you hold dear yet you believe it is still important to be active in proclaiming truth. How do you approach sharing your faith as an individual (outside of Demon Hunter) and as an artist (through DH)?
RC With DH, it’s easy… I write it, sing it… you can listen or not, but I’m going to wear my beliefs on my sleeve. That’s my platform to do so, and that’s what you’re going to get. That’s the beautiful thing about being in a band- No one has to ask your opinion and you can give it anyway.

With daily life, it’s much more about getting on a personal level. I’m usually not one to speak directly into someone’s life before knowing them. I think people see that as intrusive, and are easily turned off by strangers telling them how to live. Now, I do believe in a generally black and white guideline for living… but if you have a relationship with someone, then you may gain their trust, understanding, respect… and I think you’re much more likely to meet them on an effective level.

Demon Hunter > Metal/Hardcore > Seattle, WA > Solidstate Records
The World Is A Thorn available now nearly everywhere – Solidstate, Best Buy, Hot Topic, iTunes…Currently on tour with As I Lay Dying, Bless The Fall and War of Ages (see DH Myspace or DH Website for more info and tour dates)

Demon Hunter is: Ryan Clark – Vocals; Jonathan Dunn – Bass; Yogi Watts – Drums; Patrick Judge – Guitar; Ryan Helm – Guitar

OREGONIANS – Demon Hunter w/ As I Lay Dying, Bless The Fall and War of Ages on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 @ The McDonald Theatre. May 16 @ The Knitting Factory in Boise, Idaho and May 17 @ The Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington.

For more information on local music, band interviews, concert updates and promotional content. Local bands, artists, concerts, venues, tours and events from rock, hip-hop, metal, pop, punk, hardcore, acoustic, indie, organic, progressive, funk, rap and more. Stay tuned to hurdcore.com, friend us on myspace and join us facebook Hurdcore is open to partnerships to promote local arts, music and entertainment as well as advertising opportunities – hurdcore@gmail.com – be specific in “subject” line.

In an ever expanding effort to expose and inform, we are pursing interviews from local bands, helping aspiring artists to connect with a broader base of listeners so that they can be converted to devoted followers. Again, through the miracle of MySpace, we were able to conduct an email interview with the articulate and insightful Aaron of Seattle based metal band 7 Horns 7 Eyes.

HC What inspired the name of your band?
7H7E It comes from the Bible, where in Revelation 5:6 it describes Jesus as a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. Throughout the Bible, the number seven is used to connote completeness or perfection, so in this case, the seven horns describe that Jesus’ power is complete and perfect, and the seven eyes that his knowledge and vision are complete and perfect. It really is just a statement about the nature of God.

HC When did your band go from the dream stage to actually putting tracks down and going on the road?
7H7E This band is made up of members who have played in previous bands, and it actually spawned from the death of a previous band, so it was never actually at a purely “dream stage”. However, it officially began in March of 2006.

HC How would you describe your musical style?
7H7E We are definitely a metal band. Our music is dynamic, polyrhythmic at times, generally ambient, often quite epic sounding, and overall quite heavy.

HC Where are you at currently in terms of writing and/or releasing an album?
7H7E We begin drum tracking for our debut full length in just a couple weeks (late April 2009)!

HC Where can those interested best connect with you to find out about news, releases and tours?
7H7E Myspace has been our most effective tool of communication thus far, which also links to all other relevant internet locations (merchandise, YouTube, etc.): http://www.myspace.com/7horns7eyes

HC From the concept of your band, the makeup of its members and the lyrics of your songs, would you say that there is a prominent theme (i.e. religious, political, philosophical, etc)?
7H7E Our lyrics are written from a Christian perspective, and cover various subjects that we have either dealt with personally or can somehow identify with.

HC Where are you currently grabbing inspiration and/or frustration from and how has this been affecting your music?
7H7E The musical tone has largely been affected by Meshuggah (to a certain degree), as well as bands like Opeth, Swallow The Sun, and Strapping Young Lad. Lyrically it’s harder to pin down, although hearing a good sermon definitely helps!

HC What have been some of the most important lessons for you as struggling-artists?
7H7E I’m not entirely sure how to best answer this question, although we have definitely learned that in order to have the best chance at success, we need to be like-minded and transparent with each other in every way possible.

HC Are there any favorite/funny/scary memories from your current tour that you’d like to share?
7H7E We are not currently on tour, although when we played at Creation fest 2008 in George, WA our transmission overheated, and the fluid boiled over and caught on fire while we were crossing the Cascade mountains. We were very close to losing the entire van, and perhaps the trailer full of gear as well! You can view our three-part Creation video blog at http://www.youtube.com/7horns7eyesofficial

HC What has been your favorite tour stop so far? What new foods have you discovered (scary or good)?
7H7E we have not yet embarked on an actual tour, although four of us drove our van down to the NAMM convention in Anaheim, CA last February and enjoyed a few In ‘N’ Out burgers, which we do not often get to eat!

HC What has been the most challenging part of taking your band public?
7H7E We’ve encountered some criticism in regards to trying to pair Christianity with metal, but for us it’s a position that occurs comfortably and naturally, so it’s difficult to legitimately criticize.

HC Any words of encouragement for aspiring bands?
7H7E Write original music, approach all that you do with professionalism, and seek like-mindedness in band members’ goals and desires.

Venue: El Corazon (Seattle)
109 Eastlake Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 381-3094

This venue is hosts a bar and a concert area, I don’t believe that they serve any food other than snacks in bar area (21+ only). All agers are able to purchase water and candies at the main window.

The venue is located in a business area of downtown Seattle (there are always things to see in Seattle), but we arrived late for my first visit so I did not take particular note of the surrounding businesses. El Corazon is set in a commercial area with plenty of nearby parking but you will likely have to pay.

The main floor is long and somewhat narrow with a second deck area where the bands can set up for merch and those who want nothing to do with the pit can observe. Bands perform from a raised stage with various speaker arrangements, if you are standing far left/right the sound can be muffled/hollow (may appeal to casual observers).

El Corazon has a noticeable presence of Security but overall seemed to understand their purpose and allowed crowd to do their thing. I did not observe anyone attempting to crowd surf and slam dancing was limited as the venue was pretty packed when I attended.

My initiation at El Corazon (Seattle) included Demon Hunter, the blessed return of Living Sacrifice, (the long awaited rebirth of Embodyment) The Famine, and Oh Sleeper. This venue is of a decent size relevant to comparable venues, I look forward to returning for more hurdcore!

Enclosed are the links to the second of a 2 part in-depth interview with Demon Hunter by Tim Smith of The Resurgence (Mars Hill, Seattle, WA). See notes from previous post.

Of interest in this segment is a new film that Demon Hunter is producing currently entitled 45 days which is a documentary of the band. Unique to this rock documentary is that the perspective is from that of the fans and what they are getting from the music as opposed to just being a behind the scenes of the band.

Demon Hunter is always on the cutting edge of technology and art, so I look forward to the message of this documentary as well as the artistic production details that will be on display. If you saw the film debut at Mars Hill (November 21, 2008) I’d love to hear your take on how it affected you.

As noted in previous post:
Besides being involved in several 90′s era hardcore bands that contributed to the emergence of the Christian alternative scenes, Demon Hunter continues to expand the relevance of Christian music through their latest musical collaboration, talent development and cutting edge artistic contributions to numerous productions.

Hear some great background from the lives of Don and Ryan Clark, their spiritual maturation, stories behind Focal Point, Training For Utopia (TFU) and Demon Hunter. Hear for yourself the integrity of a sincere Christian Hardcore/Metal band and the process Christ used to bring them where they are today.

Links:

Video of Interview with Demon Hunter (part 2)

Audio of Interview with Demon Hunter (part 2)

Enclosed are the links to the first of a 2 part in-depth interview with Demon Hunter by Tim Smith of The Resurgence (Mars Hill, Seattle, WA). The foundation behind the interview is to explore the artistic expression of Christian truths in action today. Demon Hunter is a relevant interview on this topic as they have their hands deep in the Christian music scene through their audio assault as well as there design and artistic contributions.

Besides being involved in several 90′s era hardcore bands that contributed to the emergence of the Christian alternative scenes, they now continue to expand the relevance of Christian music through their latest musical collaboration, talent development and cutting edge artistic contributions to numerous productions.

Hear some great background from the lives of Don and Ryan Clark, their spiritual maturation, stories behind Focal Point, Training For Utopia (TFU) and Demon Hunter. Hear for yourself the integrity of a sincere Christian Hardcore/Metal band and the process Christ used to bring them where they are today.

Links:

Video of Interview with Demon Hunter (part 1)

Audio of Interview with Demon Hunter (part 1)