Many student musicians hold aspirations of becoming famous. Whether being the front man of a popular rock band, or a backup guitarist, many desire to achieve rock-star status.
Majorities abandon their dreams instead of willing them into reality. Numerous opportunities seem discarded due to lack of ambition.
Alumnus Nate Warkentin, ?00, relentlessly pursued his goal. After being apart of several failed bands spanning the course of a few years, at Biola University. Warkentin, alongside several other band mates from former bands, formed The Colour. The rock group draws influences from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks.
During a telephone interview with Warkentin, I asked him about his involvement with The Colour and its affects of his life now.
Rurik: What is the best part about being apart of The Colour?
Warkentin: Definitely the travel. You get to see so many places that you wouldn?t have ever really thought you?d go to before.
R: What kind of effort does it take to get to the place you and The Colour are at now?
W: It takes a lot of patience and a lot of hard work. You have to be willing to not have much money or sometimes not have any money at all. There has to be a passion, as you could be living a vagabond lifestyle and not knowing if you?ll eat today, moving from couch to couch, but none of it matters because you?re having a good time.
R: What are some of your favorite memories as you?ve been in this band?
W: One of them was when we lived in Nashville, Tennessee, while we were recording our first full-length album. We spent three months away from anyone we know. Basically, we removed ourselves from our comfort zone and isolated ourselves while we were recording, not to mention the late nights that we spent out there.
R: What are some of your recollections of the harder times?
W: For the first few years that we were doing this, the four of us lived in a 900 square foot studio apartment, not exactly legally. The apartment was not in the greatest part of town either.
There was not enough space for humans to live in there, but we did. We spent three years playing and living there. During our stay there, the roof of the apartment caved in. Another thing that happened was we were about to get a great deal from a recording label based in the UK and one day, they sent us an e-mail telling us that they didn?t want us anymore.
The Colour develops album, heads to concert
R: When did you get your ?big break,? and how did it come about?
W: In all honesty, I don?t think that we?ve had our ?big break,? yet. We?re not quite at the point where I?d say we?ve ?arrived,? but we?re much further along than your run-of-the-mill garage band. We have had little scattered breaks, here and there. Our biggest one so far would probably be playing on Jimmy Kimmel. Momentum is building slowly.
R: As you?ve toured, around the US and even into the UK, what has been your favorite venue that you?ve played at so far?
W: When we were touring the UK, our London show, we played with Abri Abri for a sold-out crowd of 3,000. That I think was our first real big show. Everything in there was new and walking out onstage felt like something out of a movie.
R: What is your advice to up and coming musicians?
W: Perseverance and patience. Even though some things may happen very quickly, you have to be committed. Be okay with the sacrifices and the costs.
R: Finally, band members have their favorite song to play. What?s yours?
W: Our song called “Bearded Lady”. It talks about brokenness, and what?s in store for people who haven?t really gotten anything their entire lives; coming out of dark times and into light.
We believe as a band that we are called to be with people who are outcast, or maybe a little kept from society so this song is perfect for that. We want to be in a place where people can be accepted.
The Colour is currently touring the West Coast. To find out more information on The Colour, take a look at their website at www.thecolour.tv, or their Myspace at Myspace.com/thecolour.
