Q: Messenger’s new single “You Say You Love Me” is a beautifully sad song. Is it autobiographical?
A: No, not really. It’s just a great song with a great lyric that told a story we thought many people could relate to.
Q: What was your introduction to music? How old were you, and how did it affect you?
A: The group as a whole started out in high school, progressing to house bands. The members come from different parts of the country before joining up in Los Angeles and forming Messenger.
Q: What styles of music had the greatest impact on you creatively?
A: For the band as a whole, our styles are eclectic to say the least. We can go from jazz to pop to R&B to rock. The songs we have written in the last few years will demonstrate how varied our style is.
Q: What instruments do you play, and how did you learn?
A: Vic Butler plays guitar and bass that he studied through his father. Bob Butler learned keyboards in church and eventually started studying established professional keyboardists like Larry Dunn and Rick Wakeman. Drummer Johnny Moore learned the fundamentals of drumming through school before emulating other drummers’ styles like Danny Seraphine and Steve Gadd. Dino Stewart started out with upright bass moving to electric bass and being influenced by EWF’s Verdine White.
Q: What was the first song you ever wrote?
A: Our first song was actually for an ABC Movie of the Week titled Brotherhood of Justice starring Keanu Reeves and Kiefer Sutherland. The song was called “Conversation.”
Q: How did Messenger form? Who does the songwriting?
A: Our first go-around was in the mid-’80s when we got together. We reformed again around 2014. We are all songwriters and collaborators.
Q: What artists influenced you the most growing up?
A: Each of the band members’ influences will vary from Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder to Dean Martin.
Q: How have you evolved creatively?
A: We feel the music we are writing now has evolved to the sound we feel represents us. In the past, we would write songs that sounded like the hit of the day, trying to be like everyone else.
Q: Who are the members of Messenger and what do they do?
A: Julio Hanson, lead vocals; Bob Butler, Keyboards and vocals; Vic Butler, guitar/bass and vocals; Dino Stewart, Bass and vocals; Johnny Moore, Drums/keyboards and vocals.
Website:
http://www.messengerisback.com
