The Down East Boys Share the Stories Behind their New Album "Faithful Still"

The Down East Boys use powerful music with themes of hope, love and faithfulness to spread God's word on their new album, Faithful Still, now available from Sonlite Records. For more than 30 years, the Down East Boys quartet has traveled from coast to coast, Canada and Mexico. 

The Down East Boys have been afforded many great accolades to their credit. Three songs - "Beat Up Bible," "Testimony Time" and "I'd Like To Tell It Again" - from their most recent album, One Day In The Past, have reached the No 1. position on the Singing News Chart. From performing with many evangelists through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, singing at Southern Baptist State Conventions and Evangelism conferences all over the country, to all the awards and nominations and the hit songs, nothing changes the goal of this group and that is to share the gospel of Jesus unto all the world. 

Q: Thanks for doing this interview with us. Let me start by saying congratulations to the three #1 hits from your previous album "One Day in the Past."  How does that make you feel?

A: We feel blessed to know that people were touched and moved by those songs, and as always to have your first number one is exciting but to have three in a row was certainly exciting for us as a ministry. 

Q: With 3 #1 hits does that give you added pressure when you were looking for songs for your new album "Faithful Still"? What were you looking for when you were choosing songs for this project?

A: Any time you begin a new project I feel like the goal is always to pick the songs that move you as a singer and artist because if it doesn't move you as an artist, you will not deliver the song to the audience. We were certainly blessed on this new project with lots of great writers who gave us songs that moved us. It was difficult to pick only 11.

Q: What were some of the highlights for you in the making of this new album? 

A: I love the process of recording new music from the start of picking songs all the way to the final mix, but one of the highlights of this project was our vocal sessions. Jeff Collins, our producer, allows us the freedom to add our ideas to his arrangements, and this time it was lot of fun in the creative process of our vocal sessions

Q:  Talk to us about your new single "Amazing Amounts of Amazing Grace." Why are you excited about this song?

A: We loved "Amazing Amounts of Amazing Grace" the first time we heard the demo, the song had a catchy chorus that after hearing it one time had you singing along. The guys in the studio brought the track to life, after adding the banjo , which is one of my favorite instruments, the song came to life. Radio has embraced it and we look forward to seeing where it goes from here. 

Q: My favorite song off the new record is the touching "Those Hands." What's the story behind this song?

A: I was driving the bus one night and called my good friend and great songwriter Chris Binion. I asked him if he would write a song about my grandfather and his life. I shared my grandfather's story with Chris, from his childhood days to his years of serving our country in WWII, as well as his days of pastoring while also working in a mill in Durham, NC. He was always there for his family and friends as a helping hand and support, and always pointed us to Christ not only by his words but by his examples of everyday living.

After speaking with Chris, a couple of months passed, it was almost time for our final song selection meeting. I received this song from Chris and it was exactly what I wanted to say about my grandfather's life. It is my favorite song on the CD as well and I hope it takes people back to someone in their life who led by example. 

Q: This new record was released in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.  How do these songs help us in these difficult times?

A: Hopefully while people have been quarantined at home, they have been able to listen to these new songs and maybe for a few minutes get lost in the message of hope and encouragement that these songs can bring even in these times of uncertainty. We were Faithful before and hopefully we are "Faithful Still." 

Q: What words of encouragement for our readers during these times?

A: Isaiah 41:10 says "Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God." In these unsettling times may we hold on to the words "fear not" - God has brought us through before and He will again.   

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