I got to sit down with Eric back in June before a show and chatted a bit. Eric’s phone rings as I am asking the first question. Its his realtor, who had questions for him about the house he was selling and also about the house he bought(right across the street literally from his old home).

1. How are things these days with the addition of Ellis to the household?

     Things are definetly better as opposed to when we talked last back in December. I got off the Andrew Peterson Christmas tour on the 15th, Ellis was born six days later. He wasn’t supposed to come until January. He was a month early so that threw us for a loop. Seemed like a bomb went off! The first two months were pretty much a blur, um, those who have kids know what I’m talking about. Lack of sleep, not travelling, and helping Danielle with all that and trying to learn how to be a parent. But its been good, he’s almost six months old now and is way more enjoyable. Laughing and giggling and interacting with his surroundings alot more, so that makes him more human than a pet rock.

   Yeah, interaction certainly helps.

     Yeah, when he first smiled, its like the world opened up all of a sudden. It was a huge break thru for me. Before it was just a few months of just poop and so your like, come on smile or something! We actually did call him our pet rock at first. Things are great. Still trying to learn how to serve Danielle, cause my role in Ellis’ life right now…I’m not really needed, but I know my day is coming when that whole father/son bonding, shifting from mother to father is going to happen. So for me, its just been trying to be the provider right now. Here lately I’ve been trying to figure out what the heck I’m doing with my life. Is this a viable career that I’ve got or the litmus test being, is this just a pipedream or do we try to make this work. I don’t know. Still trying to figure it out.

   Well there are a lot of folks who love your music, so I say keep it up!

     I’ve always liked my songs and thought they have something to say. I do spend a great deal of time and energy writing and recording. You kinda get to the point though, where you wonder if your little cottage industry is too small to work anymore. Kinda realizing that, or wonder if its gonna grow up. Alot has been just coming to terms with reality and whether I’m ok with where I am right now. And I’m ok!

2. Scarce is such a cool album! Will you keep up the same songwriting process and style?

     I don’t really have a formal songwriting process. Usually its just me sitting with my guitar and capo and coming up with some kinda melody. From that comes a vocal melody. I rarely get into a song with a theme or idea. I tend to let the songs grow out of themselves. I don’t know what that means but, I’m not coherent enough to go into a song with a pre-concieved idea. That’s just not me. With Ellis being born, the last five or six months have been the least creative for me. I think this is just the baby phase or something. I was recently talking with Andrew Peterson, just venting about this very thing, he told me this was just a baby phase and that I’ll write again, so I’m gonna put alot of faith in his words. So hopefully there will be some new stuff coming out. I’ve been chipping away at some songs I’ve started or written well before Ellis was born. I do have an idea for a new album I’d like to try. I’ve always enjoyed writing third person songs like Bus 152 and Spare Change, songs told from the perspective of someone else or something. Its just me imagining their story and me telling it. Being their voice so to speak, so I’m pouring thru some newer older songs that have never been recorded. I’ve noticed that I’ve got a bunch of those songs!

   That should be a fun album.

     So I thought of making a record of nothing but a bunch of third person songs and try to avoid the traditional folky sound. Hopefully with the right producer, they will have a bigger vision than I might have. I don’t know if thats what I’ll do, but thats what hit me. Just seemed like a neat idea.

3. I know you’ve got some tour dates coming up this fall. Do you have any other major plans for the near future?

     No, but hopefully going to buy a new house(which has already happened since the posting of this interview), slightly bigger than our place. That will afford me to kinda build an office. At least have some space to carve an office, and space to write. So as we settle in with Ellis and he gets into some kind of pattern, then writing will occur! So for me, another album is on the horizon. I don’t want to rush into it though. Scarce is right over a year old and I started writing for it over two years ago, so it kinda feels like its time to get that ball rolling. Other than that, we’re booking shows for the fall. Beyond that I have no idea.

4. Did you have fun on the Behold the Lamb of God tour?

     Man it was wonderful! I had fun every second of it and I would say yes in a heartbeat if I were asked to do it again. It was one of the greatest times of my career. I just love the group of people. They’re all wonderful and enjoyable. Its an edifying good group of people!

5. One last question. How’s the snake business?

     Oh man! Believe it or not I have not killed any snakes this year. I think I’ve scared them all away after a couple of years of being “that” person. I’ve seen a couple, but have held back from ending their lives. I actually had one pinned and ready to go, but I just let it go. Yeah, I think I’m becoming merciful!

   Part of fatherhood maybe?

     You know, actually the snake count as it stands this year is…Eric-0, Snakes-1 1/2. They got me! Yeah I gashed my hand. A stick gashed my hand while trying to get that one snake. So I figured I would give them a point and a half.

   Once again thanks for your time!

     Go SPA dot net!! Thank you!

Here is a quick interview I did with Jill.

Hey Jill, thanks for taking the time to do this. The last time we talked you were two weeks from Tyler’s due date. You had just finished a two hour show with Andy and looked like you were ready to get off your feet so…

1. How are things these days? Have they settled down a bit?

   I am not really sure if they have settled down, but I am not home bound like you are in the early days and that is nice! He is seven weeks old today and is the sweetest, easiest little guy. Things are still a bit crazy because my oldest just started kindergarten and I am still not sleeping through the night, so we are really taking each day at a time. Andy is also working a lot on AP’s record so he is really busy too.

2. Are you still writing new material or are all of the creative songwriting energies focused on the baby?

   I am dying to write new songs which is great. At the end of my pregnancy I was just so apathetic and all my ideas were on hold but now I feel the urge to write. Once things settle down I should be able to devote a couple of days to working on stuff for the new CD. I think I have about 4-5 songs that are done or almost done but I am anxious to get the rest done so I can record this winter.

3. The songs you write are so honest and relatable, will you continue that same path with the next project?

   I hope I am getting more and more honest as a songwriter. There is really nothing to lose and no label to please, so I really just write what I want. It is great to lose a lot of the self-imposed boundaries.

I think you and Andy should do a kids record. I know that’s had to have crossed your mind.

We had thought about it, but I don’t know if we can top Slugs and Bugs.

4. Are you gonna take it easy (tour wise) until Andy Peterson’s Christmas tour or will you tour some?

   I have actually been booking shows for this fall, but mainly on weekends. It is hard to do big tours these days with children so I mainly travel on weekends where I can be with them all week. I really love that schedule because it gives me the chance to work and stay at home, the best of both worlds.

5. Do you find it easy or difficult, lifestyle wise juggling husband, family, and career with you and Andy both being full time singer/songwriters?

   Right now it is incredibly difficult but most of the time it is just difficult! It is a challenge to juggle it all, I will be honest, but I don’t know any other way. We wanted a family and we feel called to write and travel and sing so we will always be negotiating what that looks like for us. I think it moves in seasons, some very busy and some home more. It is definitely an interesting life!

6. What are some things God is teaching you right now?

   God is teaching me that I love sleep and I want more of it. OK, so seriously, I think having a new baby and two young kids teaches me a lot about control. I like order and control and occasional peace and quiet and these days are full of sacrifice. He is teaching me to be more selfless and reminding me that nothing I sacrifice could compare to His sacrifice.

7. Is everything in the SPA kosher? I still love the camraderie between all of you!

   Oh, absolutely. A few members left because of trying to distance themselves from the CCM label, something that can really hurt you in the mainstream. We all know that the SPA artists aren’t traditional CCM artists and had little success there, but mainstream promoters who are booking a show don’t know that. They search an artist and see CCM and think, “Yikes, I am not booking them in my club!” That is the sad reality. CCM will always be linked to the SPA because of the publications who have written stories about it and some of our histories in Christian music. Even though the SPA is just a group of songwriters we didn’t want this to hinder anyone’s careers in ANY way. The purpose of the SPA was only to help and it will continue to be that. There was absolutely no animosity and everyone is in complete agreement. I think we will still do some shows together as well, it will just be a less public association.

8. What good music have you listened to lately? Anything influential or worth sharing?

   I still love the David Mead Indiana record and listen to that consistently. I haven’t loved a full record that much in a very long time. I am also listening to the new Crowded House record a lot. I adore Neil Finn and anything he does and have always loved that band.

9. Do you have any huge future plans, say the next 6-12 months?

   I want to write for and record a CD and do some traveling- nothing that huge but if I can do that it will feel like a big accomplishment.

Thanks Jill, for taking the time.

Thanks to you and all the SPA supporters, we are so thankful for you guys!