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Close Up with Rob Beckley of Pillar Print Email
Written by Staff   
Friday, 18 September 2009 09:33 AM America/New_York
The Pillar frontman talks about the new sounds of Confessions (releasing Sept. 22 on Essential Records/Provident Music), working with a new producer and a unique element to its live shows.
When you approached this new record, what were some of the things you wanted to accomplish musically and lyrically?
“For starters, I approached this record in a completely different way than any other. Usually I write all the songs and then end up going over them and seeing where God was taking it. On this record, I had the spiritual direction before we even started working on the music. I definitely wanted to encourage people through the confessions process so for me it had to filter through that. Musically, I really wanted this to sound like a new era. We've had a great past, but I wanted to make a record with a great future. I feel like stepping out of complacency and taking risks is what we had to do. Hence the new era . . . reinvention so to speak.”

And there's a new producer. How was it working with him?
“Rob Graves was great. It was a different world for us. Travis Wyrick was all we knew. We had always done it the same way. I love him to death and asked his advice on the producer question. Wyrick knew the day would come where we had to step out and do something different and he was a cheerleader for us. Rob brought out the best in us in a different way. He's very laid back yet very deliberate in his approach to each song. I think it was a great decision, but we will have to see what the public thinks.  They are the ones who matter the most.”

You've had a few lineup changes in recent years. Do you look at that as an opportunity to explore new sounds or was it more of a challenge?
“We've had lineup changes many times. Not really a concern. This record had to be different no matter what. So it was perfect timing the way it all worked out. Funny how God does that.”

The "My Secret" curriculum is a unique idea. Who came up with that? How has the response been?
“My church did the 'My Secret' series about two yrs ago. It was a great experience to go through that with all of our friends at church. Lives were changed for the better. I just wanted to take it on the road and have a vision and a purpose for playing shows. The response has been amazing. Hundreds of kids are going to the confession booth each night at the shows and making use of it. Allowing themselves to interact with God and confess their burdens and sins. It is an amazing experience to see the lives that are being touched each night. Very humbling.”