Sydney-based Christian rockband Redruth are about to start a tour of venues in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in the lead-up to Christmas. DAVID ADAMS
catches up with Stephen Heffernan, one of the brothers who founded the band…
Sydney-based Christian rockband Redruth are about to start a tour of venues in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in the lead-up to Christmas. DAVID ADAMS catches up with Stephen Heffernan, one of the brothers who founded the band…
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REDRUTH: Stephen Heffernan (middle), Keith Heffernan (right) and Gill Van Mastrigt (left). “In our family, there’s been a strong line of faith that has been passed down. It’s not a religious faith, but a strong faith based on the integrity of God and His word. These are people who have been through the worst of the worst, but have overcome by trusting God and standing on His word. I believe that as a band, Redruth are carrying that strong seed of faith that has been passed down, and it’s no mistake that we’re doing what we’re doing now. So the name Redruth for us represents strong, unshakeable faith.”– Stephen Heffernan
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You founded Redruth in 2007 with your brother Keith. Can you tell us a little about how that came about?
“Keith and I have…played music together basically our whole lives. We started as kids in church, then played in different bands right through high school. After we both finished school, we did some study and worked some different jobs, but for the both of us it was a real time of soul-searching, and looking for God’s purpose for our lives. I was asking all the questions: ‘Why am I here?’, ‘Does God want me to pursue music, or am I wasting my time?’. I know many people go through the same experience. I was in a mess, really, so confused about everything I was doing. But eventually I became that desperate to find God’s will for me – I laid everything down, all my desires, ideas, dreams, I just gave them to Him and surrounded my life totally, including music. I hadn’t really done that before, but I was willing to give up what was most important to me to find His will, because I believed He had a good plan for my life – that’s what the Word says. So I went for it.
“It started off a journey for me, in my relationship with God, and life in general. It wasn’t instant, but as my faith was growing, things started coming together, and I was led to start writing songs again. But this time it was different. I wasn’t interested in just writing about my emotions, feelings or experiences. I wanted to start preaching and teaching God’s word through song. I wanted to tell people the truth, and show them who God really is. I wanted to show people how to get out of the mess they’re in, just like I was. Keith was going through a similar experience, and had some of His own battles, but he jumped right on board with the new songs and vision, and Redruth had begun.
“We’ve known Gill (drummer Gill Van Mastrigt) for a few years now. We met when he was playing with another band, and we just kept in touch. We always felt like he fit so well with who we are as a band, and what we do. We asked him first to help with some recording for us, and then he filled in at a few shows over the last couple of years. Early in 2012, God lead him to Sydney, and we all just knew that the timing was right for him to officially join the band, now he’s 100 per cent committed and part of Redruth.”
What’s the story behind the name?
“My great-great grandmother (Jane Bolitho Reed) was from a town in England called Redruth. She was a raised in a strong faith environment, by a bishop who was totally on fire for God. She was also someone who desired God’s will for her life, and she too reached a crossroads in her life where she had to make a real decision to serve either God or not. To put down her own desires and wishes, or not. She made the choice to go God’s way, which for her meant postponing a wedding for three years, while she fulfilled God’s call in Africa as a missionary.
“In our family, there’s been a strong line of faith that has been passed down. It’s not a religious faith, but a strong faith based on the integrity of God and His word. These are people who have been through the worst of the worst, but have overcome by trusting God and standing on His word. I believe that as a band, Redruth are carrying that strong seed of faith that has been passed down, and it’s no mistake that we’re doing what we’re doing now. So the name Redruth for us represents strong, unshakeable faith.”
How do you describe your sound, and what musical influences have shaped it?
“Growing up in church, and playing in the worship band since a young age, I believe worship music has had a huge influence on our sound and songwriting. I was blessed to have a lot of freedom in our church worship to find and discover my own expression. There’s also a lot of modern rock bands that have inspired us to reach for new heights, so I’d say we combine the depth of worship music with a modern rock/pop sound.”
You’ve just finished your third album, Origins. What was the inspiration behind it?
“One common theme that God has been highlighting to me over the last two years has been the word righteousness. I’ve been blown away at what it actually means to be right with God. Man was created to be in perfect relationship with God. Adam lost this position when he sinned, but Jesus came to get it back! We’re not only forgiven, we are righteous, seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places! Our origins are to be in relationship with God, with nothing separating us from His love. So as believers, this is our position now. Sinless, blameless and perfect. The truth of that has totally changed my life, and set me free. This theme is what the whole album is capturing.”
You’ve called the song Heart Stops Beating off the new album the band’s ‘theme song’. What do you mean by that?
“It’s a song that we wrote about 4 years ago, about the urgent need to believe in Jesus, and to get right with Him right now. None of us know how long we’ll be here, and it’s vital to make that decision. Your eternity is at stake. It’s a song that has stuck with people, and became the song that summed up the reason we’re a band – to share this good news, and to urge people to accept before it’s too late.
You’re touring in the lead-up to Christmas. Is that a special time for you and will the tour be focusing on that at all?
“I think Christmas is a special time for a lot of people, and it definitely is for us. But it’s also a time many people dread. Whether they’re battling with painful memories and reminders, or relationship issues, Christmas can be the loneliest time of all for some. So what better to be sharing and talking about the real meaning of Christmas, the reason Jesus came, which is something we will be focusing on. “
Do you enjoy touring as a band, and, aside from the obvious – promoting the album, what do you see as its purpose?
“The highlight of touring is always the people you meet. It’s nice to play some really cool places, but our attitude is that it really doesn’t mean much unless we’ve left something planted in the people. Mark 4 tells us that the Word of God is seed. When we give out the word, whether it’s on stage, or talking 1-on-1 with people afterwards, if the people accept and protect it, it’ll produce fruit in their lives. That’s the awesome thing about God’s kingdom, we just need to believe, and the seed produces.”
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ORIGINS: Redruth’s third album will be released on 12th December |
Do your prefer being on a stage as opposed to in a recording studio?
“They are both really complete opposites, and I really love both! On stage you’re focused on what God’s doing in that place, right then, right now. In the studio, it’s like you’re exploring and looking for sounds that capture what you’re trying to say. It’s a lot of fun to be creative, but we’re also focused on the goal which is capturing God’s heart for the song. So live and studio, they are both very different, but have the same goal – connecting people with God.”
You’ve been described as ‘evangelists’. Do you see yourselves primarily as that or as musicians – or both?
“We definitely see ourselves as evangelists first, musicians second. That comes from the mindset that we’ve got a job to do, which is to preach this Gospel to the world. It doesn’t matter what area or career someone is in. If they’re a Christian, they’re always an evangelists first, and a salesman, doctor, florist, manager etc second. That’s how we’re all supposed to be living, focused on eternal things.”
Why do you think music offers such a powerful way of reaching people with the message of the Gospel?
“Music really is an amazing thing, because of its unique ability to break through barriers, and get straight to the heart. Music also travels, and gets into places you’ve never imagined. It’s not limited to a location, or time. As believers, to combine God’s Word with the awesome medium of music, to me it’s like an unstoppable force! As he music breaks through to the hardest of hearts, the Word is able to be planted. It’s awesome.”
What’s next for Redruth? On the back of the success you’ve already seen in the US – particularly with your song For God So Loved The World, do you see yourselves spending more time there in the future?
“Yes, we’d love to spend some time there, it would be great to follow up the support we’ve had on radio, and do some touring. We never set out to become rock stars, but we always intended these songs of Faith to reach as many people as possible around the world. We’re open to wherever God sends us in 2013!”
For tour dates, see www.redruthband.com/tour
