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Widespread acclaim and a passionate fan base have helped keep Jeremy Thiessen (left), Marc Martel, Jason Germain, and Glenn Lavender afloat as Downhere.

Downhere seemed to have it all: a supportive major label, excellent albums, good songs, constant touring, and critical support—including a couple of our own top twelve lists. It all might add up to success, at least on paper. But it didn't add up to much income for the Canadian quartet, with slow CD sales and its expenses exceeding its profits. Those fiscal realities resulted in Word's decision to drop the band in July 2004. Downhere wondered where to turn next—if anywhere at all. But quitting wasn't an option for its fervent fan base. Nor was it for Centricity Records, which unequivocally understood the band's mission—and fell in love with their music, signing them a year later and eventually releasing their latest album, Wide-Eyed and Mystified. Here's more about the wild ride from vocalist Marc Martel, singer/guitarist Jason Germain, bassist Glenn Lavender, and drummer Jeremy Thiessen.

Let's start with your thoughts when the time the band was dropped from Word.

Jason Germain: Once they dropped us, we needed time to figure out what do. We thought we still had lots to do; we were still ministering on the road, and there were still people supporting what we do and wanted us to continue. We started checking out other labels, praying and writing in midst of all this.

Marc Martel: Some people have asked, "Wasn't that devastating, getting dropped after winning a Dove two years before?" You can look at it that way, but the Lord really was telling us what we do has worth to it. We took that as our peers saying they really believed in [us], amongst other things, so it was encouraging.

Glenn Lavender: The hardest thing was the year between getting dropped in July 2004 by Word and not signing till July 2005 with Centricity. We spent a full year talking to labels, but didn't have a label spending any money on us or pushing us at all. So you start to feel like things are going downhill and losing momentum. Are we able to keep booking shows? It was scary.

Were people still coming out for concerts or were the gigs slowing down?

Jeremy Thiessen: At first, for a while, they picked up. Even with no deal and machinery to push us, the Lord showed he was faithful by keeping us busy on the road, which some acts on labels can't even do, so we were really blessed that way.

How did you eventually hook up with Centricity?

Germain: We went around Nashville working out deals with companies, and for two months went through negotiations. We know what we were after and what we weren't. When we met with Centricity, they gave us a unique deal based on a unique model for a label. It's really a community.

What were their initial visions for Downhere?

Lavender: The cool thing right off the bat is that the label a real family-oriented thing. We left our first meeting thinking, If something works out cool, but we're not sure if all the pieces would work right. We're really a family, and that's something we always strived to do with Word—but they're such a big company that we never really felt like we totally got there, whereas with these guys it could happen.

Did Word feel like a big corporate machine to you?

Thiessen: We had a great relationship with people at Word, and are still friends with those at the label. We had a great time developing relationships there too, but there is a corporate frustration that comes when you run a big ship and have to have a lot of people in on the decision-making process. Centricity is small enough to make one phone call and a decision be made. And they also think outside the box.

Like how?

Lavender: They want us to have more merchandise on our table at concerts, and they realize artists can't have that much money tied up in it. Essentially they are buying us three to four different pieces to put on our table to make it look more like a store since we don't have the money pot. When you go to a merch table at a festival, there are all sorts of variations on cool things, but people crowd when they see a lot of stuff. Our table had two shirts! For them to make a suggestion like that is unheard of in Nashville.

Germain: If Word was a Scottish Highlander wielding a two-inch thick sword, Centricity is like a four-foot ninja! (laughter) It's all about the ministry and heart for the musicians. They understood what we were trying to communicate in telling our stories and the grand vision of Downhere, which recently came to the conclusion that God is using our music to connect head knowledge with heart knowledge…The culture of Christianity is even difficult for itself. The language is recycled and sterile, not that meaning isn't there, but we can all get a little desensitized. We want to write with universal poetry that everyone is actually going to understand.

How have you sought to break out of those stereotypes throughout your recordings?

Germain: Our first album was a childlike faith and our second one we had no time to write but were really feeling a lot of great things. Of course, time seeing the North American church and its inconsistencies, some of the songs really talked about finger pointing and trying to get everyone to wake up. I think on this record we want to engage culture coming from a personal place.

Martel: Some pastors can scare people into heaven preaching fire and brimstone. I believe the right way is through a relationship. That is the motivator, not running away from hell.

What new songs have you found to bring about the most impact thus far?

Germain: One song that has a very churchy feel to it is "Little Is Much" because it was born from a perspective of paying homage to the fathers of the church. Downhere has been about smaller, more insignificant moments in concert, though we still can minister and connect with people. My favorite song on the record is "A Better Way," which almost demands we share the gospel before singing that song. I originally wrote it as a love song to my wife, but took another stab at it from a spiritual perspective. I love telling the story of salvation and think it's something everyone can grab onto. It's a ballad Marc and I can sing on together!

How have you grown collaboratively as co-vocalists to establish a more cohesive sound?

Thiessen: Working with [dc talk] producer Mark Heimermann helped in the fact that with dc talk, he took three completely different vocalists and gave them the dc talk sound. No matter if it was Tait or someone else from the group singing on the radio, you knew it was dc talk. The last couple of records, we couldn't quite find that Downhere identity. People knew our songs but didn't know they all came from our group.

Martel: Almost after every show, someone would say, "I didn't know you sang that" or "What a great cover of "Great Are You.'"

Germain: Or, "You guys sound so much like the people who sing 'Great Are You.'" Uh, I think you've missed something. You were just at a Downhere show! (laughter)

Worship has also played a major part in your music, in a very relevant and creative way. What is your take on how some artists seem to steer towards fridge magnet poetry-styled praise?

Germain: In the industry there are a lot of cases, especially with younger audiences, where it's their first time coming on these words—the first time they are believing in them and dialing them into their new songs. How can you attack that?

But don't you feel like certain phrases and patterns are overused?

Germain: Let's zoom out on history and look at maybe the Renaissance Period. What would they think of our music now? They'd say we sound like the same song over and over—a U2 or Coldplay song—so I mean it's all in perspective. I've just come to a place where we're not going to criticize because when you boil it down, it generally comes from a place and a desire to communicate one's faith. The attack should be on the labels who don't filter it! (laugher)

Do you think worship music is sometimes an afterthought to make money?

Martel: You know what we call it? We call it "praise dough."

Was that direction ever pushed on you?

Martel: No, no!

How would you summarize the direction you're trying to forge?

Germain: Instead of pointing out problems, we're saying, "We're going this way. Do you want to come?" It's an invitation into a journey where Christ's love is the motivator. Emotionally we're wanting grab the weight and momentum of gospel and its poetry and romance. We talk to God, live life enjoying God, accept his love, and are freed by his grace.

For more about the band Downhere, visit our site's artist page for the band, and click here to read our review of their latest album, Wide-Eyed and Mystified. To listen to sound clips and buy their music, head over to Christianbook.com.

© Andy Argyrakis, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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