Today I have the privilege of interviewing one of my favorite bands in the world, Future of Forestry.
Every album of theirs is special and their newest, “Young Man Follow”, does not disappoint. I was able to chat with Eric Owyoung – the mastermind behind this incredible, experimental, musical bliss.
At the end of this post, I will show you how you can win one of 5 copies.
David: If there’s one thing I look forward to all year, it’s a new Future of Forestry release. What can we expect from the new album, “Young Man Follow”? How does it compare to your previous work?
Eric: My closest musician friends said it took the varying elements of the Travel series (my last release of 3 EPs) and rolled them into a new identity. It was the next step after an experimental season. I would say these songs are stronger than the songs I’ve written in the past, speaking purely from a songwriting perspective.
David: Many artists feel like they need to wait for inspiration before they create. What does your creative process look like? How does that work into your daily schedule?
Eric: I hate to say this, but like most artists, the creative element comes in last place after the tyranny of the urgent. Taking care of logistics, business, and damage control take up much of my life as an artist. Or sometimes, it’s avoidance so i don’t have to face my creative self!
But when i finally get into that creative mode, I forget where I am. I forget what time it is. I even forget to eat lunch. In some ways, it’s a miserable process of trying to dig up the depths of something within me. When it happens successfully, it makes those hours worth it.
But I don’t wait for those experiences to come magically. I put my self in that painful place by discipline. That sounds anti-artistic, I know. But i feel like there are a lot of pansies out there who could make so much music for us to hear and love, but they are sitting around waiting for the “gods” to come down and inspire. My feeling is that it’s in there, in everyone.
The real matter is overcoming the fear that keeps us from entering that creative zone. We have so many excuses why we can’t be there. Because i do this as a career, unfortunately I don’t really have the daily choice to opt down and wait for inspiration. I have to create if I want to eat!
David: I know you’ve had a lot of experience leading and writing worship music. What advice would you give to songwriters who feel called to write worship songs for the church to sing?
Eric: Oh, jeez. Advice? My advice is usually not to look at me for advice…I’m the worst person to learn from because I keep changing my mind on how things should be done and what is important. I guess the only feedback I would share in my experience is that the more i preachedat people, the less impact I had. But the more I just shared my life in the songs and made them honest and personal, the more it really met someone deeply. From there, I’ve always made an effort in my songs to be “life-sharing” in various forms.
David: What advice would you give to an independent artist who wants to create his or her first album?
Eric: Focus on the music and songs! There are too many mediocre bands and artists out there who have their noses to the grindstone to promote, to build, and get famous. But my theory is to start with better music and let the latter things come as a result.
This approach has been a painfully slow growth process for me. I’ve never had that sudden fame incidents that some artists have. Yet, the slow growth has always been constant from the beginning, and I can say I’m happy to be doing music as a job every day. And it only took about 20 years of pursuing music!
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David: What albums/artists inspired you while you were creating “Young Man Follow”?
Eric: Strange to say this, but of all the times I’ve written albums, there were other artists being played from my playlist. From the beginning, there was U2 then Sigur Ros. As the Travel series developed, there was more obscure bands such as Phoenix, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, DeVotchca, Anathallo, and so many more.
During the writing of Young Man Follow, however, I didn’t have a whole lot playing in my car or mp3 player. As strange as it sounds, I think I was taking a little break from music.
David: It seems like so much music these days is forced into a certain, predictable mold. How do you break away from that and create your best art?
Eric: I just listen to what’s out there and make sure I don’t do that! Ha, I’m kinda joking, but in essence it’s true. I’m constantly writing stuff and asking myself, “Has this been heard a million times before?”
I need to have a pretty heavy filter on that stuff or Forestry of Forestry fans will call me a sell out. Young Man Follow really treads a delicate balance between creative and accessible. With the Travel serious, I really didn’t care how accessible it was. With Young Man Follow, I wanted to make sure I was writing the songs for people to listen to rather than for myself or my circle of nerdy music geeks.
So I anchored everything down with songs I felt would be digestible but I still surrounded them with the unique orchestrations that people are counting on with Future of Forestry music.
How To Win A CD
All you have to do is comment on this post. If you want to double your chances, you can tweet about it or share it on Facebook.
Winners will be selected on Thursday, July 26.
Question: How did this interview challenge you in your own creative process? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
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Hello David,
I haven’t written in a few weeks because I was away but this is the perfect blog to comment on upon my return.
As an aspiring songwriter and worship leader this advice couldn’t have come at a better time because I continue to struggle with ideas for writing and as Eric mentioned we keep waiting for that perfect moment for inspiration to hit us over the head to start writing. And as I continued reading I came to a realization that since we worship an Almighty God who makes wonders happen every day in our lives, we should have inspiration at the tip of our fingers and our minds. Some days it will be easier that others and some circumstances will spur incomparable words but that’s what makes songwriting interesting. Earlier today I was walking down the street and a thought came into my head, “some people look for material things for fulfillment, but as a Christian I just want more of Jesus to be fulfilled”. All the things of the world cannot suffice me but more of Jesus makes a whole world of difference.
So there was my inspiration just by looking around at people with their latest gadgets, phones, cars or clothing line. So I know now once again what Eric meant, all we need to do is look around and let inspiration take its course.
I’ll let you know how this song turned out when I finish it.
Leo
Yea, let us know Leo! I love this quote from Steven Pressfield: “The professional does not wait for inspiration; he acts in anticipation of it.”
Thanks for sharing David. Haven’t heard of Future Of Forestry before, but then again I am on the other side of the planet…DOWN UNDER!
Love the soundscape and production values from the samples I’ve heard. Keen to hear more, one way or another.
Cheers.
You won’t be disappointed, Bren. Their music is unique, thoughtful, and deep.
Great interview! I have heard of this band before, but I have not heard many songs. I would love to snag a CD! Off to tweet!
This inspired me just to write from my heart.
You had me at “incredible, experimental, musical bliss.” Great Interview enjoyed the read.
“I would share in my experience is that the more i preached at people, the less impact I had.
But the more I just shared my life in the songs and made them honest and personal,
the more it really met someone deeply.”
That’s a great point—you do not have to have all the spiritual answers loaded up on your laptop to share Jesus. Just share YOU, since Jesus is inside you. As you are open to Him, the opportunities will come, and then just share.
Thanks for the interview! I’m always interested in hearing what direction FOF takes and what was the thought process behind it!
I feel like FoF gets better after every album, it’s awesome seeing them grow since twilight (and the ep before it.) I would just hope they make it out to the east coast again, the only time I saw them was at Creation East years ago, and the set got cut short, due to rain.
For someone who feels led to lead worship, it’s great to see such an artist who is so brilliant & humble! The whole band is a collection of excellent musicians who are even better people- their accessibility takes their music to another level. So lucky to have the opportunity to learn from them!
Really great to hear. Great insight into where it comes from. I’ve been a fan of their previous music and would love to check out their new project.
Glad to have found this interview. Thanks!
what a wonderful and awe inspiring interview. Eric is a true artist!
Really good insights here. I’m a songwriter, worship leader, and filmmaker, and there’s so much truth to what Eric’s saying. I’ve been discovering this for myself, that “Discipline must be the platform that stewards our passion.” Thanks Eric for your persistence and dedication!
The “discipline” word is a magical word and it’s what I’m lacking at the moment. I always tend to let inspiration hit me, which seldom happens. I tend to be afraid that it would sound plain or that the lyrics are too cliché. It’s good to know I’m not the only one in this situation though.
Great interview, I’m always keeping an eye out for anything released by Future of Forestry!
“The real matter is overcoming the fear that keeps us from entering that creative zone.”
Spot on, I think; overcoming the fear of failure, of our work not being accepted, of our work not meeting our own expectations. Great interview. Future of Forestry never disappoints.
Just read another blog about the nose-to-the-grindstone stuff with building a brand as an artist. This is the opposite perspective and equally as helpful and challenging. His focus on the music shows, and I think it’s a huge part of why I, and others, love FOF. Thanks for the interview!
Man, this makes me like FoF so much more! This man has some great insight. Thanks for this interview!
“The real matter is overcoming the fear that keeps us from entering that creative zone.”
This line hits me between the eyes. Thoughts like “no one will like this song” or “these lyrics are lame” or “someone else can write this song better than I can” plague me often.
I need to push past my fears and excuses.
I have recently found out about FoF (through Spotify) and they are so amazing! I would love to win the CD!
Having had the privilege of seeing FoF live a few times, it was awesome to hear how Eric goes about crafting an album.
Great insight about the creative process.
Great idea for a giveaway–and thanks for this interview! Tweeted about it, too.
Today I started writing again after a long period of leaving it be. I love to write, but sometimes I’m overwhelmed with a fear that nothing will come to me as it has in the past, and that I have nothing worth adding to previous writing. But I agree that it is about discipline, sitting down and working and that creativity can come alive through this process where it might otherwise have sat dormant. So I’m encouraged by Eric’s words to keep working at it.
As a Christian, there is always a tension as I create. I find that when I ‘preach’ I lose something in the work, but that showing truth can be a lot more powerful and real.
I remember seeing Something Like Silas play when they came to Malawi. When I searched for the band again much later on, I discovered Future of Forestry. Their Travel CDs quickly rose to the most listened on my iTunes. I just want to say that I really appreciate your creative process and where it has taken you through the years!
Cant wait to hear the new album!!!
Excellent interview! I’m definitely keeping this for later, these are priceless tips! Thanks for sharing these with us!
Love the album!
LOVE FOF
hey David
i’m a huge FOF fan, since their Twilight album. i live in Singapore where nobody sells FOF Cds. i love Eric’s honesty about the songwriting and creative process. it is especially significant that he chose not to listen to music in order to create something original and heartfelt. that’s probably what i love best about FOF – that it always bucks the trend and comes away better for it.
Ive loved listening to Eric and FOF grow as musicians and worshipers since their days in something like Silas! They’re a huge inspiration for me as an artist
I really, really like this album!
Fof challenges the way I arrange worship music, and reminds me that “4 on the floor” is just one of many ways to drive dynamics. Their creative elements inspire like no other band I’ve heard. That’s why I am so excited they are coming to my church on the their fall tour, September 13!
I’ve always really loved Future of Forestry. They used to come to my old church in San Jose a few times a year. They were friends with the high school pastor there, I believe. Not sure if they do anymore but they were always fantastic!
Awesome interview! I felt really challenged to ask myself “if that has been done before” the next time I am writing!
Very powerful stuff. Eric’s music has always grabbed my attention since the old “Something Like Silas” days. I love the unique sound of FOF. It always seems to fit my mood without sounding familiar.
I dig Future of Forestry although I only recently got introduced to them. I also had the privileged to chat to Eric via email.
As for a challenge to my creative process I would say listening to less music would be a great experiment to see how that effects my music. Also trying to make songs specifically for people to enjoy is challenge as it is easier for me to make what I like and feel. So I would try those two things in the “future”. 😀
Striving for excellence is also a challenge because sometimes it’s easier just give up an go the extra mile. The extra effort, however, could possibly reveal a great beauty that would not have been seen or experienced if you had given up.
Growing your skills and art slowly, instead of immediate success, is a good approach as it emulates the natural processes seen in life and is the best way to gets strong roots which is needed for the storms and tough times.
🙂
p.s. I am @starrzan on Twitter.
*Striving for excellence is also a challenge because sometimes it’s easier just to give up than to go the extra mile.