Session Start: Wed Mar 05 19:52:58 2003 Session Ident: #ccnetchat The following chat took place from 9pm-10pm EST on Wednesday, March 5th, 2003. It was moderated by cc.net staff members Geof, Megan, Nicole, and Bryan. Derek Webb joined a chat room with over 50 of his fans to talk about his new record and many other things... The transcript has been edited to make it easier to follow. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Derek Webb: has joined #ccnetchat * nicole sets mode: +v derekwebb Geof: Greetings. Megan: everyone give a silent welcome to mr. webb Geof: Since everyone but CC.net Staff is silent, let me say it for y'all: "HI, DEREK!" Megan: hehe Derek Webb: well let's get started Geof: I think Bry has the first question. Bryan: umm sure Bryan: derek, with all of your writing focused on the church right now... Bryan: are you still writing songs about everyday life? Derek Webb: i'm actually not writing much at all right now Derek Webb: i don't think i've written a song since i wrote 'the church,' which was the last for the new album Geof: Is that on purpose? Bryan: are there songs building up in you, or do new songs only come when you want them to? Derek Webb: i've been working on some songs w/sandra for her album coming up, but nothing of my own Derek Webb: i can't really control when i write Derek Webb: i think i need to get this record out and let these songs breathe a little bit before writing again Derek Webb: i feel like releasing this record and 6 months worth of house shows will probably give me plenty to write about Derek Webb: that's about it Megan: ok i'm gonna voice matt brown now Megan: go for it matt What's the best way to set up a house show? I tried e-mailing through Derek's site and I got no reply. Who should I contact? Derek Webb: actually, third coast booking has been handling all that Geof: Yeah, and if y'all want to bother someone about that, Roscoe is your man. Geof: Seeing as he got Derek for two weeks from tonight. ;) Derek Webb: they're still figuring things out as far as how to do it, but they're definitely getting it figured out Megan: along those lines derek, are you aware of what the prices are to book those house shows? there's been a lot of speculation Derek Webb: there isn't really an precedents set for this sort of thing, so it's coming slow Derek Webb: actually, we're doing everything from guarantees for the shows to no $ guaranteed and just a door % Derek Webb: and everything in between Derek Webb: very flexible Megan: cool Geof: Third Coast is your friend, folks. Derek Webb: yeah, third coast are nice folks Megan: okee geof Geof: Here's Steve ... derek, i've loved your writing for years - how did it work out for jars of clay to help you on your record? Derek Webb: the guys in jars are members of our church, and we are (were) label mates Derek Webb: i've gotten closer with those guys over the last year or so and was really looking forward to getting them involved in the project Derek Webb: i just called them and they came over Derek Webb: in fact, steve (mason) just kept coming back everyday... it was really great Derek Webb: :) Nicole: ok the next question is from jonathan Nicole: go ahead jonathan Nicole: hmm it seems we've lost him Megan: haha Derek Webb: uh oh Megan: ok i'll get mine Megan: charley Geof: Must be on a cell phone ... ;( Nicole: lol! Derek Webb: yeah... Megan: ok go charley Derek Webb: hey charley... hey :) So, what are your thoughts on the green board? (on derekwebb.com) People seem kind of "not nice" (you can replace that with nastier things :) Do you read the stuff? Derek Webb: i don't read everything. i suppose someone should... i put that board up and just let them go. we probably won't run in that way on the new site. there needs to be a moderator over there. Megan: speaking of, a lot of people probably aren't aware of our impending project Megan: derek, do you want to talk a sec about your thoughts for it? Derek Webb: either way, i'll try to keep the theology folks away from everyone else so that people can ask a question about a show or a band and not get attacked... Derek Webb: we'll have separate boards Derek Webb: like on caedmons.net... Bryan: a fine site, might i add Derek Webb: oh yeah Geof: Yeah, it's okay. Geof: Here's Kyle, Derek. do you plan on trying to go mainstream in the coming years to bring the message of the gospel to the masses, similar to what switchfoot and jars of clay are doing right now Derek Webb: interesting question Derek Webb: i have no intention at this point to drive my stuff into the mainsteam. i would much rather be using our resources to spread this music into the church world. Derek Webb: having said that... Derek Webb: we found out recently that the label's parent company, sony/epic, has some interest in the record and have picked it up for general market distribution, and are putting $ behind a single in the AAA/americana market Bryan: wow Derek Webb: so i suppose we'll see Megan: sounds cool Derek Webb: definitely not something that i'm after, but it can't hurt to have some success there to raise awareness in the church market * megan would love to hear nothing without you on aaa radio Bryan: ok lets give Capman415 a voice Derek are you gonna do any Caedmons songs in concert? Bryan: as in "faith my eyes", "somewhere north" ... Derek Webb: i will be drawing from all the songs that i've written over the last 10-11 years for the tour set list, so definitely i will do some that caedmons did Derek Webb: i'm really interested in playing the new material, so the old stuff might be a little limited at first Derek Webb: i've been thinking over a set list lately, and i'll be doing almost the entire new record along with just a few others... Geof: Heh. You can feed that list to us anytime, Derek. Geof: ;) Nicole: i have a question on behalf of our lost caller Johnathan Megan: go ahead nic Nicole: how has the recording process of this album been different from past caedmon's albums? do you have a band to play on your album in the studio? Derek Webb: we recorded this record almost completely live in the studio Derek Webb: i sang a lot of the vocal performances live as the music was going down Derek Webb: we did want to clean anything up or add too much after the fact Derek Webb: i did have a specific band in mind for the record, and i have no intention of changing that line up for the next record Bryan: on a related note...will your intro to Crooked Deep Down, "wrote a song about it, like to hear it here it goes", remain on the official release? Bryan: that kills me Derek Webb: all of what you hear on the pre-releases will be on the final recording (with the exception of one word...) Derek Webb: we left a lot of spontaneous conversation and randomness in there Bryan: can you expound on that Bryan: "iluvderek" and others have asked about the word 'damned' being left off the official release Derek Webb: here's the story Derek Webb: we got calls a few weeks ago from the #2 and #5 retailers Derek Webb: they both had a the same concern: the lyric in 'saint & sinner' about having been a 'damned' mess (which incidentally is taken from paul's word 'anathema' at the beginning of galatians, which means 'eternally damned by God'). Derek Webb: i was worried about the lyrics in wedding dress primarily, so this came as a last minute surprise Derek Webb: they both said that they wouldn't carry the record with that lyric on it Derek Webb: so we had to make a very last minute decision. jeff (moseley) from the label said that he'd support me either way, but i decided to pull the lyric off. i don't mind being known for the fight, but that's not the fight that i wanted to be known for. wedding dress was more along the lines of what i thought would be worth the controversy Derek Webb: so we went in and edited it (and you'll never know that it was there) over that weekend. the main retailer got completely back on board after that. the smaller one said that they still wouldn't carry it. Megan: next up is mark Megan: go ahead Hi Derek! My name is Mark and I'm a young Egyptian Biologist (fresh university grad) in Champaign, Illinois (ILLINI!!). I'm a big fan of yours:-) I hope God shows you great success in the ministry that you and Sandra have! Here's my question: What would you say to those who have been struggling with doubt (fundamental doubt, the kind that makes you doubt that God exists)? Derek Webb: wow Derek Webb: that might be a question for email... :) Derek Webb: sorry about that, i'd love to chat about that Derek Webb: maybe at another time Geof: Mark, you can always email it to askderek@caedmonscall.net and Derek will get it. Derek Webb: that would be great. thanks geof Geof: Mike ... hey dude...I'm MIke..aka.Icculas....question~~> when writing new songs , what usually comes first? Music or lyrics...do you go into writing w/ a message in mind? Derek Webb: i never have plans in writing actually Derek Webb: the times that i've tried to sit down and write about a certain topic, i usually end up sitting for quite a while Derek Webb: i generally just write when i write Bryan: ok here's acousticjoe howdy, i'm joe (and rhonda) from delaware, my question is... was "take to the world" a song that aaron tate submitted for back home, or was it written for you later? Derek Webb: take to the world was a song that aaron wrote in his last batch of caedmon's songs Derek Webb: i ran across it on a cd that he had given us of his last batch of songs around the time that i was thinking about the track list for my record Derek Webb: it was based on a church benediction so it seemed to fit right in with the material Derek Webb: also, i really wanted to record it because he had dubbed it his 'last song,' so i think he was disappointed when caedmons didn't end up putting it on 'back home' Bryan: can you speak to your relationship with aaron right now? Bryan: is it as strained as it appears to be with the band Geof: Yeah ... is he sending you stuff since he's seemed to cut Caedmon's Call off? Derek Webb: as far as my relationship with aaron goes, we're as close as we've ever been. probably closer. Nicole: ok, switching gears, our next question is from iluvderek hey dude, I freakin LOVE your cd! cant wait for you to come to Baylor in April! but yeah....have you read steve stockmans book, "The spiritual journey of U2" and if so, what are your thoughts on it? Derek Webb: i have read it. Derek Webb: i thought it was interesting. maybe a little bit over-simplified, but still interesting. Derek Webb: mostly stuff that a hardcore u2 fan would already know, we thought Nicole: ok i have nother one Nicole: Jonathan wants to know how did your signing with INO come about? Derek Webb: um, i was really interested in INO because of jeff moseley. he's a real risk taker in the industry. he's pretty fearless. i thought he might be the only person that would understand and know how to handle this record. as my ambassador to the retail world, i knew that i would need a label that would never apologize for me, and would know the right angle marketing-wise. Derek Webb: so they were perfect for me. i couldn't be happier to be with INO Megan: ok go ahead sayjay :) Hi Derek :) my brother (Layne) would kill to be here, but he can't, so he said to say hi for him, haha. My question is actually from Luke/Tango/Mongo, who's with us via phone: when did the band and you go your different ways with projects, like time wise? Derek Webb: i made the decision over a year ago, a month or so before the pre-production/basic tracking for 'back home.' it took some time to figure out how it would work and be mutually beneficial, which is what we all wanted. Derek Webb: it was really hard to know how to approach it from every angle. Derek Webb: it was good timing though, in that caedmon's was just starting a record that could pave the way for my absence. Derek Webb: i didn't get a vision for my solo record until a few months after the decision was made. i really didn't know what i was going to do post-caedmons for a little while there... Derek Webb: i had started writing the new songs, but didn't have a vision yet for the whole thing Bryan: derek, why did songs like "What You Want" and "Somewhere North", which seemed perfect for a mainstream audience, never get heard by the mainstream public? Bryan: was that negligence by the label, or was that never your desire? Derek Webb: good question. let me find an email address for essential records for you... :) Derek Webb: i was actually hoping (at that time) that something might happen along those lines Bryan: i knew it was their fault... Derek Webb: maybe not their fault exactly. just something we discussed that never happened. Bryan: they dropped the ball on that one in my opinion, "what you want" had dawson's creek written all over it :) * bryan wonders if he just said that out loud * Geof slaps ccnetbry around a bit with a large trout * megan slings a biscuit at bry Derek Webb: i think they looked to me to write songs that might give us some general market appeal, since aaron had the Christian market pretty much covered. i suppose that got my hopes up a few times, but i guess i never really thought it could happen. Derek Webb: and we weren't ready. Derek Webb: things have happened just as they should have Bryan: cant argue you there Geof: Okay, Bo-ob, er, Josh ... So Derek -- I was just wondering if you've read any good books lately (I promise this isn't a set-up to ask you out) Derek Webb: i have. i just finished reading a book about bob dylan (put out by relevantmagazine.com). interesting stuff. also, "a 'royal' waste of time" by marva dawn, and "the enduring community" by brian habig-both great books on the church Derek Webb: i will have at least those last two books available at all my shows this next year Derek Webb: i'm planning a nice little book table near the merch... Geof: Okay, Derek. Geof: So Alisa wants to know ... Geof: "Besides Sandra ... what makes you swoon?" Derek Webb: yeah... Derek Webb: hmm Derek Webb: my dog levi Derek Webb: he's got the sweetest face Derek Webb: (you can see a pic of him @ sandra's website...) Geof: He is a cute dog. Derek Webb: mostly my wife though... Derek Webb: not much else Geof: Is she touring with you right now? Geof: And will she on this next tour? Derek Webb: sandra will most likely be in the studio working on her new record while i'm on the road, so if she is @ any of the shows it will be as a 'special guest'... Bryan: and is she close to signing with a label? Derek Webb: she is close Derek Webb: really exciting things happening for her Derek Webb: everyone will know me as her husband by this time next year Geof: Can I bet you lunch on that, Derek? Derek Webb: certainly Nicole: will you be participating in the guild weekend whenever it might be this year? Derek Webb: i don't know anything about a guild weekend yet. it hasn't been discussed (with me at least). my instinct would be that i probably wouldn't be there though. i hope everyone will understand Bryan: well, derek thanks so much for your time Megan: bye derek Derek Webb: absolutely Bryan: one last questipn Nicole: oh no Bryan: will you do this again sometime in the next few months or so? Derek Webb: absolutely. i'm considering (maybe after my new site goes up) making a chat like this a monthly (or so) event. so i'd be glad to. Bryan: nice. Geof: I don't think any of us would mind a bit. Derek Webb: thanks so much everyone Megan: "thanks derek" Bryan: yeah thanks for coming everyone, and thanks derek Derek Webb: one last thing Bryan: hey! it's an encore... Derek Webb: you may be getting a call from me over these next few weeks. i'm going on a promotions rampage for 'she must and shall go free' club tour style. Derek Webb: i really want folks to know about the record, so i'll be calling everyone that i have a phone number for to remind them to pick it up on march 25 Derek Webb: thanks again * megan can hear the shouts of glee from the audience Megan: goodnight everyone * nicole shouts out her phone number Derek Webb: i hope to see everyone soon