An interview with Justin Murr, the mastermind behind Liberty N' Justice. An album with a credit list that reads like a who's who of the best in Christian music: Michael Sweet, Jamie Rowe, Lou Gramm, Paul Q. Pek, Mitch Malloy, Ken Tamplin, Bob Carlisle, Harry Hess, Mike Roe, Scott Wenzel, Robert Fleischman, John Schlitt, Greg X. Volz, Doug Phelps, Mitch McVicker, Michelle Lynn, Dale Thompson, Rick Florian, and Jeff Fenholt.

When I first approached Justin about doing a banophernalia Q&A I was a little nervous, given the pedigree of artists who worked on the project. Would the guy have a sense of humour? Would he be one of those "music is my ministry guys" who couldn't see the forest for the trees? Would he be an out of the closet card carrying member of Carman Ministries? Complete with an autographed towell from the set of The Champion.

After the first notes back and forth I realized that Justin took the music, but not himself too seriously. It was refreshing, and encouraging. I was impressed.

Justin Murr ladies and gentleman, proof that you can have a sense of humour and be totally serious.

Read on ...

Official Site | banophernalia.com review

Justin, what on earth were you thinking when you started this whole process? I mean this is a pretty big project. Was it what you expected it would be?

This really was a "God Thing", when I first started recording the album it was just gonna be a solo record. I had no idea it was gonna get as big as it did. We just kept adding singers and the next we knew we had this really cool project. I like the album as a whole, if we had the time and money I would have changed a few things.

Fair enough, I don't think there are many artists who are ever completely satisfied. There's always something that could have been better. In all I think it's a pretty good collection. Now that you've released it, how has reaction been?

The reaction has been good, the CD is selling way more than we have would have ever thought. A few reviews have less than stellar, but in all what people have been saying I am happy with. The end result is I am really not known, and for me to get these singers together and release the record and get the reaction/press we are getting has been really unbelievable.

Ah reviewers, the armchair cancer of the music industry. Let me guess, they took a lot of shots at the rap stuff. Whatever, I'm not a huge rap fan either, but I will say that there's almost something for everyone here, with names who have built in audiences. Some of the juxtaposition of styles and artists is very cool. How much of this was by design, and how much was brought to the table by the artists?

There are really 3 albums in one here, when I started recording the solo album I was gonna go for a rock/rap album. As we added singers the album kept changing into was it is now. I would have loved the record to be just an AOR record without some of the rap, but in all I like it.

That helps shed some light on the feel of the record. It's not obvious, but as you listen to the album you can hear the progression through the stages: Rock, AOR, rap / rock. What was the process like working with such a varied stable of artists?

Very cool! It was a dream to have these guys on a Liberty n' Justice CD. I am a fan of every singer on the record.

Just goes to show that some dreams do come true. How did you work with the artists?

We paid for there services ,lol!

Money (slapping my forehead) of course, that can make a lot of dreams come true. On those songs where you weren't assisting with the writing, what was the selection process? Was there a theme they had to follow?

The cool thing was I handpicked each song, good and bad … and I am happy with the 18 songs even if they are a little eclectic.

Eclectic's the right word ... you cover a lot of musical ground over the 18 songs, but they play well off of each other. Even the (c)rap songs (hey, it was an easy shot, and I don't want to be the only one who says they're actually pretty good). I would attribute much of the feel of the record to the fact that the majority of the album was mixed by Gary Manuel. How important was it that there be a single set of ears behind the board to create a consistency of sound?

Gary is a great engineer; he is the same guy producing John Schlitt's new solo CD. He also does duck calling CD's (for hunters) so he has no shortage of talent. In fact, if anyone needs duck calling CD's please call Gary at 309-697-6705.

That's too funny. One of my buddies is quite the outdoorsman, and in the fall he hunts ducks. I'll have to tell him about this. I can just see him hiding behind a duck blind with his portable CD player cranked. Does he also do celebrity duck calls?

Hey, you talk about touring on your site? Obviously given the nature of this project, how are you going about translating the project to a live setting?

Cardboard cutouts, do you think anyone will know?

It all depends. You could probably get away with it if you were doing a Carman tribute show. Whoops, I gotta quit picking on Carman. Maybe I'll take shots at Daniel Amos instead; they haven't released anything of note since Horrendous Disc. (Note to the half dozen rabid DA fans: I'M KIDDING! Everyone knows their last good album was Shotgun Angel).

You spent two years working on the project, any particularly memorable moments or funny stories about the artists?

There was this one time when Bill Tate got on a drum kit to start playing and blew up ... no wait that was Spinal Tap.

Hey, maybe you could have Bill design the cardboard cutouts for the live show. Just make sure he gets the dimensions right.

Artists can be a cagy bunch. How was it getting people to commit, and were there any artists you'd hoped to get that you just could land either due to schedules or other commitments?

Very happy with who we got, we are in production for the follow up album and we have some guys coming back plus we have added some really cool singers!

Oh come on Justin, a little dirt here would be fun. You can't play it safe forever, one day the dirt will come out. Be first! Okay, how about something about Jon Gilbert being unable to keep his guitar in tune, or how you originally wanted to have Greg X Volz and John Schlitt sing a duet but they couldn't agree on who would sing the first verse.

Ok Ok ...a little dirt, one guy had no talent ,total waste of time, can barely play, so he went out and hired a bunch of known singers to sing on his album. I don't want to say names but Jevon you know who I am talking about don't you?

Look, I thought you said you wouldn't bring up the demo tape I sent you. It was the same one I used for my American Idol audition. They said I was too old. Are you saying I suck? (sniff) Okay, I'll stick to my question sheet. How aggressive was the schedule in trying to pull this together?

Two years to put this record together...

That's a significant commitment. I just realized you slipped in "We are in production for the follow up" I'll grab on to that one. That speaks pretty highly of the confidence you have in the project breaking even (worst case) since you are already charting out your next couple of years. What are you, some kind of musical masochist? Since you're doing another album do you plan on playing more on the next one, or will it be a similar approach?

I plan on writing/co-writing 12 of the 15 songs. In fact 4 songs are 100% done … so there will be a new one I hope by summer next year.

Very cool. Strike while the iron's hot. I was thinking about asking you to talk about who you'd record with if you could put together the ultimate band, but as I reread the credits, I think you've pretty much lived out a dream. (who says money can't buy happiness)

Thank you, wait to hear the next one. It is gonna be a polka/rap rock concept album about the spiritual aspects of The Matrix. It's gonna star Tone Loc and Danny Devito in duel roles.

I guess with the passing of John Candy, it was out of the question to reunite Yosh and Stan Shmenge, I don't think it would be the same. I mean, you want proof, when you think of the Blues Brothers you don't immediately think of Jim Belushi.

Aside from the easy shots the rap songs are getting, the Lou Gramm song taking a few knocks on the boards, do you think this is fair?

I think the Lou song is great, I think we are getting more negative reaction on the rap songs. People did not like that we put Scott Wenzel on a rap tune. They just do not realize that Scott and every singer on the song approved their tune before they committed to the project.

That's too bad. You know, those so called "odd" musical pairings are really part of the draw for an album like this. The artists are able to do things out of character and take a few chances. There are a number of pairings I'd never ever have thought of: The Greg Volz tune springs to mind almost as quickly as Scott's tune. As to Lou, I kind of like it too - Especially given what he's been through. Besides he still sings way better than me.

So when do we get to read your total review on the album?

Uh, it was going to be a surprise, for after we were finished. The album follows an interesting arc. It's got a lot more diversity than I had expected. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I'm glad it wasn't all 80's style rock. It did seem like the back half of the album had a lot more rapping? A lot of which worked, some of it, well ...

Well what? You think it's bad now, if I would have done the raps the CD would have been a bad coaster. By the way, I know I know... everyone else could have done it better. Where was MC Hammer when you needed him?

You know, I'm not sure. I always figured a strong gust of wind puffed up his pants and he's still circling the globe like a long lost weather balloon. As to white guys rapping, I think the best ever example is Howard Jones. Man, that boy had rhythm.

Continuing on the odd pairings, Mike Roe and Harry Hess, who'd a thunk? My first reaction when I read the credits prior to hearing the song was "What? Mike's not playing?" The more I listen to the song the more it stands out. It's a great tune.

Harry Hess is a great singer and Mike has that cool vibe, I love this song and I wish I would have written it... the next record we are gonna do a more stripped down rock record and we are gonna have another cool duet on it.

You like the word gonna huh? (see how I didn't say , eh?) There you go again taking about the next record. Justin, you should be justifiably proud of this one, and get all the mileage out it that you can.

Oh I am proud, but like any artist (did I really call myself an artist?) I am like, "Here world, here's Welcome To The Revolution", but I need to keep working on the concept and make it be what I know it could be. The truth be known I love "Welcome", but the fact is I am still growing and I want to show everyone what kind of songwriter I am and that there is talent and great ideas outside of mainstream nationally released music. 3 Chord Records is not Sony Music, and this was all self financed so in the end for what it is, it is a great album in my view.

Thanks for your time Jevon and remember in a car with four people, when someone passes gas and three windows go down, the other well, ... the culprit is found!

Well there you have it ladies and gentleman the perfect way to end the interview. Go to www.3chordrecords.net and buy a copy. Roll down your window and play loud while you enjoy the fresh air.

Jevon the Tall
banopernalia.com
June 2004