Questions w/ Andrew Osenga (part one)

“Questions”, the all new artist interview series, is here and I couldn’t be more excited about our first artist! Whether as a solo singer/songwriter or a member of Caedmon’s Call, Andrew Osenga is a long time favorite of mine. A great song is both personal and universal, and that’s what you get with Andy. Great music that really means something. Here is part one of “Questions” w/ Andrew Osenga…

StSL - Songwriter. Musician. Performer. Producer. You’ve had the opportunity to wear a lot of different hats. Which one has meant the most to you?

AO - Being a bit of a musical handyman is a blessing and a curse. The curse is that you rarely get to really immerse yourself in one thing. The blessings are worth it, though. You get to work with a lot of great people and chase lots of different muses. For a guy with a short attention span like me, that's very helpful and very fun. And you get to bring different things to the table. Being a songwriter helps me when I'm mixing. Being a guitar player I will often take songs directions other folks won't see. Having played in bands for years I have a good idea of what things can and can't be pulled off live, which really helps in production and arranging. They all complement nicely.

StSL - You’re a very active participant in BriteRevolution.com, which is a relatively new music site that certainly seems to live up to its name. Talk about what Brite is doing and how you’ve benefitted from your association with them.

AO - It's a great site and a great idea. It's a subscription site, 5 bucks a month, and you get a new track from about twenty different artists each month. Artists like Matthew Perryman Jones, Griffin House, Joy Williams, Waterdeep, myself and others. They cover the costs of my new recordings and in return the songs are exclusive to their site for their initial release. It's super helpful for us as artists, and I hope it gets enough subscriptions to stay growing.

StSL - Whether a song is labeled as “Christian” or not, faith and art are certainly often intertwined. How does that dynamic play out for you?

AO - For me there's no difference. God created the whole world, not just the "safe for the family" parts. What is not sacred? Sex? Death? Chair factories? Art is communication both conscious and subterranean and that which we believe always ends up being that which we communicate.

StSL - You’re both a solo artist and a member of Caedmon’s Call. Are there any differences in your approach to songwriting for either side?

AO - Well, Caedmon's had a huge history when I joined. They have a sound and in writing for them I need to stay true to that. I can stretch it and try to take them in some new directions, but it needs to stay in the realm of what makes that band unique. When it's just me I can do whatever I want.

StSL - A stranger comes up to you and says, “Play me the best song ever written.” What do you play?

AO - "I can't make you love me" by Bonnie Raitt.

Visit www.AndyOsenga.com and check back here tomorrow for part two.