Jeff Holland writes in to let us know that Derek was interviewed for the Phantom Toolbooth by Steve Stockman. I think my favorite quote comes from a question asked about what influences Derek has:
I love honest songwriting, which draws me to folks like Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Bob Dylan, U2, Indigo Girls, Elliott Smith, and the like. I just think it’s fascinating to hear such honest writing. It’s a sad contrast to look at the life of someone like Elliott Smith who wrote so much about his addiction to drugs and his incredible melancholy until quite tragically and poetically, he killed himself. While it was certainly heartbreaking, it wasn’t really a huge surprise. He had been honest about that stuff for so many years, and how close he had come so many times.
But then you look at so many Christian musicians who end up in really sad situations that end in divorce and abuse in their marriages, addictions of all kinds, and so on. But it’s always such a total shock because we never heard anything leading to it. Everyone is so happy and sinless. You never see the warning signs in the music like you should if people were really being honest. And if there’s anywhere where folks should feel liberated to be honest it’s in the Church. It’s just terrible irony.
Give the full interview a read—it’s worth checking out.
[Ed.: Actually, Dutch Reformed Steve noted that Jarcaines beat Jeff to it. --GFM]