Gene Eugene

The Violet Burning by John J. Thompson

With the recent release of The Violets self-titled debut, Mike Pritzl is the only remaining original member, and with a whole new approach to their career, rumors have been flying about. In one of the few interviews he's granted to Christian media, Pritzl catches up his fans on The Violet Burning's latest doings.

You originally came from the club scene, right?

Yeah, exactly. We'd been together a year, never played in a church nor felt the need to. Not that it was a bad thing, just that we figured there were lots of other artists who wanted to do that, and we, in particular, hadn't called ourselves a Christian band, nor did we know what that really was. We just figured that fans are fans, whatever they believe is okay. And if they relate to our music in a certain way, we're honored by that.

With this new record, The Violet Burning, Did you desire to reach beyond the Christian fan base? Did that desire affect how you wrote the lyrics?

No, not at all. The last two records document where I was at at certain times. I mean, you know me a little bit, personally, and you know we've gone through a lot of devastating situations in our personal lives, just like anybody does. Strength was written knowing that was going to happen due to the choices I was going to make. Knowing in my heart that I was going to Élose many things, in fact, lose everything. Lose friendships and jobs. We all lost our closest relationships, our wives or ... not in my particular case ... You lose all those types of things. When you know it's coming, it's kind of scary. You feel very weak and helpless, and Strength was born out of that. This record was born out of the aftermath of everything that happened ãincluding losing two close friends to death, one to suicide.

How has this process, from the personal tragedies to the career changes, affected you, the artist?

I don't know. I mean, I don't know ... I know everybody will have their own personal taste, but for me this record is the truest to me, ever. What you're seeing is just a vulnerable person. And, hopefully, you're hearing, through the rhythms and the bass playing and the guitar playing, those emotions through sound as well.

Your previous music was pristine, yet the vocals and the melodies and the lyrics also had blood all over them. For instance, the song "Blind." Have you completely given up on the threads that were going through Strength? Is it hopeless?

I don't think it's hopeless. No. I think there are moments when you feel ... Here's this 18-year-old kid looking everywhere for God, or for something. And it seems as if there's nothing. I think each of us reaches a place in our lives where we feel that way, where we feel that suddenly the sadness is so great, and the sorrow so deep that you reach the bottom of the well, and all that's left at the bottom of the well is numb. There's nothing. It's just hard. That's what that particular song is about ãgoing beyond that sorrow.

So where do you go from there? I mean, when you're at the bottom of a well, how do you react to that place?

You embrace it. All I've ever been able to do is embrace life, wherever it's at. If things were always wonderful and rosy, then we wouldn't know they were good. It's what makes the sunset so beautiful ãthe contrast between the darkness and the brightness. That's where the true beauty lies.

At this moment in time, as this record is coming out, what do you want to say to the Violet Burning fans who might hear it and be worried about you? Do you think they'll be worried about me? I think they'll relate.

I mean, it's such a contrast ... Having been in communication with you pretty regularly, I'm able to piece together the progress. But to someone who has Strength and then picks up Violet Burning, it can sound like you've completely given up on the things you so eloquently and passionately sang about on your last statement.

If you're referring to the spiritual element of Strength, that even in the midst of knowing what was going to come down the road and that it was scary ... but there was still sort of hope ... In fact, I think there are a couple songs on Violet Burning that show that. It's not that the whole record is "Blind" ãthat's just one particular song.

Violet Burning almost has a baptism feeling, with "Underwater" and "Waiting," particularly. There was a sacramental element, which is why I was trying to ask something without stating anything.

I don't mind if you say things. It might help me.

I'm not familiar with your denominational background, but among the mainline groups, like Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, there's a bit more of a macabre sense about spiritual things. It's not so clean and tidy, as are some of the American-based Protestant evangelical cultures. Still, the last line on Strength is, "Through my tears I know one thing remains always, You." It's definitely not a rousing rock anthem. Whereas the newer stuff almost reminds me of the darker aspects of a liturgy, in the awareness of death, the awareness of the end. I can't speak for your entire following, but when you talk about The Violet Burning going from a place of raw emotion and being very honest, I've always perceived it to be an honest element of faith that really had some guts to it, because it wasn't faith based on rosy life; it was faith based on a slightly more skewed vision of things, which is something most of us can relate to a bit more than to the children's songs of our youth. But to juxtapose that against lyrics like those in "Blind," for instance: "I can't reach you." There's a difference, and I think there'll be a significant number of people who may think, "Is he saying he's giving up his faith, that he's giving up his beliefs?" It doesn't sound like you have, but have you given up on the struggle?

No, I don't think I've given up on the struggle at all. I think songs mean different things to different people. I know many people related to Strength as if it were some form of worship, a type of spiritual record. I never did. But that's cool, that they've found their ... Music is such a spiritual, soulful thing. People find different elements in it. This particular record has many of those spiritual, soulful elements. And I don't really look at "Blind" as necessarily being a "faith" or a "lack-of-faith" song. It has nothing to do with that. It's more of a conversation kind of song.

On the cover of Violet Burning the guys are lounging around in angel wings. Is there a theme in that?

I gave the record to a friend of mine, and I let her live with it for a few weeks. I said, "Do whatever you want. Just tell us where to be and what to wear."

... "So grab your angel wings, boys!"

Yeah. So we bought some angel wings. It's cool that she picks up on what's happening within the lyrics. The whole point of a song like "Love": "Do you feel lower than the Angels?" ... The whole point of her photographs is that we're NOT angels, we're lower than the angels. And that's the truth.

In all the pictures on the other panel, you've got somebody either drinking a beer or smoking and stuff. People might say it means nothing, but if it meant nothing it wouldn't have happened. Not that it means "this person is not a Christian," or that it's something people need to boycott. In terms of symbolism it gives you a lot to look at, but it also probably asks more questions than it answers. If you find that you're now engaging the ears of a wider audience, do you believe you have something to offer them beyond that feeling of commonality? Is there anything that follows that? Or is that enough?

For me, that's the essence of it, of who we are and what we're supposed to be. Do you know what I mean? Obviously there are going to be some interviewers who ask me questions that are Christ-related.

Well, you can ask someone, "Are you still a Christian?"

Yeah. Exactly.

If you're not, then why are you even engaging in this kind of thought process? I know that when people who know me and who know where we're coming from see "the exclusive interview with The Violet Burning," they'll think I've totally copped out if I don't address that, or they'll think you're a friend of mine and I'm letting you get away with something ... Like if I ever get Michael Knott on the phone, you better believe he's going to have to answer a few questions.

The question is, "Now that we're finding a broader audience, do we have anything to offer them besides commonality?" The answer is, "I don't know." I don't know if I have anything to offer them other than commonality. All I know is that what the people offer me is friendship and common ground in our humanity. That's ultimately is what it's about, for me. For me, being a man who would put his faith in Christ, it's because He was a friend of sinners. There was this commonality between Him and those around Him, between Him and me now. That's that common ground. There's something people can learn and believe. There are believers who have this view of a far-off Being who obviously does relate to them. They have this image that He's offended by certain things. And that's just one thing God can't be - He can't be offended. How are you going to offend God? He already knows everything that ever was, or ever is, or ever will be - He's God. You know what I mean? Yes, there are things He hates. That's different, hating something and being ...

... And being shocked by it.

... Or being disappointed. One of the greatest lessons I ever learned is that God can't be disappointed with us ãbecause He already knows. What a wonderful truth to know that no matter where I'm at, or where I'll ever be, He already knows. Does He approve? Not necessarily. You know what I mean? There's a difference. We often assume that if someone's not disappointed, that means they approve. And it just doesn't mean that. I find commonality with Christ having become a man. For me, this is a very human record. And when I look at the Bible, it's a very human thing. It's filled with humanity ãGod's love for humanity and His embracing humanity. The Bible says David killed tens of thousands. What's so Christian about that? It's filled with love songs that are sensual and passionate. The Song of Solomon. I mean, gosh! Tell me that's not an "R" rated book! The Bible is filled with violence. Make a movie about that! And then take it into church and show it. The whole idea just blows my mind, that the church is still that shallow. Lamentations is a book full of sorrow. And a very confusing book. The author's blaming God, and the next minute he's blaming himself. He's messed up, and he doesn't know why it's all happening to him. One minute he's saying, "It's my own fault," and one minute he's saying, "God, why did You do this to me?" There's so much to the human experience. And then the book is full of joy, and wonder, miracles, death and life, promise and hope. Ultimately, I find that that's what God's Word is, the commonality, the common ground. And with people who don't believe, there's a commonality there for them: "You reap what you sow," "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." People who aren't Christians apply those truths. Commonality.

I need to wrap it now.

And if there's any other lyrical things you want to talk about, cool. And the less of my theology, the better.

Well, I don't think you can thoughtfully separate your theology from your music. It's like saying, "I like this person, except their personality," or "except the way they look." Without the spirituality, it's just guitars and drums, and none of us will be interested.

Exactly. If we had no soul.