Falling Up
Genre: Rock/Hard Rock
Official Web Site
Falling Up Bibliography: (click on each album cover to view tracks and Falling Up lyrics)
Falling Up Biography Combining the intensity of modern rock with all the emotion involved in traditional praise and worship, Falling Up is here to prove their radical style is not a fleeting attempt at sticking to a trend, but a true declaration of the passion they hold for their ministry.
"Our mission is to tell everyone who listens to our music and goes to our shows about the love we have in Christ Jesus, to show people that Christians can be real and honest," explains lead vocalist Jessy Ribordy. "It is to glorify God in every aspect of our lives and this band, and to show people through our lyrics, music, love, and lifestyles that there is more to life than what the world has offered us."
This enthusiasm is not only a welcome ray of light in what can be a cynical industry, but it is the attitude that has carried the band from its start, nearly five years ago, to its growing success today. Begun as a dream of Ribordy and guitarist Tom Cox while they were still freshmen in high school, Falling Up was so named because it was the title of the first song Tom and Jessy ever wrote. Its topic dealt with how imperfect people are, but how sufficient the grace of God is to compensate for that imperfection. The song set the tone for things to come.
It was a group of their old buddies that came to be their big break to pursue what they love on an even larger scale. Their friends, and now labelmates, Kutless, were there growing up alongside the boys in Falling Up in Albany, Oregon. After supporting the band for years prior, the members of Kutless pitched the Falling Up demo to BEC Recordings owner, Brandon Ebel, who eventually signed the budding group to his label in the summer of 2003.
In the time that has followed, they have recorded their 11-song debut album entitled "Crashings," out February 24, 2004, with Producer Aaron Sprinkle (Kutless, Anberlin). Describing their sound as "pash rock," the group combines their influences of rock, hip-hop, R&B, and metal to complete their project into anthems of dynamism and adulation.
"We try to make our music really passionate," Ribordy elaborates, "We love strings and violins. We have a lot of hip-hop grooves, rock melodies, and heavy parts. We want our music to be lasting and exciting. We think that every time a fan listens to it they will find something new."
Something the fans will not likely miss on the release is one sensational collaborative hit entitled, "Jacksonfive," which features guest vocals by Ben Hulbert, Paul Wright, Jon Micah Sumrall of Kutless, and Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter. "We totally don't deserve to have all of these rad performers on the song," says Ribordy of the enormous experience. "It was such an honor to work, write, and share ideas with all of the guys."
Yet even amongst all the catchy choruses and rockin' grooves, Falling Up has not left its message to lack substance. "I just write about what has always been on my heart," Ribordy clarifies, "I don't write off of an experience that has happened to me, or an emotional time in my life. Not that that is wrong to write about that, but I choose to write about things that just need to be said in this life, things that just can't go on in silence. Sometimes it's really symbolic and sometimes it is as clear as day."
What will be sure to be apparent to listeners though is the sincerity Falling Up holds as a necessary element of their ministry. "We want kids to feel like they are a part of what we are singing and playing about, "Ribordy concludes, "We feel that if they can connect with the music, they will understand our hearts and our dreams. We think kids will be able to listen to our music and not just have a fleeting emotional experience, but a memory that will stick with them forever. We believe that our influence on the kids will not just happen with our music, but our lives that we live every day. We want to be 'Falling Up' on the stage and off because that is who we are, and we think that an example is the most important influence of all.
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