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Pure Star makes music for all
By HOWARD DUKES
Tribune Staff Writer
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND — The three members of the band Pure Star Movement know that they'll face more than the usual amount of skeptics.
The band, which includes vocalist Lwan Easton, bass player Adrian Taylor and keyboard player and turntable mix master Ray Thomas Jr., will host a release party for their new extended-play CD and the premiere of the group's music video at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Chocolate Café in downtown South Bend.
Easton says the Pure Star Movement is a Christian rock band. He knows the band's visuals don't exactly make people think of a rock band.
The band will have to deal with people who don't think that black musicians can play rock music.
Taylor has a quick response to that.
“I lot of people look at rock like that, but I (tell them) that rock really started with Chuck Berry and Little Richard,” he says. “These are the iconic names that I say when I'm talking about where rock really came from.”
Easton says there is a risk that some people may tune the Pure Star Movement out because “they'll be like, ‘Ain't no way they can rock because they're black.' ”
However, Easton says there also is a flip side to that.
“A lot of people's interest will be piqued, so if anything, people will be more interested,” he says. “So people will either come to see us fail, or they will come because they are interested, and they will be surprised at what they hear.”
Thomas says there also are many people who are uncomfortable with the concept of Christian rock music.
“There is that image of rock music where it is kind of (worldly),” Thomas says. “But the thing that people who understand realize is that as long as you're giving God the glory, that's what counts.”
Easton agrees.
“There are so many things that were created for the wrong purposes, and people flipped them around and made them good things,” he says.
Easton says that the Pure Star Movement's music is an outgrowth of their Christianity. It can be called inspirational, gospel, Christian rock or praise and worship, Easton adds.
However, the band also makes music that is accessible to everybody.
That is reflected in the band's musical influences. Easton counts Christian bands such as Red, This Beautiful Republic and secular vocalists such as Brandy as major musical influences. Taylor says he enjoys listening to neo-soul music, and is also a fan of jazz and fusion bass players such as Marcus Miller and Jaco Pastorius.
Thomas says the producers The Neptunes influenced him because of the production team's s work in fusing rock and hip-hop. He also enjoys the music of such 1970s soul legends as Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire.
“One of our mottoes is that we make music for everybody,” he says. “The believer or non-believer.”
Easton says the Pure Star Movement is a Christian rock band. He knows the band's visuals don't exactly make people think of a rock band.
The band will have to deal with people who don't think that black musicians can play rock music.
Taylor has a quick response to that.
“I lot of people look at rock like that, but I (tell them) that rock really started with Chuck Berry and Little Richard,” he says. “These are the iconic names that I say when I'm talking about where rock really came from.”
Easton says there is a risk that some people may tune the Pure Star Movement out because “they'll be like, ‘Ain't no way they can rock because they're black.' ”
However, Easton says there also is a flip side to that.
“A lot of people's interest will be piqued, so if anything, people will be more interested,” he says. “So people will either come to see us fail, or they will come because they are interested, and they will be surprised at what they hear.”
Thomas says there also are many people who are uncomfortable with the concept of Christian rock music.
“There is that image of rock music where it is kind of (worldly),” Thomas says. “But the thing that people who understand realize is that as long as you're giving God the glory, that's what counts.”
Easton agrees.
“There are so many things that were created for the wrong purposes, and people flipped them around and made them good things,” he says.
Easton says that the Pure Star Movement's music is an outgrowth of their Christianity. It can be called inspirational, gospel, Christian rock or praise and worship, Easton adds.
However, the band also makes music that is accessible to everybody.
That is reflected in the band's musical influences. Easton counts Christian bands such as Red, This Beautiful Republic and secular vocalists such as Brandy as major musical influences. Taylor says he enjoys listening to neo-soul music, and is also a fan of jazz and fusion bass players such as Marcus Miller and Jaco Pastorius.
Thomas says the producers The Neptunes influenced him because of the production team's s work in fusing rock and hip-hop. He also enjoys the music of such 1970s soul legends as Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire.
“One of our mottoes is that we make music for everybody,” he says. “The believer or non-believer.”
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