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Some have called
him Christian music’s equivalent to Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas.
Others have equated his musical style and sound to Elton John.
But never have the artists above carried a message so
important and a passion so deep as the one conveyed on
"Invitation to Eavesdrop." And its title is not only clever,
but it’s intuitive, for one is actually listening in on private
conversations Groves has had with his God.
He’s not trying to fill a niche. He’s not trying to make a
name for himself in Christian music. He’s just trying to convey,
through his music, what the Lord’s been saying to him.
Rocketown debut artist Shaun Groves looks like a
pretty mainstream guy. He’s got the alternative artist look,
funky hair, a raspy voice and formula rock beats – but he has the
heart of a servant. And he doesn’t want success to change that.
"When we were first shopping my music around, we met with a
record company exec who said he was in the business of building
music icons," Groves said. "Wow. That sounded pretty great to me,
but it also made me feel convicted."
The 27-year-old Tyler, Texas native said he went home from
the meeting pumped and ready to talk about it with his wife of
four years, Becky.
"She took my inflated ego and humbled me very quickly by
making me change a dirty diaper or something like that," Shaun
said laughing. "Then we talked about what we really wanted to
happen with my music, and I refocused, knowing God was in control
of what would happen with my career."
So with his wife, Becky, and 8-month-old daughter, Gabriella,
in on the partnership, Groves is poised for a spiritual and
musical journey he has given up to God.
But it’s been a long lesson for Shaun. A Christian since the
age of 12, he had a fondness and a talent for music that most
people would consider a miracle. Groves studied music and strove
for excellence in every aspect of his playing, writing and
singing, believing God wanted him to be a songwriter.
After college Shaun moved to Nashville and landed a job as a
tape copy boy at a record label. He studied his craft, asking
advice from some of Nashville’s best writers. When he got serious
about selling his material, he tried to sell it to other artists,
but his demos – containing Groves’ voice – sold not only his
songs, but his talent as a vocalist.
"I really had been struggling with performing my own material
and putting myself out there," Groves said. "Satan kept telling
me I wasn’t good enough to be a witness for God, that I wasn’t
good enough to speak for Him."
But Shaun said he is learning daily from the words of the
Apostle Paul: "Paul told people to look at how he lived, look
at his life overall, how he was becoming more like Christ daily
because he was in love with the Father. Yes, we are all human and
are going to make mistakes, but God can work through that and use
it."
And Groves can’t wait. He is so excited to see what God has
planned for him and his music. His debut release, "Invitation to
Eavesdrop," has the Christian music community abuzz. "I was
reading everything they were writing about me – the music
reviews, the feature articles, everything," he said from his home
in Franklin, Tenn. outside Nashville. "It’s all so new and so
exciting."
But through talks with his accountability partner at his
church, Groves decided it’s too easy to get caught up in the hype
and lose focus.
"So, I guess I am ‘fasting’ from my own publicity," he said.
"I need to make sure I am getting my affirmation from the right
places – from God and not from the critics."
While his record company, Michael W. Smith’s Rocketown,
has mounted a media blitz to promote their new artist, Shaun is
trying to keep his focus – not on the record sales, but on the
message God wants people to receive through him.
His tunes are relevant to how God has been ministering to him
in his spiritual journey. Tackling everything from disagreements
with friends to the formalities of addressing God, Shaun’s wish
is to have his music be a reflection of how he lives his life.
"This music isn’t my life," he said. "Whether it’s successful
or not, I am still a follower of Christ, a husband and a father.
I want the music to be an extension of my life.
"It’s all about really, truly knowing God and making Him
known. Without that desire, without that goal, this album is
nothing but noise."
Its stunning presentation is relevant to today’s Christian
walk and to the busy lifestyles so many of us have. And what’s
even more outstanding is that Shaun chooses to use down-to-earth
language – words we can understand and appreciate when it comes
to identifying with Christ.
Garnering popular spins on radio stations and in popular
rotation, the hit "Welcome Home" was written while Sean
and wife Becky were remodeling their home. Speaking of the
clutter and "junk" one accumulates in life, it asks God to clear
it out: "Forgive me for the disrepair and souvenirs from floor to
ceiling … Every closet’s filled with clutter … messes yet to be
discovered."
Groves conveys powerful messages – some that may have been
said before, but not quite this way. He works with what’s around
him, what’s in his life and what the Lord is working on in and
through him. His refreshing takes on life and experiences make
for music that’s easy to listen to and cuts to the core of
Christian life.
Q:
You wrote all of the songs on the album yourself.
SHAUN:
100% of it. And I'm not one of those guys that thinks that
because I'm the artist, I want my name on every song. There are
some people who co-write, you know -- they don't really write,
but it's so important for them to have their name on every song,
they'll [take ownership of the song]. That happens from time to
time. A lot more in secular music, than it happens here, though.
All that matters to me is having the best songs I can have. I
don't always have to write everything. I just want stuff that
communicates really well to people.
Q:
Tell us a little about yourself, how you got started, and so on.
SHAUN:
Tyler, Texas is pretty much a retirement community. I grew up in
church, and ended up playing saxophone in the school band. I was
really bad at it and just did it because I didn't want to take
athletics. When I was six, I became a Christian at the church,
and everyone made a big hoopla about it. Old people were coming
up to me, crying. We went out for pizza afterwards to celebrate.
Then later I got baptized, because all of the teenagers were
getting baptized, so I wanted to be like them. And I got all of
the perks, you know -- I got to cry, I got to go out for pizza
and celebrate.
But when I was in band in sixth grade, I was surrounded by
some other sax players down at the end of the line that were
pretty bad like me, and they were Christians, but they were
different. I was very attracted to what they had. They were
interested in church not just because there was pizza there, or a
ski trip coming up, but it was like a part of their lives. They
would get together before school and pray for kids.
They made sure I was a Christian, which of course I was, but
I didn't know what it meant. So I asked a lot of questions to my
pastors, teachers, and friends. And in 1986, when I was twelve, I
understood for the first time what it meant to be a Christian. I
gave my devotion, my mind, and my will to Christ. It was a
decision made with all that I was.
And that's when I changed. I went from being very
self-serving -- as all teenagers are -- to "what can I do for
You?" That's a big difference for a teen, so I stuck out among my
own friends, like those guys had stuck out to me.
Q:
What three words best describe you?
SHAUN:
Blunt, creative, and mellow.
Q:
Do you have a hidden talent?
SHAUN: I paint and work with graphic design. You can
see some of my work on the album cover.
Q: What's the best advice your dad ever gave you?
SHAUN:
You never learn without asking questions.
Q:
What words or phrases do you overuse?
SHAUN:
"Really," and "That rocks."
Q: Do you collect anything?
SHAUN: Old hymn books.
Q:
What's your favorite hymn?
SHAUN: "Love Lifted Me."
Q:
What's one thing you've overcome in your life?
SHAUN: Being overly concerned with the expectations of
others. |
