December Featured Artist | Bo Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE
Dec 19, 2014, Artist News
NEEDTOBREATHE is a band comprised of two brothers (Bo and Bear Rinehart), Seth Bolt and Josh Lovelace. Their release of Rivers In the Wasteland earlier this year debuted No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian Album, Rock Album and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 charts.
For the band 2015 doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. With a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song they are continuing to show that through all the things they’ve been through over the years – that following your true voice and making music from the heart works!
Weber: NEEDTOBREATHE has had an incredible year! You’ve released Rivers In the Wasteland, been nominated for a Grammy and Dove Awards, recorded at a The Live Room session at Ocean Way, appeared on Letterman, Ellen, and other various talk shows and rode on the South Dakota float at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Anything stand out in your mind as most memorable?
Bo Rinehart: The Grammy nomination was unexpected and a pleasant surprise for sure, but I think the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was pretty impressive. We had no idea how much fun it would be. I guess we're used to being underwhelmed by parades as kids, but this is something entirely different. We shared a bus with KISS and we had an absolute blast!
Weber: Rivers In the Wasteland came out earlier this year. How was making this album different from previous ones?
BR: It was the most different from any of the records we've ever made. Most of the tracks were completely live takes and many of those were the first or second takes. We wanted this record to be raw and honest and we knew we were going to have to leave mistakes on it. There is something more genuine in the first couple of takes that can never be repeated. There's that experience that we share with the listener not having played it a million times. Its fun, and stressful, but looking back, I love the way it turned out and it really captured a moment in time for the band.
Weber: Do you have a song that is more personal to you or a favorite?
BR: Can I say all of them? This was very much a "heart on our sleeve" type of record.
Weber: You have won or been nominated for the Dove Awards since 2008 and now, a Grammy. What’s it like to be recognized like that?
BR: Its good and bad, I guess. We certainly never got into music thinking about any awards that might be handed out and I hope it never is a goal of ours. But without a doubt, it feels great knowing that we aren't the only ones that dig what we do and does put a little extra gas in the tank.
Weber: How did you discover Weber and what is it about the instruments that you like?
BR: Honestly, out of pure necessity. I had borrowed someone’s mandolin and began messing around with the tuning. I had some success with this procedure once, trying to emulate a guitar part that I had written in an open tune guitar and then transferred to the banjo. Unfortunately, I was not a banjo player but it got the creative wheels spinning and boom, inspiration! There was a similar scenario that brought me to the Weber. In the transfer, I realized I needed a tuning that went much lower than a typical mandolin. Thus, the mandola, which is by far my favorite instrument that I own. I was completely sold on the product and began replacing my Gibson mandolin with Weber. There are not many instruments that you can absolutely count on with zero worries, especially touring on the road night in and night out, but the Webers are rock solid.
Weber: You’re also quite the artist – where do you find the inspirations for your drawings.
BR: Why thank you! I feel it’s the same inspiration that fuels my music as well. To me, you have to be in a constant state of awareness, paying close attention to every detail. Take notes, save images, hum to your voice memo box on your iPhone and keep detailed accounts of anything that sparks your mind to a new place. And then, at some point with all this digestions of thoughts and ideas, it inevitably spills out. We just have to keep our eyes open and not be afraid to let it pour out.
Weber: 2014 is ending with acoustic shows in the UK and starting with an Australian tour. Do you have a favorite place in the world to play?
BR: Ireland and Scotland...so far.
Weber: Does your family ever go on tour with you?
BR: As much as they can. There is nothing that compares to sharing the best moments of your life with your family. It makes it that much more special.
Weber: What are you most excited for in 2015?
BR: I think the chances that we take. Our band has been through a lot, and you go through seasons of being overly protective of what you've accomplished, but right now, we are in a season of inspiration and rejuvenation of doing what we love. We're excited to make some mistakes, and really, that’s the best place to be. It’s exactly the reason we started a rock n roll band in the first place.
To stay updated on what NEEDTOBREATHE is up to visit their website.