EXPLANATION

If you have followed the history of WILLET over the past few years, you have noticed many twists and turns as labels, companies and organizations attempted to force their view of the “music industry” into the band. We are blessed to have people surrounding us who support us through prayer and help with decision-making. One of those people happens to be our Dad and band pastor, Glen Willet.

One day in September, after a long summer of touring, speaking, and writing new music, our Dad encouraged us to think outside of the “industry standards” and be apart of changing the warped structure that it has become. In the changing world of music, touring full time as an independent rock band can become extremely difficult to support yourself, and family from.

We began thinking as a band about what our main priorities are as artists, songwriters, performers, Christians, and friends. We realized that if you strip down the “music business” side of playing music, we are honestly most concerned that our music is a tool for change. As we discussed plans for the new album, it became obvious that the full length CD needed to be something different. Something outside of the box that would encourage people to be apart of the change. After many days of discussion, we agreed to do a “concept album” to raise awareness for the problem in Africa. Thus birthed “VIRUS”.

This opening song is a perfect fit for the beginning of the album. I remember reading a story about the late Rich Mullins and Keith Green and how at the time when they were writing music, their songs were always labeled as “disruptive”. Several years later, those same “disruptive” songs are being sung in churches across America every Sunday! This encouraged us to write songs without basing the structure for radio, church, or even Christians, but rather to write songs that mattered, that spoke truth, and that would ultimately make a difference.

Taking everything into account from the music industry, to stories about the power of songs, to being challenged to “write our own story” so to speak; these items influenced the lyrics for “Story to Write”. Change requires us to get our hands dirty and focus on the task before us in order to see results. When understanding the situation of HIV/AIDS in Africa, we must realize that it takes every one of us to use our individual gifts and talents to be a part of the revolution of change. As the second verse in the song alludes to, “this is out of my hands, its in yours, the way it should have been”, it is speaking about that fact that we must have faith in God that he has this situation under control, and wait in anticipation to be used as a vessel by Him to make a difference.