EXPLANATION

The fall of 2007 was a very busy time for WILLET. The deadline for songwriting was soon approaching as studio details were getting worked out for the new record. We had been touring all summer, and returned to Maryland to complete the record. While writing, I was asked to fly to Alabama to speak at a festival with Toby Mac followed by a 10-day tour with Stellar Kart in the Midwest. Therefore, the record would have to be written while each band member was in separate parts of the country.

Using the modern miracle of laptops and email, we wrote songs over the Internet by collaborating lyrics, hooks, and melodies from separate states. Following the speaking engagements and writing sessions, the band left for a 1-month Christmas tour in December. To add to the details of recording, Jeremy and his wife, Kathleen bought a home in January and the band decided to convert the basement into a studio for the recording of the new album. Therefore, the first room to be completed in the new house was the studio so that the recording process could begin.

“Strange how the finger points back at you” was a song we wrote about the need to stop “pointing the fingers” at governments, policies, and organizations about the problem in Africa, but rather be a part of the change. If all we do is sit around and blame people for the problem that is taking place, we will never experience change in our own personal lives, or in the lives of others.

Many people read the statistics and numbers referencing the number of deaths in Africa due to HIV/AIDS. They feel sorry for the children, but feel that they can’t really do anything to help. While we were in Africa walking with the children that we sponsor, we realized that these children are so much more then “statistics”…they are our brothers and sisters in Christ! If that is the case, which we believe it is, then we feel it is the responsibility of the church to help these children!