In the States their debut album 'One Big Sky' attracted considerable attention while their newie 'A Liquid Earth' builds on the hard-rocking reputation of NOVELLA. Jan Willem Vink spoke to the band.

(Jonathan) "A guy from New Jersey named Plinky Jilli You'll be hearing more from him in the future, he's done a few projects in the Christian market and plans to do a couple more. He's done some stuff that went top 20 and top10 in America."

Is it hard for a band to be based in New Jersey?

(Adam) "Well, we're no longer based in New Jersey! We're based in Nashville now. When we were in New Jersey as far as we know we were the only Christian rock band based there. Eventually we had to give in and move to Nashville in September last year. We really like it there. It's much easier to tour it was much more convenient. To come home from the road and not have a 24-hour drive ahead of us - that was one of the main reasons we moved. The plusses outweigh the minuses." (Jonathan) "It's also the gospel music centre in America of course and we really wanted to be a part of that. You have to be where it is. Interestingly, there aren't too many bands in Nashville, there are a lot of acts, but as far as rock bands like ourselves, just a handful."

What did you have to do to get a record deal?

(Jonathan) "The more clichéd you are, the more chance you have to get a record deal. It's sad." (Adam) "That's another one of our main goals, to change that situation."

So how did you come to get on Star Song Records?

(Jonathan) "When I got signed, I was signed to Pure Metal Records. I was in the middle of doing a record with no supervision; the company was in a bad way at the time. In the middle of my recording process Star Song came in and bought the label. At that time I had almost completed the album 'One Big Sky'. I had done it with little supervision. That's one of the reasons I think the album was as successful as it was because there wasn't anyone saying you have to do it this or that way. It didn't sound like any other Christian album."

Is it hard to be an example, some kind of role model for Christian youth?

(Jonathan) "Giving an outstanding concert musically wasn't a part of most Christian artists when I grew up. My friends used to go and see Boston, Queen, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith and bands like that. Big shows with great music. Then I would take them to a Christian show. It was a letdown. The only one that wasn't a letdown was Phil Keaggy because he's an awesome guitar player, no matter where he is. But from a show perspective it was usually a letdown. It's different today. When we play people relate to our music. Novella wants to be able to write songs that people can relate to."

What themes are you dealing with on 'A Liquid Earth'?

(Jonathan) "Some of the themes include talking about Christ to people witnessing, but not in a clichéd way. There is a song called 'Stranger' from the viewpoint of how two people feel who don't know the Lord is affecting them. Hopefully, when a Christian plays it for his unsaved friend the non-Christian will say 'hey, this sounds a lot like me'." (Adam) "Then there's a song called 'Missionary' which talks about the yearning of one's heart to reach out to people." (Derek) "Jonathan has a real strong, beautiful, God-given gift for lyrics where he can say something that will completely wash you in the light of God and make you feel challenged to think about what he's saying. We have a song called "Talk About Love" - it's very beautiful poetically and has a very strong powerful message of God's love. Yet it's right in your face at the same time. Jon has a really God-given talent for lyrics like that and that's the trademark of Novella."

What do you do to keep the band's spirit together?

(Derek) "We have dinner together, we live in the same house, we hang out together, we rehearse together and we're homies. I've never seen such a situation of friends or people living together." (Adam) "We're looking for four sisters whom we can marry..." (Derek) "We were recently robbed in our home and our concerns were for each other. Jon came in the room to me and I know he lost a lot of things that are really valuable to him he had beautiful jewellery that was made for him by his friend. All of it was taken except the one piece he's wearing now. He walked in my room and said I feel really badly for Adam, we have a lot of stuff with our families and he has everything right here'. He was really emotional when he said it. That's kind of how we feel for each other. We're friends, family. It comes across on stage."

It's a gruelling life, working in Christian music. What keeps you going?

(Derek) "We want young people to feel proud to have Jesus in their hearts. Sometimes you're ridiculed in high school for being a Christian and being a nerd. We want to say to kids 'look at us, we're cool, we love God, God is in our lives, we're really proud about it'. We feel a tremendous sense of responsibility in being an example. We would like to say every time we go on stage: look at us and be like us and we'll take you dose to God.' That's something a committed Christian should be able to say. We take that responsibility very seriously. That's why we have a heart for kids. Because it's such a tough time, things are going on in the world, especially with the New Age thing where we have the world telling you that God is a pantheistic principle where we just need to be universal in our beliefs, one for all and all for one. What Christ did and said was absolutely unique. The New Age people look down on that."