Interview by: Andrew Conant

Every so often you run into a band that has what it takes. A band that can handle the “dirty ole road” and still give it all on the stage. Remedy Drive, based out of Lincoln Nebraska, has been touring for years and making fans across the country with their unique style and sound. Their music is like candy to the ears, and the lyrics speak straight to the heart.

Remedy Drive is comprised of four brothers, ranging in age from 24 to 30. I spoke with the piano playing singer, David Zach, recently about their new record and video. They released five albums independently before signing with Word Records last year and putting out their new album Daylight Is Coming. The newest record, produced by Ian Eskelin (formerly of All Star United), is a hot and heady mix of fist-pumping rock and tender ballads. The lyrics are consistently thoughtful, seeking to understand God’s will in the midst of everyday life.

The brothers originally called themselves Aslan, but soon changed it to Remedy Drive. I asked if there was a meaning behind the new moniker.

“When everybody’s looking for a solution, God is the healer on the path of life towards redemption,” David explains.

The brothers fooled around with music growing up while maintaining day jobs. David was washing windows five years ago when he got the idea to focus on the band full time. They booked their own shows and hit the road, playing anywhere and everywhere. Their frenetic energy on stage, including head stands on the piano and leaps through the drum kit, helped to create a great deal of buzz about the band. Audiences thrilled at the sight of the bassist’s vaults off his amp, David’s acrobatics on and around the piano, and the guitarist throwing his guitar wildly in the air. That, combined with inspired and catchy rock tunes, kept them busy.

They also caught the eye of Aaron Maines, their current manager. Working at Word Records, Maines saw the brothers at one of their early shows and loved it. He tried to pitch the band to the A&R reps at the label, but they weren’t interested. Maines eventually quit Word, opened up his own management firm, and repped the band himself. Two years, a well produced indie project, and hundreds of shows later Word decided to take another look.

“The timing was perfect,” David says. “Touring nonstop allowed us to gain an audience that’s with us 100%, and we’ve grown a lot too. We’ve had time to grow into this album, and we’ve had time to learn how to write a solid song that works on radio. I‘m really grateful for that.”

Daylight is Coming was released late 2008, and produced a hit with its title track. The label opted to shoot a gorgeous video to help carry its momentum. Filmed by the Erwin brothers in an old Alabama furnace, the footage perfectly captures the electricity of the band’s live performance. David wrote the song in the midst of his daughter being born. He was quite contemplative, and the old proverb “It’s always darkest before the dawn” was rolling around in his thoughts. The lyrics ask the listener to hold on and weather the night because the sun will shine again. The band is honored to hear people say that the song helped give them strength during a tough time in their lives.

“It’s crazy, because we weren’t really explicit about what was going on while we were writing the song, but it’s amazing how similar other’s situations were. That’s why I believe that music speaks unspoken volumes. I love that God gave humanity the gift of music.”

It’s a crowd favorite and the obvious choice for their debut single.

Their second single, “All Along,” hit #1 on the CHR charts two weeks ago. A balled in the style of The Fray, the song speaks of an understanding that God is what the speaker was looking for. “All along I was looking for something else / You’re something else.”

“If you look up the word ‘ministry,‘ it just means ‘to meet a need.‘ There‘s a need out there for great songs, just like there‘s a need for great architects or great heart surgeons, and we consider music our ministry, our goal and our purpose. We want to make songs that people love, that impact them.”

Remedy Drive is continuing to book tours, having established relationships with hundreds of youth pastors while criss-crossing the country. They also are planning to hit the summer festival circuit, and will appear at close to thirty different ones in 2009, including Creation, Cornerstone, Ichthus, and Sonshine. During their down time the band is fiddling around with song ideas but they don’t expect to get into the studio for another year or two.

“I’m excited about what we have to say,” Dave offers. “I think our voice is unique.”

CHECK OUT THIER MUSIC VIDEO FOR “DAYLIGHT” AND STAY TUNED FOR THE PODCAST OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH REMEDY DRIVE, COMING SOON!