It was bound to happen sooner or later, someone taking all the classic hymnals we know and love and turning them into classic punk rock anthems. Well, I would like to introduce you to False Idle. Some of you may know the brain child behind the project. Our pal Sef, formerly of the band uniSEF, Christian punk rock staple of Idaho. Sef’s new project False Idle is releasing an album jam packed with punk rock hymnals on newly formed record label Thumper Punk Records. I was able to catch up with Sef and David of Thumper Punk to learn more about False Idle, the upcoming release “Hymns of Punk Rock Praise,” and Thumper Punk Records. The new album will be available the last week of August. Go, get it, and praise God! Also, scoot over the the HXCChristian.com radio station, we are playing 3 songs from the upcoming album in the rotation!
Band: False Idle
Music Style: Hymnals in a Punk Rock Style
Location: Idaho
www.FalseIdlePunk.com Myspace Facebook
Q: Can you give us an introduction to Thumper Punk Records? The label is fairly new to the scene, but from what we understand at HXCChristian.com you have some things in the works. Why did you start Thumper Punk Records? What can we expect from the label in the future?
A: (David) Thumper Punk Records was formed to help artists record, produce and distribute music that reflects a positive, Christ-centered message. I started writing a music blog (www.thumperpunk.com) several years ago to share information about Christian punk and ska bands, and recently decided that it was time to get-off-the-couch and take the next step. My initial discussion with Sef began as result of a discussion in the HXCChristian.com forum about worship hymns played in a punk rock style. Sef and I were on the same page with the music, and have the sole purpose of bringing glory to Christ. So, here we are.
Q: The first release for Thumper Punk Records will be a new recording artist called False Idle, with a familiar person to HXCChristian.com as the mastermind, Sef, fill in the people on who you are and your background….
A: (Sef) Who am I… hmmm… well some of the folks reading this might recognize the name uniSEF, which was a project that I started like 5 or 6 years ago that eventually turned into the band that some of you may know. We went our separate ways about a year ago now and I, not being able to sit around for very long, started up the new project False Idle.
Q: We understand that False Idle is not your typical run of the mill hardcore punk band, can you fill us in what makes False Idle different than other bands?
A: (Sef) Well, False Idle it isn’t actually a band. It’s what we in the music industry like to call a solo project. I’m not big on having the focus be on me, so I had to come up with a ‘band name’ so I could fool everyone. Tricky… eh? The funny thing is, uniSEF started the exact same way… but don’t get your hopes up!
Q: So False Idle is covering traditional Church Hymns in a punk style, what famous Hymns can we expect a punk twist on? What songs are the most interesting and why?
A: The list is as follows:
Old Rugged Cross
It is Well with My Soul
Great is Thy Faithfulness
He Lives
To God be the Gory
He’s Alive
(Sef) Initially I was partial to “It is Well,” because I really tried to make that one into a technical punk style of song, “He Lives,” because I went a little more hXc with that one, and “He’s Alive,” because, A. It is an amazing song B. It was the song that kicked off the project and C. I really challenged myself to develop it well… But now that the whole CD is done, I honestly like them all a lot for all different reasons. I’m super stoked on how they all turned out.
Q: Sef, who has collaborated on this album with you, did you record all the different instruments?
A: (Sef) I did all of the song choosing and concept writing myself. My initial plan was to play all of the instruments myself on the recording, but as my relationship with Thumper Punk Records grew, I really started striving to put out as high quality of a CD as I could. That being the case I called in the big guns for drums. My good friend Matt L. (Death and Revolution) was kind enough to once again lend his skills to one of my projects, and he tore it up for sure. My friend Jess H. was also kind enough to record some piano and organ parts for the project. Then of course had the fellas over to lay down some gang vocals, just to give it that good ‘ol punk rock feel! Aside from that, I played all of the other instruments
Q: I read somewhere that you had some great guest vocals, care to share who might be making guest vocal appearances on the album?
A: (Sef) Haha… those rumors… you can never trust em… But yes, my pal Nate Rising from FBS laid down some gang vocals and backup parts throughout the CD. Josh from FBS begged and begged me to let him have some parts on the CD but I told him “no way dude”… haha… Actually he was going to do some too, but the window of opportunity was pretty tight… so it, unfortunately, didn’t happen. But if you listen real close you’ll also hear another familiar voice, Tyler from uniSEF came back into the studio too hook it up with some of his signature backup vocs…
Q: How challenging was it to come up with different music to come up with for these traditional hymns? Did you try to stay true to the traditional sounds of the songs or did you reinvent them completely?
A: (Sef) At first it was pretty easy, I had been coming up with ideas in my head for the first couple of songs for some time, but as the project progressed it got a little more difficult. There is actually one song on the CD that I completely re-wrote about halfway through the process because I just didn’t like the feel it had at all. Luckily a song by Flatfoot 56 totally inspired me for that specific song, and now I love how it turned out. I’ll let you try to figure out which one…
My goal throughout the project was to keep as close to the traditional feel of each song as I could, but also to make it a full on punk rock CD. Thinking back now, that was quite a challenge… haha… My hopes were to bring these amazing songs from the past into today so that this generation could have a chance to hear, and appreciate them.
So to make sure I stayed true to the original feel of each song this is what I did. Once I had all of the concept recordings finished, I sent them to my mom… yup, you can always count on mom… So when she came back and said that they were good, not really her style, but she recognized them all and could sing along with them, I knew that I pulled it off.
Q: Where and when can we get our hands on the new False Idle album?
A: (David) False Idle’s Hymns of Punk Rock Praise will be available through the Thumper Punk Records website (www.thumperpunkrecords.com), and digital downloads will be available from iTunes, Amazon an
d the usual suspects.
Q: What else do you have in the works for Thumper Punk Records? Any chance you will try to release some hard to find records on your label?
A: (David) Regarding my future plans for the label, I have been discussing projects with a number of bands and hope to announce the next project soon. While I wouldn’t be against re-releasing hard to find music, my primary focus will be to support new projects. If I had a shout-out, it would be to the entire HXCChristian.com team for supporting a Christian ministry to the punk and hardcore community.
Q: So after False Idle, what are you plans, do you think you might do a follow up album?
A: (Sef) Well, it’s pretty funny. I had so many song ideas thrown at me when I started this project; the joke going around is “what songs are you going to put on Hymns, “Volume II…” So let’s just say there is a pretty good chance that False Idle isn’t gonna be a one trick pony…
Q: Anything else you guys would like to add, websites, facebook pages, myspace pages, shout-outs, etc, feel free to add, and thanks for the interview!
A: (Sef) I just have to say, I have been doing the punk rock thing for quite some time, and up until this project I have done it 100% DIY all the way. So when David @ Thumper Punk Records approached me with the idea of putting this out on a label, I was a little hesitant. But after talking to friends and family and giving it some serious prayer, I decided to give it a shot. And all I can say is David has been awesome! I can’t say enough about what he has done for this project and where his heart wants to take his new label. He has my full support from here on out.
For all of you musicians out there reading this, you will not find a more musician friendly and supportive label than Thumper Punk Records. If you are looking for a label, start there… and if you are a fan of great music, keep an eye out for Thumper Punk Records… you will not be disappointed…
Thanx to you guys at HXCChristian.com for playing the snot out of these new songs too! I am listening right now and have heard all 3 songs we sent to you… You guys are rad!
I’m always up for an email so hit me up anytime… God bless
- Sef Idle
www.falseidlepunk.com
False Idle Myspace
False Idle Facebook
sef AT falseidlepunk.com
http://thumperpunk.blogspot.com
www.thumperpunk.com
u guys couldnt sing if ur lives depended on it! stop destroying good music w/ ur religion u ego hungry freakz!
I am glad to see that God lead you to the site. Welcome, I hope that you enjoy reading the interviews and perhaps learn that none of us are “religious” as you put it. We are punks and hardcore kids like you. On the outside, the fringe, the outcasts, but we love Jesus, who was the ultimate punk!
jesus was not punk. punk is anarchy and mohawks, not crosses and halos. if you guys were true punks, you’d have rebelled by now.
If Jesus wasn’t a punk, then why did He come and turn the authorities on end? Do you know what Jesus did when He walked the earth? He questioned the authorities and told the people they didn’t need to live by their rules. That is as punk/hardcore as it gets. But unlike most “punks” today, He actually did something about it, rather than complain about it. We have rebelled, against religion.
jesus was a hippie, not a punk. and if u think all i do is complain, ur dead wrong! i do go out and support my causes, if i didn’t do you think i would have messaged you in the first place. its about time someone spoke up 2 you christian freaks and i was the one to do it! all im saying is, its bad enough you’re ruining great music with your religion, now you have the nerve to say i didn’t do anything about it?! u christian poseurs are really starting to piss me off!!!
actually, Jesus was a savior, He came to save us from ourselves. He died for me and you. Plain and simple, God loves you enough to send someone that you don’t even know to take the place of you for God’s wrath and had him die for sins 2000 years ago that you commit today. Again, we are not religious, we just love Christ. As soon as you understand that, you will understand what we are saying. I will pray for you and I will pray that God helps to open your ears and your heart to His message. God bless my friend. I hope we meet in the pit one day.
love the old hyms redone!! when i was 16 i thought i was punk listening to nofx and bad religion. when i was 20 i truly rebelled against this world system and started to follow the risen Lord! im 31 now and have tasted and seen that the Lord is good! be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind!
Excellent work, guys! Thought this might be right up your alley:
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Thanks!
Great music!!! I love it! I am an old punker, used to listen to Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerk, etc. There are so few Christian Punk bands. I love Smiley Kids, Dogwood, Slick Shoes, Broken Cedars and Duckie. They aren’t like the old punk bands, but you guys are! Love it, love it, love it! Thank you so much for your contribution to the Christian music scene. Too many people complain that Christian music sucks. They need to hear you!
I agree, Josh. Jesus rebelled against false idols and any authority that was against God. There was no such thing as hippies 2000 years ago. And if Jesus had come today as opposed to 2000 years ago, I believe He might just be a punker!!!
God bless you guys and your music, to reach those who can’t be reach through conventional means.