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NEXTnc's conversation with Rough Draft |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 14 June 2007 |
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 Members of many bands live by the same music cliché: sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.
Not so for the members of Rough Draft.
First off, the quartet is still in high school. Second, they met playing music in church, which kind of nixes the sex and drugs. But not so the rock ’n’ roll.
The Christian alternative rock band consists of Andrew Wittenauer, 16, Drew Torres, 17, Brent Thayer, 16 and Pedro Quinones, 16, all from Fort Collins. “We originally started in praise bands and then circumstances came together,” said Wittenauer, lead vocals and guitarist.
The group has been playing together for about a year and a half. They just released their debut album, “Not Far Away” and were asked to play at the 2007 National Youth Gathering in Orlando, Fla., July 28-Aug. 1.
The boys have been busy putting together their show, which will attract more than 35,000 teenagers. But being so devoted to their band isn’t always easy.
“It’s challenging to juggle stuff,” Wittenauer said. “We have to really plan out when we will do homework because we are always gone.”
Because of their busy schedules, the biggest challenge is keeping relationships at school, Wittenauer said. Still, the positives always seem to outweigh the negatives.
“At the end of the day, we know we are doing something we really enjoy,” drummer Quinones said.
All of the members are enthralled with music and hope to pursue music careers. They plan to start touring heavily as soon as they are all finished with school.
Quinones said the band has contemplated doing the “cross-over” thing, but has decided to leave it up to God.
“It’s been a really big struggle for our band to search and see what God wants us to do.” Wittenauer said. “Whether or not we are a Christian rock band, we are just out to reach people.”
———— THE BANDAndrew Wittenauer, 16, lead vocals/ guitar Drew Torres, 17, bass/ backup vocals Brent Thayer, 16, lead guitar/ shredding his throat Pedro Quinones, 16, drums LISTEN TO ONE OF THEIR SONGS:• Not Far Away.mp3
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TO GO TO THE SHOW
CD release party 8 p.m. June 22 at Everyday Joe’s in Fort Collins.
Evergreen Festival 8 p.m. July 8 in Evergreen.
Eaton Community Festival 6 p.m. July 15 in Eaton.
————— NEXTnc's Converstion with ROUGH DRAFT —————
NEXTnc: What can people expect from your album?
WITTENAUER: They can expect a very eclectic song selection that shows different styles we can do, yet still with our own taste.
QUINONES: I think what’s really important is the message. Each song has a message and there’s an overall message. We put a lot thought behind the order.
NEXTnc: Why do you think it is so important to send positive messages, especially to teens, through music?
QUINONES: I think lot of times teens go through a lot of hard stuff and need music to support them. Music is such big part of their culture. The message sticks with them.
WITTENAUER: I like to say you can say things through music that you can’t just say through speaking. It’s incredible to see.
NEXTnc: What are your personal plans for the future?
WITTENAUER: Two of us are juniors and two are seniors. Brent and I are juniors. We are planning to graduate a semester early. As soon as we are all out of school, it’s time to move. We will get out on road, do a little college classes, maybe online, go out on the road for a little while and then go back to college.
QUINONES: I will probably work and then head out. Our parents have been pretty supportive for what we do. I’ve always wanted to do something with the music industry.
WITTENAUER: We’re all in that same place.
NEXTnc: Any special meaning behind the name Rough Draft?
WITTENAUER: It actually comes from Pentecost in Acts in the Bible. The story behind Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit came down like a big wind and enabled people to speak in other languages. The big thing is we are the Rough Draft. We want to be that wind — the words for that higher power.
NEXTnc: What was your most embarrassing moment?
WITTENAUER: I did an entire show with my fly down one time. There was a lot of people who saw that. | Only registered users can write comments.
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