Atoned
www.atoned.com.au
by Trisha Bleau

CS: How did your group form? Did you start out together or did you pick up players along the way?

Brad: The group basically formed with Cleve & myself. Cleve came from New Zealand and I came from Sydney and we met up through a church we both felt we should go to. After that, Cleve's sister Shireen joined and then the drummer Chris came & finally Garth on bass.

CS: How long have you all been together? How long has the group been in existence, not counting any possible changes in members?

Cleve: We have all been officially together since January 2000.

CS: How has this affected the group? Did it take awhile to bond? What kind of relationship do you all have now?

Chris: We didn't take long to bond at all. It was quite amazing how we all just seemed to get along so well. It was almost like we had known each other for ages.

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? The lost? The hurting? Why did you decide up on this as a focus?

Shireen: Our main focus as individuals and as a band is our relationship with Jesus Christ. As a band we stand as one with the common goal to use our music to reach those who do not know the Savior as well as to encourage fellow Christians in their walk with God.

CS: What does your groups name mean?

Garth: To become reconciled.

CS: Where did you come up with it?

Brad: I found it in the concordance of my bible. I thought it was a cool name and I loved the meaning. So I put it to the band & they all agreed that was what we were to be called.

CS: Where do you see the band in five years? Ten? The future?

Cleve: Where ever God will take us and wants to use us. We are His servants.

CS: Do you ever worry about getting caught up in the world of show biz? That success will change your group?

Brad: Yes, sometimes. Australians generally don't like people with big heads, so if we ever got to that stage & we started to change, I have no doubt that we would have people around who would quickly knock us back to earth.

CS: What kind of relationship do you maintain with your audiences? Do you fellowship with them? Or do you remain distant as the performer?

Chris: After each gig we play, we often ask the audience to come & meet us. After all that is what we are here for. We get up there and tell people about God and then they can meet us after and talk to us individually about it.

CS: How would you describe your music style?

Brad: Rock, stuff that is made with real instruments.

CS: Who, or what, are your biggest musical influences?

Shireen: Our influences range from U2 to Collective Soul, INXS and Pearl Jam as well as Audio Adrenaline, Third Day and Big Tent Revival, creating a range of different rock styles that come through in our music.

CS: Are you involved in any other ministries?

Chris: I am involved with my youth group at church along with my wife Bev.

CS: How much time do you spend practicing as a group? How much time do you practice individually?

Brad: As a group, we practice once a week for a period of 3-5 hours. The group is split between Brisbane & the Gold Coast (about 50 miles apart), other wise we would probably like to get together a bit more.

CS: Does the group come together for prayer at times other than concerts and ministry opportunities?

Cleve: We try to pray as much as we can individually as well as together. We often email each other during the week to pray for things and we always pray together when we practice.

CS: Have you always had a desire to be in a group like this?

Cleve: I believe that God was calling me to be in a band, that is why I left New Zealand and came to Australia to start one.

CS: What is the latest news on your group? Any new CD's to be released soon?

Brad: We have just returned from playing at the Wordstock festival in Texas, which went really well and we praise God for the opportunity. We are going back in the studio shortly to record a full CD, which we hope to release later next year. We do have a CD which you can purchase from our website www.atoned.com.au