The Calvins
by Trisha Bleau

CS: Please share with us how your group formed and any changes it went through after forming.

Dan: We all like to play instruments, and we wanted to form a band some of us atleast, and our youth director askked us if we could form a youth praise band.
Bjarne: Our youth director askked us if we could form a youth praise band. I don't thnk we have had any major changes going through the forming of this band.
Carl: Dan askked me, plus or youth pastor brought the idea for a youth praise band, but me and dan had been talking about a band for awhile.

CS: Out of idle curiosity.... how old are you guys?

Dan: 14
Bjarne:15
Carl:14
Dave:13

CS: What does your groups name mean? Where did you come up with it?

Dan: Bj cam up with it so ask him.
Bjarne: Dan and I were sitting in the church parlor, thinking of names for our band, and i suggested The Calvins after our Calvins house, and because our pastor often relates his sermon to Calvin and Hobbes.
Carl: I actually didn't make it up, Dan and BJ just listed a whole bunch of names one day and we picked one. The name is from a house owned by are church called the calvin house Dave:I didnt make it up, Dan Bj were giving out suggestions at our first practice, and we decided THE CALVINS.

CS: If you could ask Jesus any one question, what would you ask and why?

Dan: What do you exspect out of us and Dan? I just wanna know.
Bjarne: Why save us? I mean we are so ungrateful. I just wanna know. Carl:Why me? I think it explains itself.

CS: What is the message you are trying to get across with your music?

Dan: This is our beliefs and our religion, this is how exspress it.
Bjarne: Praise God in your own way.
Carl:Believeing, just to believe whatever the situation, or I write about how I feel as a person.

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

Dan: I have two, Wes Borlin because of his inovated style of playying, and Eddie Vanhalen because he is the greatest guitarist ever.
Bjarne: Buck Interprise.
Carl:Definetley John Lennon, Secondly Kurt Cobain, also like Third Eye Blind, and Dave Matthews

CS: Who are some of the groups you have performed with and what did you think of them?

Dan: All of our sets have been single.
Bjarne: We have only playyed alone.
Carl: We have just performed for our church. P.S. I think there getting sick of us.
Dave: We havnt preformed with any other groups so far.

CS: What is your musical background? Did you take lessons to gain the musical skills you have now?

Dan: I taught myself how to play.
Bjarne: My mom said i always had a sense of rythm, but other then that i have been playying in the school band the past two years. Carl:Never took lessons, with the help of Dan I taught myself to play and am still developing proper vocals. Dave:I've only been playying since August, my dad helps me practice sometimes, but thats all.

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

Dan: We practice together one time a week for two hours. Alone I practice all the time.
Bjarne: Alone i practice in my free time.As a group once a week for two hours though i would like more.
Carl: As a group once a week for 2 hours, myself everday everychance I get.
Dave: Once A week, for two hours.

CS: Do you feel people look down on you for your age? For your music style?

Dan: AT first, but now they have gotten use to us.
Bjarne: Same as Dan.
Carl:Partly but that is my fuel, to prove people wrong
Dave: Yes.

CS: Any plans to sign with a major Label in the near future?

Dan: yes, but we want to find the right label first.
Bjarne: Yes i'm hopeing we do, but I wanna find the right one.
Carl: Get back to you on that one
Dave: Same As carl?

CS: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?

Dan: Don't ever let anyone tell you, that you can't have what you want.
Bjarne: I know people say this to kids alot, but Be yourself thats all Gods asking for. Carl:Imagine.