Matt Eichel of Genuine Imitation
by Marc Forester

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

ME: We were all friends and decided to make a group just for fun. Our size has been cut from four to three, but we'll still truckin' along.


CS: How long have you all been together?

ME: This February (2004), it'll be two years.


CS: What kind of relationship do you all have with one another? Are you one big happy family?

ME: We're all really good friends. We hang out with each other alot and go on trips together, drive around. We can feel the chemistry when we're playing, so I guess we are a big happy family.


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

ME: Brian and I came up with the idea. He told the other guys about it and they agreed. We met in March and decided to form a group. As I said before, we've gone from four guys to three, Tyler just wanted to help us if we needed it and not be a main member.


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

ME: We've been together two years as a group.


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

ME: We're all really close and the changes did not really affect us too much. Tyler helped us along with the musical side of it, becasue he was the most knowledgable of music than any of us. We've become more and more advanced in our knowledge of music now and we're getting better at it.


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

ME: All the songs we have right now deal with praising the lord and thanking him for being free and looked after. I am a strong believer that as we go along, record an album or two, we'll start to stretch out into other areas of life and deal with them through our songs.


CS: What does your groups name mean?

ME: If you look up Ephesians 5:1-2, you'll find the answer. But in short, it challenges us to be genuine imitatiors of Jesus and his life and how he gave his life up for us to be free.


CS: Where did you come up with it?

ME: It was on my shirt the night we were having problems picking a good name.


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

ME: Right now, all of us are near the end of high school and entering university soon, so we're going to try and record before university and have a strong footing for the future. It all depends on where the Lord leads us in our lives and what his purpose for us is. If it's music, then we'll keep up the music.


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

ME: I see alot of bands doing this these days and it really bugs me. I know alot of people go into music as a band saying, "I'm not going to do what that band has done." or "I'm not going to waste my life on drugs like those guys." but alot of them end up getting caught up in the limelight. All of us have a strong root in our faith and we're always going to sing about God, his works, and what he's done for us. I don't want to get caught up with spending millions of dollars on drugs and boose, I want to let people know about my God.


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

ME: Right now, we haven't played alot of shows, but I have a bad habit of not looking up at the audience, because I'm singing and playing guitar, and I'm afraid I'll screw up. It'll take some more experience to overcome that fear. Still, I've mainly performed for friends and peers and people I know and talk to all the time. I love talking to them about what the songs we sing mean.


CS: Do you ever feel that you are not ready Spiritually to be performing and ministering as you are doing now?

ME: We try to pray before every jam session or show, sometimes we forget, but we all know who we're playing for: God. When we don't pray, sometimes I remember we didn't and do a quick prayer. Those times we have prayed, it seemed to have gone better than the times we haven't, so it's a habit of praying and asking God to help you that we need to get into.


CS: When and how did you accept Christ into your heart?

ME: I was saved in July 1991 when I was 5 at my Uncle Dave's.


CS: Could you please share a short testimony?

ME: I grew up in a Christian family, both parents were Christians, didn't have any siblings but my friends seem like them. I was saved in July 1991 when I was 5 and since then I've struggled in my relationship with God, but my friends and peers and mentors have helped me along and I'm still here and believing.


CS: What is the most inspirational piece of scripture that you have found that applies to your life?

ME: I Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will find a way for you to stand up under it."


CS: What is the most fascinating piece of Scripture you have studied?

ME: Revelation is pretty interesting and...scary. :)


CS: What is your favorite verse in the Bible and why? Same question, but for book of the Bible.

ME: I Corinthians has so much great verses that you can live your life by. That's my favourite.


CS: When did you feel called to perform in a group like this? Have you felt God's hand guiding you towards this all along?

ME: I've always like music and when we started this group, it was for fun. But I keep asking God if He put us together for more than just fun and for a s erious purpose to serve Him more.


CS: Do you make it a goal to use your music to minister to people? Or do you just write for the sake of writing and performing?

ME: I write songs right now about praising God, as I said before and I try to write songs that apply to my life and many others that are going through the same things I am or have gone through.


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

ME: That God is a God of love, and he loves us, every one of us, and that he died for us to be free and that we could live eternally. He's our Saviour, Father, and friend.


CS: What is the biggest thing you have learned from performing and ministering through music?

ME: How to work in a group and making sure everyone is on the same page and playing the same thing, etc. It's a big thing to play together, or the music falls apart.


CS: What is the hardest thing about ministering through music?

ME: I find sometimes that I cannot come up with lyrics to songs I'm writing even though I ask God for guidance. Sometimes, it isn't the best time to write a song and so he doesn't give me the inspiration. Writing the lyrics and making the music is the hardest, for sure.


CS: What is the funniest thing you have seen while touring?

ME: Not much, we haven't toured much. But it was probably seeing Keith (our Youth Leader) having his head shaved bald. :)


CS: What is the biggest thing God has done during one of your concerts?

ME: We haven't really had a 'concert', more like a couple of songs by us and then some worship songs. But he's helped us play under pressure. And that's huge!


CS: Do you write your own music?

ME: Yeah, I usually have inspiration for a song or I have a tune I want to put lyrics to.


CS: Where do you get ideas for your music?

ME: From my life, what I've fallen victim to in terms of temptations, and what sins I've done. But through it all I am free because of God. I try and write uplifting lyrics.


CS: How would you describe your music style?

ME: Sort of a mellow rock. Not loud, ear-smashing, ground-shaking stuff, just a little mellower.


CS: Do you ever get criticized for your lyrics?

ME: I haven't yet, let's hope not.


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

ME: I've always listened to Christian rock since I was little like Newsboys, Jars, Switchfoot, Skillet. The biggest influences now are probably (for all of us) Switchfoot, Linkin Park, and P.O.D. I'm a really big fan of Third Eye Blind and the way they write their songs, even though they might not have the best lyrics.


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

ME: I think the first time we played at the Teen Camp Talent Show, Gateway played before us, that's about as close as we got polaying with another group. Their good, but I think they're more country.


CS: Who, aside from Jesus, is or has been the biggest influence in your life?

ME: My parents for sure, my dad for teaching me guitar and my mum for keeping my drum set around until I got interested and took it seriously.


CS: Who do you look up to the most in life?

ME: My dad, for sure. He's a cool guy. Works hard and is very humble.


CS: Do you ever feel fear when you approach someone with the Gospel?

ME: Yeah, it's intimidating trying to tell someone about the Gospel, but you've got to do it with the faith and courage, asking God to help you to reach out and touch people with the Word.


CS: Are you involved in your own home churches? What role do you have there?

ME: I usually play on the worship team when I'm home from school.


CS: Are you involved in any other ministries?

ME: Nope.


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

ME: I mostly taught myself drums, took lessons for a year. I got lessons for a year on the bass and I'm now taking guitar lessons.


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

ME: We jam almost everytime I come home, so about every month almost. Personally, I try to practice everyday for about 30 minutes.


CS: How do you fill your spare time while on tour?

ME: Haven't gone on tour yet, but I'll probably sleep or read (or eat).


CS: When do you find time for personal worship while touring?

ME: Haven't gone on tour yet, but I'd probably give thanks after a show and ask for help beforehand.


CS: Do you have an accountability partner or prayer partner to keep you encouraged and uplifted?

ME: No, I don't, but I feel like I do with all my friends, we keep in touch alot and are close.


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

ME: Sometimes, such as at Youth Group.


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

ME: Yeah, I wanted to form a band for many years. It seemed the right time two years ago.


CS: Do you sing anywhere else just for fun? Like maybe in the shower or while cleaning or driving, etc. And if you do, do you sing your own music or someone else's?

ME: I usually have music playing somewhere, so I usually sing along. Lately, I've been singing some of mine own, which is cool.


CS: Do you find it strange to hear yourself singing on the radio or to see yourself in a video?

ME: Yeah, when I heard myself singing on a record, I think I sound weird, but it's OK if people say I sing fine.


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

ME: We're working for our debut CD, we're planning to recrod this summer.


CS: Many teenagers and adults get really emotionally involved in the lives of the band members. Do you feel people look up to you as near idols?

ME: No, not yet, but I hope people don't focus on us, but on what we sing and what our songs stand for. I'm not God, I only write songs for him, that's what people should be focusing on.


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

ME: No, not at all. Our parents, family, and friends really encourage us all in this endeavour of being a group. I think my mum wouldn't like it if we were like P.O.D. and Keith wouldn't like it if we went to Death Metal, which we won't, my voice can't take it.


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

ME: We'll see, for sure it'll be down the road a far bit looking at it right now.


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

ME: Don't do drugs, save sex for marriage, and look to God for guidance and wisdom and the strength that you need everyday. HE is your everything.


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