Palisade
By Nelson L. Garcia

CS: How did your group form? Please share with us how your group formed and how long the group has been in existence, not counting any possible changes in members.

P: we've been together for a little over 4 year. brandon and jeremy met in 98 at kcc, started writing music and singing together and decided they wanted to form some type of group. so brandon placed an ad on a christian music website looking for a female singer. i, ashley, found it a few months later, sent a demo and we met up over the phone. our personalities, passions, calling and desires were all matched by the other people.

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

P: Jeremy found it in the dictionary during class one day. Palisade means a fortress, refuge, a wall as a means of defense. Psalm 18:2-"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge."

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry?

P: that through our time of worship and celebration that they would begin to just peel off the layers that they are carrying, to lay them at the foot of the cross and come to a time of true Christ-centered worship.

CS: Do you make it a goal to use your music to minister to people?

P: yes..if it's not ministering to people then God isn't using it or us. we struggle just like everyone else. because of that we write on a very personal level that many people can relate to. God has used many of the songs we sing to touch lives and to help people through just life situations.

CS: How would you describe your musical style?

P: just a new generation of a vocal group that can appeals to all ages

CS: Who are your musical influences?

P: avalon, crystal lewis, natalie grant, truth, kirk franklin, & israel and new breed

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

P: that i am nothing. i have absolutely nothing to give these people. i can't save them. our music may motivate them. if our music and testimonies from our personal pulls someone into Jesus's embrase then my life has meaning.

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

P: every song has a different message. songs are floating around everywhere and in everything. jeremy and brandon do most of the writing. i pitch in some times. but lately i'm finding melodies and ideas striking me just as i'm driving down the road. that never use to happen. so i'm just working up my confidence to share it with some people and hope i don't get laughed at ;)

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

P: my favorite psalm of all time is Psalm 63. it's beautiful! my absolute favorite part is in verse 3 where David said, "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." it's a constant reminder that there is nothing on this earth worth living for or that can even satisfy you the way Christ can.

CS: Please share a short testimony about what God has done during one of your concerts.

P: we were at a camp in michigan with teenagers. everything during our little concert/leading worship was going wrong. 2 of brandon's guitar strings broke and we weren't prepared to do any songs on piano. but brandon sat down and we started to sing This is the Air I Breathe. the altar was open. one man came down and within seconds more than half of the camp was down front. God's spirit was just moving in a powerful way. it was just a flood of teenagers kneeling before God worshipping and praising Him.

CS: What is the latest news on your group?

P: we just returned from being on the road for about two and a half weeks. we were doing radio promotional, in-store concerts and signings and singing and area churches. we are in the process of finishing our Christmas song that will be on the Absolute Christmas album. if you get this cd you will have to most rockin' Christmas ever. it's amazing! with numerous artists doing some original and even traditional Christmas songs.

CS: What advice can you give to the youth of our world?

P: find out who you are in Christ first and foremost. it's so funny to look back at some of the 'groups' or even individuals that I would go out of my way to please just so i could be accepted. in Christ is confidence, self-worth and acceptance. don't wait till later to find Him. only when you find Him will you truly begin to even 'like' yourself.