Tony Cummings reports on CHASEN, the band from Greenville fronted by singer/songwriter Chasen Callahan

Chasen

Regular Cross Rhythms radio listeners will have already heard the thought provoking track "Doubts Or Disbelief" by Greenville, South Carolina band Chasen. It comes from an excellent album 'Shine Through The Stars', released on OMG Records and distributed through EMI CMG. Like the band Leeland, Chasen is dominated by a singer/songwriter frontman who, also like Leeland, gave the band their name. Chasen Callahan teamed with drummer Aaron Lord and together they played more than 250 shows in 2004. The two completed the band's lineup with the addition of Evan Silver on guitar. After two years of development with South Carolina-based OMG Records, Chasen recorded their full length debut 'Shine Through The Stars' under the production helm of mainstream producer/engineer Noel Golden. Touring with such acts as Relient K and Needtobreathe, Chasen have now clocked up a US Christian radio hit with the song "Crazy Beautiful".

Callahan spoke to Christianity Today on how Chasen moved from being a worship band to a performance orientated rock outfit. "It was pretty much decided in August 2007. I was a worship pastor at my church and I decided to stop leading at church and get outside the four walls and tour, whether that meant churches, clubs, colleges or any other venue. I've always dreamt of doing that and now it's coming true."

One of the highlights in the band's career so far was working with mainstream producer Noel Golden. Said Callahan, "He was really down to earth, but it was one of the coolest moments in my life - he's worked with Matchbox Twenty and Edwin McCain and engineered for Guns 'N' Roses. We're in contact all the time and talk about life in general. As a believer, he talked about faith with me a lot, even in the studio."

It turns out that "Doubts Or Disbelief" is Callahan's favourite song from the album. "I was on tour in Belize and got to sing that song in two sold-out stadiums. It's an anthem that says 'I'm free,' and even though not everyone understood what the song meant, 12,000 people were shouting it by the end of the first chorus. And these were people who were dealing with poverty - for them to shout to Jesus and declare 'I'm free' was such a huge moment in my life. I thanked God for that moment because it showed me what I have to give as far as servanthood."

Callahan insists there is no particular demographic for the band. "I really just want to hit all ages - there's no specific demographic. I write about all of life's situations. I'm about to become a dad, so there's anticipation of having a son and the love I have for him. 'Drown' is a song for anybody struggling with anything, from dealing with an addiction to anything holding you back from the presence of God. 'Crazy Beautiful' is a song about someone struggling with self-image. It's a blend of songs that try to hit home in everyday life situations."

As a band Chasen are still attempting to work out what is their natural gigging environment - stadium, church or secular venues. Said Callahan, "I did an acoustic tour with Edwin McCain, who's a good buddy of mine and a very humble guy. I remember playing with him at a club, and for whatever reason, I felt I wasn't supposed to be there. It's just not what comes natural to me. I don't struggle with alcohol, but there was a lot in this place. At that point on the tour, my Sundays were covered up with shows and even though I was doing daily devotions, it wasn't the same as attending a Sunday morning service where you get refuelled to go back out into the world. But then, I do know that people in the mission field don't always feel that it's natural either, yet they risk dying because of their faith. So in the same sense, these clubs and bars are my mission field. Jesus plainly stated we are the Church - the body of Christ, not the structure - so we need to get out of the four walls and reach the unsaved. I don't always feel natural going into these places and seeing the things I see, but that's where I start praying that God will show me what he wants me to do."