Tony Cummings reports on new American pop rock purveyors CHRIS AND CONRAD

Chris And Conrad

Cross Rhythms radio listeners currently enjoying the turntable hit "You're The One" by American duo Chris And Conrad may be wondering about the identity of this new-to-the-scene act. Mike Rimmer met up with Chris Kuti and Conrad Johnson who, when not touring and recording, are busy producing other acts in their Lakeland, Florida-based Inertia Sound Studios. Mike asked Chris how the duo came together. "We actually were solo artists apart and our current manager, his name's Jeff, had just moved from Orlando to Lakeland and he said to me, 'Hey, I've got this guy in Lakeland, you should hook up.' So I went over to his studio, first meeting was great, we wrote a good tune and the rest is history." Conrad added, "God just showed us that we are better together than apart, that we can do more things for him instead of just relying on our own context or whatever you may call it."

Chris And Conrad originally had a band name and played their first big show with MercyMe under the name Endless Surrender. But that didn't stick. Quipped Conrad, "We tried a bunch of different name combinations. We even tried C & C Music Factory but that was already taken!" Added Chris, "We had a meeting with a buddy of ours and we were in the middle of wrestling with the name thing and he suggested that if we couldn't come up with a name that says who you are, just go with something simple. I know when you hear the music it's not just a typical duo style, but that's okay because in essence that's who we are, and there is a bond and a friendship that we have. Not that the guys who play with us don't have that, but when it gets down to the composition and the day to day business, that is who we are."

Chris And Conrad spoke about the direction the band have taken. "I think right now God has called us to encourage and minister to the believer no matter what their circumstance is. As we have said earlier, we also want to connect with an audience who might be separated from God. I know there have been times in my life where you go about the daily routine of religion, but God is so much more interested in our hearts and our relationship with him. There are believers who know God but who are a little stand-offish and think that the things of God are all recycled plastic and boring."

Musically, the 'Chris And Conrad' album on VSR Records is a surprisingly eclectic outing. There are full on rockers, gentle ballads and a cover of the Hillsong United hit "Lead Me To The Cross". Commented Chris, "We're guys who love hooks; we connect with hooks that are singable. When we met that was one thing that was natural for us. We connected with pop music already and we tried to create something that was familiar to people but that was fresh and different and I think having two lead vocalists does that. But we aren't afraid to throw in a few hooks to a song."

As well as "You're The One", one of the most memorable tracks on 'Chris And Conrad' is "Rescue". Said Conrad, "I actually started writing the verse at my church one day and I just had these lyrics and it started off, 'I've walked in the valley, been tossed in the storm.' This verse kept coming real easy so I showed it to Chris and we decided to finish it together. We got together with our producer, David Garcia over in Tampa, which is where Chris is from. It's one of our favourite tracks because it's just got that beat to it." Added Chris, "We start off the record with some pretty hard guitar, what you could call a good pop rock sound. But then you get to 'Rescue' and there is a different dynamic. I think the vocals shine, there is a lot of good harmony going on and our producer suggested, 'Change the progression like this, and just experiment.'"

Being such adept songwriters it was a little surprising that Chris And Conrad's record company should choose a cover as the duo's first US single. But they do bring something fresh to "Lead Me To The Cross". Said Conrad, "It's a song that's really touched our hearts. Brooke Fraser from New Zealand wrote it and it's funny to see God using a song like that to break the ice for us in the industry. That song was part of our set just because we connected with it. We had the version all ready to go in our live set but when it came to looking at the list of songs that were candidates for the record it was just natural to have that song in there. The idea of it being a single which after listening to it just seemed a natural fit. I think it's a great urging for the Church and ourselves to daily rid ourselves of ourselves and to leave our own agenda aside, and that is what Chris And Conrad is about, completely forgetting that it's about us but it's for God."