The Metal Resource – mauce.nl

At Home – 2 people from 2 different countries who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to create the band: Dave Hanson (In the Verse, USA) and Alina Lewandowska (IND Poland). They are currently working on their debut album “If You Proclaim” that will be released later this year. For a taste of the album, listen below to 2 songs that have already been released earlier this year. Read all about the album and more, in the interview below we recently did with with Dave & Alina from At Home.

TMR: Hello Alina & Dave this is The Metal Resource from Holland, how are things going there in Poland/USA ?

A: All fine, glad to have the possibility to talk with you!

D: Going great, just wishing the cold weather would end, and summer to begin. It’s awesome to get to talk with you.

TMR: How did you get into rock/metal? 

A: I think I was simply born with the gene responsible for liking this kind of music, I’ve felt in love with grunge first (Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam) and then have been strongly fascinated with more heavy sounds and this love still lasts, Presently my favorite kind of music is progressive metal, I still like to listen the acoustic ballads too, in general – any kind of music which is simply good, but I prefer the unique emotions which are always granted by metal, My friends who know my music taste sometimes joke how can I like something if it’s not metal, So my metal-illness let’s say caused my involvement in singing mainly heavy music.

D: The Goo Goo Dolls were my fav. Band in my early years of life and even though I’m diverse in what I listen too, and write, nothing compares to the Rock/Metal sound. It’s the sound of the guitars, vocals, keys, etc… that draws me in. One of the biggest bands that I was heavily into before knowing Jesus Christ, was Disturbed, and a Band that I wasn’t allowed to go see live, because my dad said I was only allowed Christian Concerts, I was mad and very angry at first, but that led me to find God through Skillet. Never knew Christian Rock/Metal even existed, and their album – Invincible was the first album that I ever heard from them, becoming my fav Band. God through Skillet started this whole musical journey for me.

TMR: What is your musical background ? 

A: I don’t have any professional background, however I was singing few years regularly in the church , but it’s a completely different story,

D: I started playing the guitar around 11 or 12 years old, I’m 33 now, about to be 34 in a few weeks. Music became the gift very quickly for me.

TMR: Tell us the brief history of At Home.

A: On the one of the Christian forums on Facebook, where I’ve been posting a link to the video of my band I.N.D I met Dave, the guitarist of the American band In The Verse. We had a great conversation, and Dave shared some of his demos and suddenly, when I was hearing his first song, I was completely lost for words how much I liked them! So I have suggested that maybe I could sing something, Dave agreed. I sent him my vocals that I recorded simply on a dictaphone, and he just said: “I love it!” That was a great feeling, because after the next one he wrote: “ Let’s make a band!”. During one weekend ,4 songs have been made – for us, it was obvious that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, because all was done so fast and we have been feeling that these tunes are really anointed songs by Jesus Christ, being under the impression of how great the Holy Spirit leads His Church in an ecumenical way, because we are from different churches and countries.We believe this is totally the work of the Holy Spirit, because none of us was thinking about establishing a new band, but God have had His Own plans.

TMR: Why the name At Home ? Is there a story behind it ?

D: We were thinking of a lot of names, and then thinking about God’s Promise to all of us who believe in Jesus, turning from our sins, repenting and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That He’s making a new heaven and a new earth for us to be with Him, worshipping Him, being with our loved ones again for eternity. There will be no more tears, pain, nor death, you name it, it won’t be there. Our true home. Our journey is to make it to our Home, and that’s with the Father, when time is up, we can say we are – At Home.

TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in At Home ? … how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influenced you for writing music and lyrics ?

D: Jesus is the real author. When I start to make music, it’s like game over, cause that’s what all be doing most likely all day lol. I start off with a guitar demo, send it over to Alina to make her vocals, she’s the main singer and lyrics writer, while I’ll add some backing vocals, lead in certain spots, and there will be one song that I’ll be leading.

A: I simply pray and start to sing, sometimes I just get the whole lyrics at once from the Holy Spirit, and sometimes I need to work harder on it, having a cup of tea and listening to the music Dave sends over and over, During my staying in the USA, we have written one song together, it was incredible, first lyrics have come, we were just writing part after part one after another, cool and creative way, and the next day we’ve made the music, Dave got most of the ideas and I completed the rest.

TMR: What are some key principles or phylosophies that you hold onto as foundational stones as who you are as a person? 

D: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, His Word. “And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
John 6:35 NKJV

A: For me it’s simply the Bible. My favorite Words are John 15, 12:17 and 1 Corinthians 1: 13, both speaking about love and how important is loving others as Jesus. That’s what Im trying to do in my ordinary life, sometimes it works, sometimes not, because I’m just a weak human, but still trying to be a good person to others, carrying, forgiving, patient. Not only just in relations to my closest ones, but simply at work and in every place where Jesus sends me to be.

TMR: Is there already a highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of At Home? 

D: That first moment knowing wow, this is a great combo to make music together, and then working with Tomek helped us make everything better, and every new song we get it turns into our new favorite song lol.

A: For me the unusual experience was especially in the beginning, when we made four songs during one weekend. I have never experienced before so strong influence of the Holy Spirit with writing melodies and lyrics, it was just flowing. Also the whole idea of the band, it was like we both felt it within a few minutes after hearing the first idea for the song. Other highlights hopefully are still to come. I will be extremely happy if someone says: that song got me closer to God or changed something for good in the way of my thinking.

TMR: And the worst thing were ? (if there is one) 

A: Hopefully we will not experience such, well, maybe we could have more money to make a great promotion of the band, presently we finance everything by ourselves.

D: Nothing, but what Alina mentioned, to make things get out there faster and better.

TMR: What is your favorite drink and food ?

A: Water/Latte- oh my, I love it!/ Tea and definitely Italian & Chinese food and… Sushi,

D: Coke / Monster Drink – Pasta / Chinese

TMR: So what makes you laugh?

D: A lot of things but you have to Impractical Jokers, that show is hilarious lol.

A: We have a similar sense of humour, so any silly things, silly faces, silly jokes.

TMR: What is your biggest fear ? 

D: Hearing the words, depart from Me, I never knew you, but I know that’s the voice from the enemy. Fear doesn’t come from The Lord, only Joy does.

A: I’m afraid the death of my closest family and friends.That’s the only thing I’m pretty scared.

TMR: What is the last album you bought? 

D: I just bought T-Bone, his new album dropped March 15th.nits called Broken English. Had to mention that one, cause I bought another album a few hours later called Culture Shock by Jai.

A: It was Tremonti “Cauterize”(finally!) and some old stuff of Malchus.

TMR: What are some of the things you like to do away from the band? 

A: I love travelling and visiting the other countries, trekking in the mountains, spending time with my friends.

D: Making sure I stay focused on Jesus, being to be best husband and father I can be. Love watching football, and any sport really.

TMR: Speaking of recording, what can you tell us about your upcoming debut album “If You Proclaim” [such as the recording process, the songs/lyrics, record label, release date etc.]

D: We are not on a label. I record from home, and send it to our good friend Tomek to do the rest. I send Alina the demos to work on lyrics/melodies. If I ever sing/lyrics I record with Ryan Kutz at Cherry Pit Studios, who plays Bass guitar for my other band – In The Verse.

A: And I record my vocals with Tomek directly in his studio. All the lyrics focus on Jesus, giving Him glory, some say about the spiritual fight and personal experience, a lot of are based on some fragments directly taken from the Bible. We do hope we will release our first album around Summer/Autumn 2018. First we need to finish the recording process 

TMR: About the cover artwork. Do you think it is as important as your music? Does it visualize the lyrics of your songs or what’s the actual story behind its concept?

D: Yes, it’s just as important as the music, you’re wanting to display the same message to draw people in. What’s even better is preaching the Word and seeing others saved by Jesus. That’s what it’s all about.

TMR: How do you promote your band and shows ?

D: Anywhere I can, I sleep and breathe promoting.

TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?

A: In Poland we can observe in commercial radio stations a lot of pop, rap and hip –hop music , rock and metal are less popular nowadays, but there are a few popular bands like Coma or Riverside or Luxtorpeda. Christian music is dominated mainly by the bands playing typical worship songs, it’s very difficult to get into this market in Poland what leads to the situations that such great bands like Malchus or not existing anymore Illuminandi are more popular abroad than in their homeland. In Poland there are thousands of talented musicians but unfortunately they don’t have almost any support, there are not too many managers interested to promote the unknown bands, very limited amount of radio stations where they can present their music and not worrying to become just a tribe in a huge music machinery by losing their identity and character. Just in the area where I live we have around 150 bands, mainly rock, metal and alternative ones what proves there are still fans of this type of music.

D: Alina hit everything on the head, the same here in America.

TMR: What is your favorite concert that you saw and what made it so good?

D: Anything Skillet, their energy they throw into every show, and hearing them
Delivering the Gospel of Jesus, no matter where they go.

A: There were a few of them, my top 3 are: Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters in Gdynia on the Open’er Festival plus Alter Bridge in Warsaw. Open’er Festival is presently one of the biggest in Poland, there’s a great organization there, honestly, the best one I’ve ever seen. The climate of that festival and interaction between Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl and the audience is amazing, you feel like their old good friend when attending their shows. Alter Bridge was always my dream to see due to the fact I’m a huge fan of Mark Tremonti, I am amazed by his talent, ideas, compositions of the songs, the way of playing…every song he makes is a potential hit and generates the incredible emotions during listening.

TMR: What is the most embarrassing music on your phone or in your collection and how do you justify it to others?

D: David Archuleta – Crush, ummmm its a good song, and I’m not narrow minded to different styles of music.

A: Michael Jackson if it’s embarrassing at all. He was a genius and I simply like the energy when listening to his album “Bad” and for example “Smooth criminal”

TMR: If you could pick a band to tour with, who would it be? And where would the tour go? 

D: Besides the given here of IND, my dream is to tour with Skillet and would play wherever.

A: Tremonti or Alter Bridge,  Worldwide tour would be awesome, But we could take also our bands: Dave could take In The Verse and me I.N.D, That would save the costs and could be a great experience, duh!

TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked? 

D: I’ve heard way too many, but I know I have said some too lol.

A: Was never asked such (yet)

TMR: What are the biggest obstacles for bands ?

A: Shall be more possibilities of promotions and playing concerts for money.

D: What Alina mentioned, because it’s still about about bands on labels vs bands without a label.

TMR: As a band today, what do you think is the biggest challenge you face?

D: I will go even further with my last answer. The music industry has changed so much, anything with God is possible to make it as a band. I totally believe why others give up on music at any level is because the majority of people nowadays believe music isn’t worth buy, that it’s their entitlement to have it. This causes bands to be in debt because they are using personal money out of their own wallets, to try to make the band run, which makes them run dry within months or a couple of years. Making everything seem not worth it in the end, that staying home is the better option, when it’s not.

TMR: What are the plans for the near future ?

A: Second album, because we made so many songs that we won’t manage to make only one.

TMR: Thank you, Alina & Dave for your time and the interview. We wish At Home all the best … Is there anything you wanna say at last ? 

A: Stay metal and stick to Jesus!

D: Thank you for taking the time to do this, looking forward to talking again and always Rock For The Cross!

Soundcloud player ‘If You Proclaim’