I enjoy writing...sometimes without music.

Moving to Nashville.

After months of thought, struggle, and prayer, it is official that I’m moving to Nashville, TN. I had been wrestling with the idea for a while and knew I had to make some drastic changes if I wanted to whole-heartedly pursue a musical career. I absolutely love the area and had such an amazing time while I was there a few weeks ago. After an unbelievable opportunity presented itself, I felt like I really had no choice. Sometimes we pray for God to open a door or nudge us towards one of them. Well, this time it feels like He’s throwing me straight through it. 

Long story short…myself, Jordan Schmidt, Dane Schmidt, and Colin Kassekert are officially moving into a house AND studio just outside of Nashville.

Although the situation was an extraordinary and exciting opportunity, it still wasn’t easy making the decision. Here in northeast Pennsylvania, I have built a home over the past 23 years. I have a close-knit family, a job I enjoy, a girlfriend I love, great friends, a growing and exciting church plant, soccer team, and all the comforts this American culture can dream of. The only thing missing in my life is a white picket fence. 

After prayer and some wisdom from people I love and respect, I realized one thing that made the answer very clear. God gave me musical ability and passion for a reason. I know He didn’t put those in my heart to just sit and waste away. I refuse to stay home and choose comfort over what, I believe, is my life’s calling. It may not be very easy, but I will have the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented musicians every day and push forward as an artist.

If you are a friend, family, or anyone who has helped and supported me through my crazy musical endeavors…thank you. You mean the world to me. But I’ll still need your support, even though I’ll be living in Tennessee! 

If you are someone who has a passion, but is afraid to make changes or take that leap of faith…man up and do it. Your life is a story. Make people want to read it.

August Update

Well, it’s been far too long since I’ve updated or released much of anything since I launched this whole solo artist thing…I thought it was about time to sit down and explain everything that’s going on with me.

My first instinct is to apologize to everyone for seemingly falling off the face of the map, but I believe everything happens for a reason and I’ve seen that very truth blatantly unfold in my life. Over this past year, I have learned so much about myself and I genuinely needed that time or this whole project would have painfully missed the mark. So, no. I’m not sorry.

Last fall I started this venture by blindly writing and recording the first batch of songs with Jordan Schmidt and Chris Lee, two talented friends of mine whom I respect more than most. I really had no direction or idea of what sound or style I was “going for”. I just knew I wanted to step out from behind the drums and be a solo artist so I could more genuinely pour myself into music…and I did just that. In the short amount of time we spent out there, I poured my heart into six songs and worked hard alongside a few guys who did the same thing. We recorded the songs…each with a different flare, but all songs that I fell in love with.

I learned two things: 1) I was going to be a solo artist. and 2) I was actually capable of singing and writing songs.

After a few months of preparation, I released “My Girl” and fell into my old traps of time lines and expectations. I felt consumed by the drive for success and the fear of falling short…again. I’m not sure if it was just my personality or if it was hearing my instinctual clock ticking to find success, power, and stability as a man. It’s kinda like a woman’s biological clock to get married and have kids. It’s built in us. It’s not always a bad thing, but if we let it control us…we run into problems.

One of the things I’ve learned over the past several months is that, as an artist, you will never find success if you are driven by success. If you’re an artist, people want art. Art should come from the heart and soul, not from a man’s instinct to gain money, power, and stability.

Through a few months of growth, I slowly uncovered a little more of who I was and how that can come out as an artist. In that time, I decided that instead of releasing the six songs as an EP, I wanted to record a full album.

June rolled around and with more focus and motivation, I repaired the exhaust on my ‘99 Cavalier with a metal coat hanger (true story) and drove back out to Minneapolis to record the next batch of songs with Jordan Schmidt. I only had one song (half) written before going out, but was excited about the seclusion at the studio with Jordan to really test my ability/growth as a song writer and let more of myself come out. This was, by far, the most exciting and inspirational time of my musical career. We spent 23 days writing and recording 5 more songs…learning more than I thought possible.

So here I sit a few weeks later, with a confidence in what I’m doing and a peace that it’ll all happen in God’s timing, not my own. I now have 11 songs that I couldn’t be more proud of. I can’t wait for you all to hear them!

I know this is a never-ending process of growth, but I feel like I’ve finally broken free of the distractions and insecurities that have kept me from being an artist. I expect you all to keep me accountable and I promise you will be hearing these songs soon…from your computer/car/stereo speakers and live in person! I’ll be releasing a brand new song soon, posting videos, and booking shows, so make sure to stay posted! :)

Thanks for reading!

Brooke

Living Appreciatively

So I haven’t written anything for quite a while and I think it’s time I slow down from everyday life and share some of the things I’ve been learning/thinking about. One of the most impacting events that has recently changed some of my thoughts and beliefs occurred last week through a missions trip that I wasn’t even on…

My dad and younger sister went on a medical missions trip to Burkina Faso, Africa and provided medical care to about 600 people in a few days. It was pretty awesome to see a picture of my dad (surgeon) and my sister (actress) in an operating room together working on a patient. In America, she wouldn’t have even been able to step foot in an operating room without 12 signed documents…and she would probably STILL somehow get sued. In Africa, she was willing to help so they taught her how and she helped them save lives and treat people. That’s pretty awesome if you ask me.

One woman they treated came in with a chronic sore/infection on the base of her foot. She said it had been bothering her for a long time and was never able to have it looked at. Without going into too many gruesome details, they cleaned the wound and found it was a bone that was sticking out of the skin. When they asked her how long ago she had broken her foot, she said it’s been about 25 years…25 years!? Are you kidding?? I cannot begin to imagine being in that much pain every day for 25 years. That blew my mind.

This all made me realize how we, as Americans, have such a twisted sense of comfort and what we are entitled to. (myself included) If we have a little headache we whine and complain to each other until we can grab the nearest bottle of Excedrin. We become so self-absorbed in our own desires and comforts. It seems like children with tumors the size of a soccer ball and women with bones sticking out of their feet only exist on the discovery channel. It seems like some fictional story geared to making us feel bad. If we don’t like seeing it, we simply change the channel. The reality is, these people are exactly like you and me. They really can feel everything the same…have emotions and relationships and dreams.

Now, I didn’t write about this to make you depressed or feel bad for having more than the people in Burkina Faso, Africa…I just hope it can help you appreciate all the comforts that we do have already and express that appreciation by sharing with others who don’t have as much as you. We need to start taking the focus off ourselves and onto those around us. We can make a huge impact simply by choosing to alter our attitudes and our actions every day.

You are very very blessed. Live appreciatively!

mein Vater…the man is ridiculous.

I was reminded last night, yet again, what an amazing man my father is.  I truly hope that someday I become half the man he is. I was slightly confused last night when I heard my dad bustling around the house at 11:30pm.  Typically he’s only up that late when he gets called in for an emergency operation, when he’ll stumble out of bed and race out the door to save someone’s life. My suspicions only grew when I heard the unmistakable creak of our luggage closet, just outside my bedroom door.  Far too curious to sleep, I hopped out of bed and asked him what the heck he was doing.

“I’m going to Haiti tomorrow. They won’t let any commercial flights in, but I got a call from Uncle Scott today that there was one seat left on a private plane that can get in there with people to help.”

I couldn’t help but smile in pride and head back into my room. What blows my mind is the fact that I was not remotely surprised…  He went into NYC and treated injuries of victims on 9/11 and prayed with their families.  He flew to India in 2004 when the tragic tsunami wiped out over 230,000 people.  He went back again to set up a medical clinic, treating patients and training doctors and nurses. He went down to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina to help any way he could. He’s been to Burkina Faso, Africa 3 times in the past year to bring medical supplies and treat anyone who needed care. He’s been to several other parts of the world, on several medical missions trips…more than I can even remember to count.

This is not all to say ‘my dad is better than your dad!’ or give me another reason to stick my nose up in the air, trying to unjustifiably absorb any secondhand praise or attention.  I just can’t help but share what an amazing example and encouragement my father is.  He doesn’t tell people about it or come home waving his flag in victory.  He comes home to be a father, a husband, and a guy who saves lives in the United States too. I’m so blessed just to learn from him and witness the impact he has on the lives of so many people…from his own household to the 6^th poorest country in the world.

This is an inspiration. My dad is just one example of how you can take the gifts God has given you and use them to make a difference in people’s lives.  You don’t have to be a surgeon or fly around the world.  A loving smile or a few words of encouragement can save a life just as easily.

We don’t get a whole lot of time on this earth.  Find your gifts and use them to shine a little light in someone’s life.

The Movement Interview - Thanks Brooke!

thisistheresolution:

Whats the name of your band? -   The Movement

Whats a brief history of the band? -   The 4 members had been working together in the music scene for a few years and found an unbeatable connection of personal respect and interaction, musical maturity, and commitment. We spent about 5 months in preparation…writing, recording out in Minneapolis, photo shoots, designs, and building a complex plan of attack with our management. The band officially launched January 24th of 2009.

May I have a list of all the members? ages? and what instrument they play.  -  Brendan Gerhart, 21 (lead vocals), Joe Acor, 25 (Guitar), Brooke Gerhart, 20 (Drums), and Tim Jenkins, 22 (Keyboards)

Who is doing this interview? Whats your roll in the band? -  Brooke,  I play drums. I do most of the myspace/online maintenance and promotion. I also take care of the ‘business’ aspects of our band’s needs, including managing our finances/spreadsheets and networking with business contacts.

How did all of the band members meet? -  Well, obviously Brendan and I have known each other all our lives! (since we are brothers) We met Tim when we switched churches about 8 years ago and became good friends through our youth group.  We crossed paths with Joe while working with a local promotion company…they booked a few shows for an old band we were in, as well as Joe’s old band. They disbanded at the same time we were looking for a new member and the rest was history!

What are some of your favorite bands? -  I honestly can say I like every style of music…I can appreciate musicans of all kinds (and my band choices will prove it!) My favorites include: Taylor Swift, Fallout Boy, Coldplay, Lights, John Mayer, The Rocket Summer, Cobra Starship, Justice, Bring Me the Horizon, MGMT, Sigur Ros, Cash Cash, Hey Monday, Lydia, The Glorious Unseen, Muse, Daft Punk, Celine Dion, Keane, The Deer Hunter, Panic At the Disco, The Jonas Brothers, and Nickelback! Hey, you asked ;)

What do you think your bands music influences are? -  We are really focusing on an electronic, danceable pop sound and have drawn influence from some great bands in a similar style like Justice, Cash Cash, Daft Punk, and Metro Station

What about non-musical influences? -  As cliche as it sounds, we draw a lot of influence off relationships but not in the ‘emo’ sappy way…we try to express and encourage a confidence that won’t allow a relationship to bring you down. We focus a lot on dancing and just letting go to have a good time!

If you are on tour: how do you like it? What things do you miss at home? -  We have not toured yet with this band (since we’ve only been ‘alive’ for a bit over a month, but all of us have toured in previous bands and know the experience well.  We absolutely love touring and can’t wait to get out on the road with this band. We love traveling the country as best friends…meeting new people and creating new memories every day.  Two members are married so they obviously miss their wives at home while we are away! But on tour you miss the comforts and consistency of home and family…meals from mom, a big bed, and most of all…my cat Sasha! :)

If you’re not on tour: are you planning a tour anytime soon? -  We do not have a tour planned yet…will be playing regionally for a little while but will hopefully be confirming a national tour by this fall!

What major bands would you love to tour with? - We have been fortunate to have made good friends with some awesome bands over the past few years, so touring with any of them would be an amazing time! Some of them include Sing It Loud, A Rocket to the Moon, Cash Cash, Brighten, A Cursive Memory, and This Providence.

What major venue would you like to play at? -  I don’t have a specific favorite, but any big venue with a big band would be great!

Who writes the songs? -  We collectively write our music…none of it is completed or released without the approval and input of the entire band. As far as lyrics, our singer Brendan writes most of them.

What inspires you to write? or are you the type of lyricist that is always writing? -   I know Brendan is always writing and can crank out some amazing songs when he gets in his ‘creative flow’.  A concept may just hit him and he knows how to write it all down as a song…it’s incredible.

How do you think music affects the world around you? -   I believe music is what keeps our world sane. It has a way of connecting to anyone and everyone…helping them through whatever the are going through.  Some people listen to music for the adrenaline rush, others the emotion, others the musical technicality, and some just to dance! Every genre of music has a demographic that pulls a huge amount of support and entertainment from the music…and that brings the ‘genres of people’ together to support one another.

What is your opinion on downloading music online? -  I think digital downloads have re-invented the musical market as we know it…anybody who claims to know anything about the music industry knows that physical sales have plummetted and many people are now going straight to iTunes!  This shift means good and bad things for the artist.  It encourages illegal downloading of music…a large percentage of people can go straight to Limewire or Bitlord and pick up the latest copy of their favorite Cd for free. That sucks because there are a lot of expenses that go into that record and these people don’t care. On the positive side of things, there are no production fees or shipping costs required by the artist (or label) on digital sales.  That saves a lot of money for us and there is an unlimited supply. In a nutshell…downloading music is a bittersweet situation right now. When pirating sites are shut down and illegal downloads are no longer possible, it will be the greatest advancement in sales the industry has ever had.

Where would you like to see your band in 5 years? -  In 5 years I would hope we would have grown at a steady rate and are making music for a comfortable living. We all know being in a band is incredibly hard and is a huge investment of time and money…I would hope that these investments will pay off and our name/music will be a common topic of conversation around the world!

How would you describe your music to somebody? -  Catchy…has a pop/electronic sound that makes you want to dance!

What CD is in your stereo right now? (or last song played on itunes)  -  Taylor Swift- Forever and Always

If you were not doing music, what other profession would you like to do? - I had been training my whole life for a career in soccer and had a few opportunities for that to happen. It was tough to completely give that up to pursue music, and there are days when I think I’m out of my mind for leaving THAT for THIS…but overall I know I made the right choice.

Any last things you would like to say? -  I appreciate you taking the time to help spread the word and get our name out there! We’re really excited about everything that’s going on and can’t wait to see where things can and will go. Anything people can do to help promote our band would be appreciated more than you know!

Author’s Note: I really enjoyed doing this interview! Brooke was very honest and straight forward. Such a great guy. For the first few weeks of getting to know him and this band, I couldnt stop listening to them, they are very catchy and something to dance to. If you like this interview and would like to check them out the link for their myspace is on the main page!- Carissa

ATTN: People/Bands Who Talk Shit On Other Bands

You have no place in this business.

Over the past few years I’ve experienced a lot of this…whether it’s local band drama, arrogant bands, talentless scene sluts, or fans/listeners trying to appear influential. Fortunately, my band is so good that we’ve never had or ever will have anyone say anything negative about us (lol/jk for people lacking social wit), but I hear it about OTHER bands a lot.

First of all, we are all called to respect and love one another, regardless if we agree on things. You don’t have to LIKE everyone, but you must show them respect. You are not better than anyone else…we are all different.

Here is one truth that I have discovered about music…EVERYONE LISTENS TO MUSIC FOR A DIFFERENT REASON. I like, and can appreciate, almost every genre of music (excluding Japanese Classic and Melodramatic Popular Song).  The hardcore kids listen to metal/hxc to release adrenaline…get all sweaty and punch each other in the face in a pit or study the technical ability of musicians. Indie kids like music as an ‘art’…look up lyrics in the dictionary,  and be connected with a certain ‘feel’. Pop kids don’t want to be challenged by their music…they just want a fun release, to sing/dance and easily relate. Punk kids are more about the energy (and usually the politics)…they like the music as a statement, raw and unpolished. The list could go on and on…I think you get the basic point.

So why is it wrong for an ‘indie kid’ to enjoy music that just sounds weird to most people? Why can’t a ‘pop kid’ enjoy stupid lyrics and infectious hooks? And why can’t a bro two-step in a br00tal breakdown!?!

I’m not going to give you specific examples of people/bands who have recently done this, or I’d be negating the whole point of this blog…Basically, it’s ridiculous for ANYONE to look down upon, let alone publicly ridicule, a fan or musician of a different genre. If you are someone who disagrees and thinks it’s OK to tear down other fans/bands, do us all a favor and remove yourself from this industry…or, trust me, IT will remove YOU. Have some class, newbs. We’re all in this together…to make and enjoy music.

So let’s start supporting each other. Go hang out with someone of a different ‘genre’, have an open mind, and figure out what it is they like about the music they’re into. You could be missing out on a lot of good music and friendships!

This makes me laugh and smile real big :) haha

(via fuckyeahthemovement)