Jars of Clay, ‘Journeys to unfamiliar’ in new album

CEBU, Philippines -  â€œBringing the fullest of what we are to what we do. That makes part of being in a band just so much better,” said Dan Haseltine, Jars of Clay’s lead vocalist.

Formed in 1993 at Greenville College in Illinois, Jars of Clay comprises of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars.

Their second time here in Cebu, the internationally applauded American Christian rock band performed live at the Ayala Terraces last April 2 as part of Ayala Center Cebu’s Lenten Special series of events. For now, the band has in store a more electronic, organic and folksy-Americano acoustic feel, when asked how their music has progressed after 20 years of recording songs in the industry.

Now, the band is out with a newly-released album “Inland,” which is “about a journey to the unfamiliar, to the mysteries of life” as what Mason described. Tucker Martine, a Grammy-nominated producer, worked with them in producing this album.

Jars of Clay also supports “Blood: Water Mission,” which “over the last two years, the organization has grown from just being a band, and one other college student that was helping us at that time to now a staff and team with a help of over 900,000 people”, that was created to fight HIV/AIDS and opts for clean access of water in Africa.

The band has bagged three Grammy Awards for Best Pop/ Contemporary Gospel album and multiple GMA Dove Awards (which recognizes outstanding success in the Christian music industry). (FREEMAN)