Interview with . . . Sweet Crystal

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Christian rockers Sweet Crystal of Michigan will be releasing new music to inspire everyone in the world. Who doesn’t need a little encouragement?

Please welcome Sweet Crystal to the blog. Keep reading to find out more about the band and discover what inspires them.

Interview:

Who is answering the questions?

I’m Marq Andrew Speck, lead vocalist and keyboard player for 24-time Detroit Music Award-winning band SWEET CRYSTAL (www.sweetcrystal.com). Along with founding members guitarist Bill Blatter and drummer Steve Wieser and now joined by newest member and bass player Martin Kuchar, we have been at the forefront of the Christian rock scene here in Michigan even before this genre had its own radio and broadcast outlets.

Band/Artist Name:

24 Time Detroit Music Award-winning band SWEET CRYSTAL

Marq Andrew Speck – lead vocals, anything with keys

Bill Blatter –vocals, anything with strings

Steve Wieser – anything hit with sticks

Martin Kuchar – vocals, anything bass, and more bass

Tell us about your latest project:

‘7TH HEAVEN’ https://sweetcrystal.bandcamp.com/album/7th-heaven

Our new 7 song, 7th release is our most powerful and passionate to date.

‘7TH HEAVEN’ starts bold out of the gate. This release features 4 singles that came out over the last 2 ‘pandemic’ years…even though we couldn’t get out and play live, we streamed a variety of shows from our studio and put out the 4 songs to keep us in the minds and ears of our fans, friends, and family. Not only 5 new songs written by the band, but we also cover an ‘80s song by Christian alt-rockers The Call, and even reach back even farther to the glory days of the 60’s Detroit music scene by ‘Crystalizing’ a classic SRC rock tune.

‘7TH HEAVEN’ continues where our last release ‘Got Your Six’ left off: songs of hope and inspiration featuring our signature guitar sounds, multi-keyboard melodies, straight-ahead drumming with just a few chanting monks thrown in for good measure.

Where was your first concert as a fan? As a performer?

For me personally, it was the Dave Clark 5 (which your readers probably have no idea who that was) but when I worked my way up to the side of the stage as a very young lad living in Nashville, Tennessee, the keyboard player actually smiled and waved to me…and the music bug was instantly transferred to my soul!

As a band, we got to open for the legendary Bob Seger on New Year’s Eve at a stadium in Michigan… that’s how you get the ball rolling. After that, we opened up for such classic rock acts as Foghat, Nazareth, Steppenwolf, and many more before finding our true path into the Christian music field.

What is the secret to writing good music?

Be true to yourself. If your songs don’t elicit a reaction from you – the writer – it probably won’t reach out to a new fan or someone looking for something unique and exciting. Learn the technology that’s available for both producing your music and for promoting your music. It’s easier than ever to find ways to release new songs but in this ocean of sound that expands daily, it can be frustrating. Find others to work with – networking and collaborations are a key to staying focused… and sane… during the creative process. Don’t “chase” current trends in mainstream music but stay true to your musical vision.

Do you have a bucket list? If so, what’s on it?

After winning 24 Detroit Music Awards (DMA) here in the Motor City (and we have 8 nominations for the upcoming 2022 DMA show on April 10), it’s time we set our sights on a Grammy or two.

What was the last thing that you read?

Not to seem obvious, but every morning starts out with a bit of Bible study – because without the Word kick-starting our day, a lot of not-so-savory things can start to creep in… and a lot of my lyrics get their inspiration from passages and truths found there. After that, any good sci-fi novel will keep me entertained.

What are you listening to at the moment?

We love listening to the solo works of various progressive rock musicians to hear what they do away from their bands. Currently, that list includes Jordan Rudess, John Petrucci, Neal Morse, and Steven Wilson.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?

It varies with each band member: I am big time into acting with four feature film roles and various television appearances. Guitarist Bill is into competitive marksmanship and was recently endorsed for ISP Technologies, a high-end music merchandiser here in Michigan. Drummer Steve takes to the golf course to release the extra energy he has and has gotten good enough to start competing in the professional circuit. Marty works with mentally challenged adults, giving back in a way that the rest of us admire more than he knows.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

We think our music would be a great fit for producer/superstar Alan Parsons to work with. His signature sounds and musical styling (think “Dark Side Of The Moon”) would make any and every Sweet Crystal song that much…you know, sweeter!

What do you want people to know about your music?

We hope that the music, message, and words we sing will make a difference in the lives of everyone who hears them. Our music is about us, but it’s also about you. We hope someone who hears our music – or attends a Sweet Crystal show – to come away feeling better about themselves, knowing that whatever they are dealing with, chances are we’ve dealt with it as well.

Our trademarked slogan – Reaching The World, One Song At A Time™ – pretty much says it all about our music, message, mission, and ministry: we are here to reach out to a world with songs of hope and inspiration that rock!