Starfield is an acoustic pop/rock band comprised of brothers Tim and Jon Neufeld, John Andrews, and Shaun Huberts. Over the past four years they have recorded two independent albums (the first originally made as a demo in a friends basement) which have sold more then 20,000 units in Canada alone.
Starfield has quickly gained the respect of their peers and the Canadian record industry. In addition, Starfield managed to rack in a Juno nomination (Canada’s GrammyAwards) 5 Vibes (Canada’s Dove Awards) , and the Prairie Music Award for best Christian album. “The fact that we sold any CD’s to more people than just friends and family, or that we won any awards, still blows my mind,” Tim says “we really just thought it would be fun to record some stuff for memory’s sake. What has happened is just an amazing testimony to God’s faithfulness!” Through the release of their new album on Sparrow Records in Spring 2004, Starfield will be introduced to a whole new audience in the United States and the guys are very much looking forward to sharing their songs on this new stage.
However, In light of all this, before one even delves into their record of past successes, or even their music, they cannot overlook the fact that one of the most notable things about Starfield is the band’s willingness to serve the local church; coming alongside, complimenting, and encouraging the already-in-process work that’s going on. Explains Jon, “We don’t want to enter a place with only our agendas in mind, we literally want to be servants, not being selfish with our time, coming into a place with a willingness to help and be a part of what God’s already doing.” Whether on stage or off, in front of an audience or at home with their family, Tim and Jon Neufeld display an unyielding desire to be open and transparent before God.
Tim says, "Our goal is to reach the lost with the hope of Jesus while being as real and as relevant as possible…. and we want to encourage our fellow Christians to do the same - getting beyond the bubble of church culture, looking past all the surface stuff, and really pressing in to God. We want to challenge our generation to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ. It is at that point, when we are submitting everything to God, that our lives will become useable vessels. The world will be drawn to Him through our generation’s example of vulnerability.”
And Starfield’s desire to be relevant is clearly reflected in their mission statement: To lift up Jesus so he is impossible to ignore. Tim says, “What I really want to be a part of, is something that is seeing people restored and healed and saved. I want something that is all about Jesus… His intimacy, and His relationship. I’m in a rock band doing rock music but my music can’t be the focus, I can’t be the focus… Jesus has to be the focus or it’s all so meaningless. …If we intentionally put the spotlight on Jesus and pursue His glory we will see people restored and brought to salvation… I’m not trying to say it’s always easy for us to keep that perspective either. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep proper perspective, our flesh wants to be loved and seen, and God’s spirit in us has to rise above that and give us perspective.
“ This music thing is all about worship for us… but I don’t believe worship is all about music” says Tim, “It’s about how we live every part of our lives. It’s about serving and loving others. If we want God to move on our generation, we’ve got to understand that His Spirit does that through us as we love people and reach out to them. We can meet and pray in our own churches, but it’s only the love of God, actively extended through our hands, that will make any lasting difference.” “A worshipper is so much more than just a song singer,” adds Jon. “For us, it’s being good brothers, being good sons, staying fit, being on time, paying bills. It always honours people, and it means you’re being faithful in little things. If you’re being faithful in little things, God is going to trust you with bigger things.”
The new project with Sparrow Records produced by Matt Bronleewe (Jars of Clay, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin) is slated for release in spring 2004. “We love Matt!” Says Tim, “the search for the right producer on this album stopped dead as soon as we met him!”
However, making the new project isn’t just a producer search. The Starfield guys are determined to make a CD with music that is more than just ‘cookie cutter’ worship standards, or ‘feel-good’ pop. Explains Tim, “we want to make an album that is up to the standards (musically) of the mainstream market. But also something that melds pop-rock with real and honest worship in a way that sounds new and fresh. Were trying really hard not to just follow all the rules, as if working hard to pass an exam for the perfect Christian CD… we want our music and message to be as real as possible…especially when it comes to our shortcomings and struggles.”
It takes only a quick listen to realize that the new album is in fact a welcomed breath of fresh air for it’s genre. Featuring artfully crafted songs like the hook-laden title track "Tumbling After,” the worshipful "Can I stay," and "Alive in this moment," a song about spiritual intimacy. The song “Filled with your Glory” has become a staple in churches across Canada as a congregational worship song ascribing to God the Glory of his creation. Each cut on the album leads the listener on a journey of self-examination and ultimately to worship, it is truly relevant across the generations. " ‘Can I stay’ is a song about being dependent on God," says Jon. "It was one of those songs that just came in 15 minutes. I had an old melody that I wanted to work some lyrics into, and the words seemed to just suddenly pour out of me. It was truly a holy moment. It was a prayer of confession for me, just admitting my failures before God…coming to him in complete honesty and pleading with him to free me from the pattern of sin in my life… it means a lot to me.” The album’s title-track, "Tumbling After," explores the ‘already-not yet’ theology of the Christian walk. “ The word ‘journey’ is one of my favorites in describing a relationship with Jesus,” Says Tim, “The truth is, that whether they like it or not everybody on this planet is on a spiritual journey, and the Christian is no exception; already having received everything God can give him, yet still pressing on to deeper things…I love that!”
The Starfield concert experience is just as diverse and intimate as the new recording project. Unlike many shows that only go with glitzy production and pre-decided set lists, Starfield’s concerts flow in a more meaningful direction. Reminiscent of a church service, concerts almost always evolve into a time of praise and worship, which the band believes is vital to their evening with fans.” Worship music has this way of getting past the brain and into the heart, for whatever reason we’ve seen God move powerfully time and time again during the times of worship at our concerts.” Says Jon, “We are passionate about putting on the big show, but it’s just a drawing card, at the end of the day we’re all about connecting with people and having a shared experience of coming before God, being vulnerable, and worshipping Him. We want our personalities and our music to come across in a way that makes people feel like we’re all just family.”
And speaking of family, The Neufeld brothers find it not only in parents and siblings but in a relationship of accountability and support with their local church. Explains Tim,“ I love my little church. It’s a place where burned out Christians from all ends of the spectrum have found a place of safety and come together. It’s where my mentors and peers are… all the people that don’t give a rip that I’m in a rock band… it keeps me grounded, humble, and tempered by a right perspective…it’s very important to us as guys in our 20’s out on the road over 150 days a year to be very plugged in to our church bodies.
Already receiving rave reviews from Christian and general market press alike, STARFIELD’s first Sparrow release and the equally impressive live show that follows, have become the latest chapters in the tale of a band that sees no end in sight for its rise to the top of the contemporary Christian music world.
