Getting Real
By Christa A. Banister, senior music editor, GospelMusicChannel.com
On their respective new projects, Stop & Listen and Take Over, singer/songwriters Bethany Dillon and Aaron Shust ventured out of their comfort zones both lyrically and sonically. Now, in their own words, they explain how these new songs came to fruition and what they’ve learned about relationships in the process.
A Gospel Charge
Given that she’s been writing and recording thoughtful, introspective pop music since she was 14, it’s really no surprise that Bethany Dillon sounds all grown up even though she’s only 21.
In addition to that rather notable birthday, she also recently celebrated her first year of marriage to fellow singer/songwriter Shane Barnard (of duo Shane & Shane). Dillon talks about how everyday life, love and Gospel truths have informed her latest work.
GospelMusicChannel.com: Everyone always says the first year of marriage is the most challenging. What has really surprised you about being married? What were some of the joys of the first year?
Bethany Dillon: Luckily, I married a man who is very patient and isn't afraid of conflict or working toward resolve, which I tend to want to avoid. So, it has definitely been a learning year for me!
I think one of the most surprising things from the first year of marriage is just that – that everyone's marriage is unique. It doesn't fit a cookie-cutter version of what you think marriage is supposed to be. In fact, it's SO much better! I think the most surprising thing to me is how much I love, love, love, and enjoy, being married. You hear so much of the bad stuff before you get married, that all the good stuff gets forgotten. Don't get me wrong, it is work! And it constantly forces you to face your own depravity; but even in the midst of that, it's wonderful. You get to live life with your best friend! I love being married to Shane.
GospelMusicChannel.com: Since your husband is also a musician, did he have any advice for you as you worked on your new album?
Dillon: In the past when I was writing songs, I would play them for family members or friends and get their input, which was always great. But now, Shane is the first one who hears the songs – and he is honestly one of my favorite songwriters, so to have him as a sounding board truly is a blessing. We write differently, but I think getting feedback from another artist's perspective is even more challenging – expectations are higher in a good way. We didn't sit down and write a song together for this album, but you better believe his input and ideas are all over the songs!
GospelMusicChannel.com: The past year has been a real season of change for you with getting married, relocating to Dallas, etc. How did that shape your songwriting?
Dillon: I think it's always easier to write songs when you're in the middle of a season of life that's becoming a story in and of itself. You want to share the stories along the way, you know? Kind of like keeping a journal. A song on this record called "Deliver Me" is one of those story-songs: I wrote it during a really difficult time of wrestling with jealousy and insecurity as a new wife. The Lord kept drawing me back to the story of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 about being humbled, and it really shook me up in the face of all the prideful things going on inside of my heart at the time. That song kind of became a confession and reminder as He walked me through it, and now being on the other side of that lesson and listening to the song, it takes me back to that brutally honest place and causes deep thankfulness to happen in my heart.
GospelMusicChannel.com: You collaborated with Ed Cash, your longtime producer on just a couple of songs this time around. How did working with a new producer stretch you creatively?
Dillon: Ed is such a dear friend, amazing writer, and awesome man of God. But it really was great to switch it up and do something completely different with this record by having Marshall Altman produce! He has made so many amazing records (Brooke Fraser's Albertine is one of them) and it was an honor to get to work with him. It was outside of my comfort zone. I normally make records in Nashville; he's in Los Angeles. I usually have a few months of writing/recording; he works quickly. We had pre-production, production, and vocals all done in about three weeks.
I think the biggest challenge though was just being outside of the Christian music bubble. I didn't realize how immersed I was in it until I packed a bag for Los Angeles and felt a bit like I had whiplash. All of the sudden, having the name of Jesus in my lyrics felt offensive. Talking about the cross and redemption was uncomfortable. But even though it was a challenge, it was so healthy and so fun to step out and be in a new environment and learn.
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GospelMusicChannel.com: Everyone always says the first year of marriage is the most challenging. What has really surprised you about being married? What were some of the joys of the first year?
Bethany Dillon: Luckily, I married a man who is very patient and isn't afraid of conflict or working toward resolve, which I tend to want to avoid. So, it has definitely been a learning year for me!
Okay all you married Christians out there...we all know that unfortunately the divorce rate among Christians is the same as the general population. Right here in the GMC Community, we can help encourage each other to stay strong in our marriages. Share some of your secrets for keeping the flame alive!
I am a haapily married man of 19 years. I was from a family of divorcees and I saw all the pain suffering created by it. My goal was to find someone to stay married to for life. God sent me her, earlier than I would have expected. I'm not perfect by any means and neither is she but we love each other and accept eachother for who we are. Like any success in life, you have to work hard at it and support eachother above all else. You have to learn to bend a bit and compromise. But the greatest thing that has kept us together is our shared faith, without that who knows where we would be today.
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