Aaron PICAR
\"Like G.I. Joe, Aaron Picar is a real American hero. Unlike G.I. Joe, Aaron Picar exists in three dimensions.\"
Jason Harwell, IAMA Song of the Year Winner
Aaron PICAR is eclectic folk for eclectic folk.
So just what does that mean? He\'s too fast for folk, too slow for rock, too cool for country, not cool enough for the blues. He can share a drink with the sinners and say a prayer with the saints.
SO just who is Aaron Picar? He\'s not sure himself but one thing is true, Aaron definately has a voice that must be heard. Aaron combines his passionate, energetic stage presence with honest, intellegent songwriting, a shimmering acoustic guitar, as well as his unique ability to draw people in to his music and personality.
Regaurdless the venue, or who\'s in the audience, Picar gives the same thing to everyone, genuine music from a genuine person. So if you have ears, Aaron has music for you.
Having established himself in the local Cape scene and shared the stage with acclaimed artists as Bill Mallonee of Vigilantes of Love (and one of America\'s greatest living songwriters), Jason Harwell (2004 International Songwriter of the Year), Jon Black (2005 International Song of the Year Winner), Eric Peters (formerly of Ridgely, currently of well, Eric Peters), even hard rockers PostMortum and God-Hop acts as the Church Boyz, Aaron, is ready to see where his music will take him next.
Ultimately, Aaron Picar crafts his songs to connect the unchanging truth to the changing world so the listener reaches beyond oneself to something greater.
Aaron can be followed on the following sites along with this one.
http://creativeintensity.blogspot.com
http://facebook.com/aaronpicar
http://twitter.com/aaronpicar
http://reverbnation.com/aaronpicar
http://ilike.com/artist/Aaron+Picar
http://www.last.fm/music/Aaron+Picar
http://virb.com/aaronpicar
An Interview with Aaron PICAR for the Southeast Missourian Feb. 2006
Aaron PICAR
Age: 28
Hometown: Cape Girardeau
Genre: Acoustic/Folk, Indie
How did you get into playing Christian Music?
A lot of it was that I was pulled into my former youth group\'s band. I was their roadie, played with them, worked with them on their songs. Then, I just started playing more, and writing my own stuff.
Why did you stop playing with your old band?
It\'s just me now, because they\'re living life, going to college, and whathaveyou so I decided to come out on my own.
Who are your influences?
A lot of people just a few include Billy Cerveny, Bill Mallonee, U2, Wilco.
How do you feel about secular music?
I enjoy it, I think that there is spiritual music in there that you have to dig for, most people just don\'t think about it, but if they looked they\'d see it.
Why do you play Christian Music?
It is a part of who I am, its how God expresses himself through me, and he let\'s people see how I\'m living through him.
How do you feel about the Christian bands that have become mainstream such as Switchfoot?
I think it\'s great that many Christian acts are getting mainstream attention. It brings the Gospel to people who wouldn\'t normally go to church, in ways that are relevant and artistically excellent.
Honestly the best \"Christian\" band in recent years has been U2. Sure you won\'t see them winning any Dove awards, but what they\'ve done to bring the African AIDS Crisis, fair trade, social injustices, etc., to the forefront of the cultural awareness has been nothing short of godly. They\'ve taken up causes that the Church has traditionally championed.
You always here the cliché that Christian music has to have the words God or Jesus in every song. How do you feel about that and does your music incorporate that?
There are two things I avoid in my craft: One are clichés the other is Christian-ese. Most listeners don\'t know what it means to be saved or born again, so if I go on and on and on about that sorta stuff, I\'ll likely lose my listeners.
When I began songwriting I asked my good friend and favorite musician Billy Cerveny how do I do this as a Christian. What he told me, I\'ve always followed, \"Seek God and write what comes out. If it\'s a praise song, that\'s cool. If it\'s a story song that doesn\'t mention Jesus, that\'s cool. It\'s all about sharing what He has put on your heart to share.\"
I don\'t think I\'ve ever mentioned Jesus in a song, but He\'s there. He has a way of haunting me, of showing up in the darkest and most unexpected of places when I\'m not looking for Him. I\'ve begun writing songs with God being the furthest thing from my mind, but by the end He\'ll show up and bring everything to Him.
Influences
Vigilantes of Love, U2, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Rebuilt Records, the Square Peg Alliance, the Nashville Resistance
Sounds Like...
the sonic lovechild of U2 and Wilco raised by such wolves as Rebuilt Records, the Square Peg Alliance, Whiskeytown and Vigilantes of Love