The rest of the guys wanted to self-produce because they never really got a chance to before, so they worked with an engineer named Aaron Marsh in Lakeland, who used to be in Copeland. Our drummer worked with Matt Goldman in Atlanta, because he felt the best drums he’s ever gotten were at Matt Goldman’s. That was very liberating.Īnd yeah, we went to three different producers because everybody got to choose where they wanted to go. Knowing it was our last record, we literally couldn’t care less if it sold one or one million copies. On no other record could you literally call out fans and be like “this one’s for you!”

It allowed me to write lyrics about how much being in the band has meant to me, thanking the fans and then also saying goodbye to them. It wasn’t like we had managers breathing down our neck, or the label contacting us saying “what’s your single going to be?” It was very carefree. Did that contribute to it being a different creative process than on your other records?Ībsolutely, simply because we knew that we were absolutely, 100% liberated to do whatever we wanted. So if we could start with talking about Lowborn a little bit: from what I understand, you guys used quite a few different producers on this, and of course you went in knowing it was your final record. In this conversation, Stephen Christian reflected on the closing chapter, Lowborn, and Anberlin’s indelible mark on alternative rock (and on him). With the beginning of 2014, they announced their forthcoming disbandment– a year long process capped by final album Lowborn (once again with Tooth & Nail) and a farewell tour. A major label stint began with New Surrender, leading into the brooding Dark is the Way, Light is a Place and electronically experimental Vital. The moment, like Anberlin’s career, was immortalized in my mind.Īnberlin began as a cornerstone band in Tooth & Nail’s heyday, gaining their footing with sophomore release Never Take Friendship Personal in 2005 and becoming a genuine force to be recognized with 2007’s magnum open Cities. In middle of Anberlin’s final tour as a band, Stephen was energetic and warm, refreshingly present in his answers to my questions. On a rainy Nashville evening in October of 2014, I sat in the back lounge of Anberlin’s bus across from Stephen Christian. This interview originally appeared on NewReleaseToday in November of 2014.

Matt goldman anberlin lowborn