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Stu Larsen: Yeah, it’s funny that hey, sometimes I feel like it’s the churched who judge more than the un-churched, but anyway...the three guys. Matt, Matt, and Isaac. They were 3 of the busiest people I know, but they individually came to me and befriended me. They genuinely wanted what was best for me, and encouraged me to make wise decisions, yet they said no matter what I did they would still be there for me. They showed God’s unconditional love to me. This was so important to me. This was the attention I needed, in the form of God’s love. I was so inspired by their friendship that I no longer wanted to make mistakes, I didn’t want to let them down, or God for that matter.
Jen G: So the accountability as well as the unconditional love was what kept you?
Stu Larsen: Definitely. I moved in with one of them, so I was no longer on my own. When you’re life’s a mess and you’re living on your own, it’s too easy to make bad decisions, accountability is so important in situations like that and unconditional love says more to a person than a million words ever could.
Jen G: I’m just going to say, your story is really great for men, especially Christian ones. Do you think that if you had someone to turn to in the beginning things may have turned out differently?
Stu Larsen: Yes and no. I’m not sure. I was in a place where I wasn’t very open to sharing what was going on, but at the same time, I don’t feel like there was anyone who genuinely cared. There were plenty of people with suspicions who were being judgmental and saying all sorts of things to me. It wasn’t until I was approached in a genuinely loving way that I felt at ease to talk about things.
Jen G: I hear ya...What’s something you learned from your experience about yourself and how has it influenced your decisions as a single? Since the temptation is out there even more so that you are single...
Stu Larsen: I’ve learned so many things through it all, and am still learning things, and will more than likely continue to learn lots in the future. The biggest things I learned from it all were A.) to trust God with my life and to know that he is in control and let him be in control and B.) I’ve learned to think about things a lot more, and to really try and understand why we do the things we do, and how to recognize temptation when it presents itself. These two things are influencing me in pretty big ways at the moment. I’m trusting God with the music thing at the moment, more than ever. There are big opportunities presenting themselves, and I’m praying there will be clarity when having to make decisions. And as far as the relationship thing goes...I’ve decided to not pursue anything for the next 6 months at least, so that I can focus on the things God requires my attention on.
Jen G: I think putting God first usually brings everything else together. That seek ye first the kingdom of God principle...
Stu Larsen: Yes. Definitely, and it’s something that I’m learning all over again.
Lies Will Keep You Out
Jen G: Well, taking this to your music. You do play in all venues because your music is very diverse I think. You’re like the Christian James Blunt or something. But you totally have your own sound, which I appreciate. Tell, me what has the reaction been to the non-Christians...
Stu Larsen: It’s interesting. I love where I’m at, at the moment. My music works really well in churches, because it is real life experiences that I have gone through, and it works just as well in the mainstream scene for that exact same reason. That and the catchy pop melodies that accompany the lyrics...I often talk to people who ask about certain lyrics, and what they mean. They are often surprised when they find out it’s referring to God or how God pulled me out of a situation etc. but I think that’s the beauty of music, people can relate to it and get something out of it, even if they don’t know what it was written about. Most of my songs can be interpreted in several ways. They may mean something so specific to me, but something completely different to you, or to my friend Jamie, or my sisters husband, my uncle’s nephew, my pastor’s son or my neighbors cat.
Jen G: That’s probably what drew me in. First it was the title of your album, Lies Will Keep You Out your songs mean something. How did you come up with that name?
Stu Larsen: It’s a line out of the first track on the album ‘My Surrender’. That song was written a couple hours before our first session in the studio, it just came out. That line just stood out to me from the first time I was looking for the album title. Some of my friends weren’t too keen on it, because it may come across as a little negative, but that’s ok with me. It’s the truth.
For me in my marriage, for us in our relationship with God, for our friendships or business acquaintances....lies will keep us out.
Jen G: That’s really a deep thought, a true one...It’s one of those songs that almost feels played out in life.
Stu Larsen: Yeah...
Jen G: Did you write all the songs on the album yourself?
Stu Larsen: Track 2, Grace was written by Matt Smallbone from Alabaster Box. Matt Smallbone is one of the guys who got alongside me. He is a great man.
"God’s hand is there for each one of us, no matter how many stupid
things we’ve done, no matter how many people we think hate us,
He’s always there ready
with open arms."
Jen G: How long did it take you to put this album together?
Stu Larsen: It took about 6 weeks in the studio. It was a really cool time. Worked with some amazingly talented guys, my producer, Caleb James, has done some very cool stuff, as has the guy who mastered the album, Matthew Gray. The guys who played on the album were phenomenal. Chris Poulsen on keys, and Shem Allen on electric guitar, with Matthew Gray also on drums and Paullie finch on bass. I filled in the gaps with my ninja acoustic guitar, skills and a few vocal lines. It was my first extended time in the studio, some days were draining, some days I felt so artistic. It’s amazing to hear the finished product and see how it has all come together.
Jen G: Ninja acoustic guitar...you’re too funny! Okay, that guitar does look like it’s been through a battle or two. Sounds like everything came together wonderfully! How long have you had that guitar and have you gave it a pet name?
Stu Larsen: That old guitar was just one we used for the photo shoot. It’s an old Maton we borrowed from the Maton Museum at International Music here in Toowoomba. It looked so cool we just had to use it in the photo shoot.
Jen G: But Everything Will Be Just Fine, how that song is true to you?
Stu Larsen: I started writing that song as everything was falling apart for me. It was written over about 12 months as things started to come back together for me. It’s a song about life. About things not going how we might expect them to. It’s about knowing that God has it all under control and that if we take his hand he will lead us home, but also that we have the opportunity to do our own thing if we choose. That’s the decision we all have to make. I tried things on my own for a while. I failed miserably. God’s hand is there for each one of us, no matter how many stupid things we’ve done, no matter how many people we think hate us, He’s always there ready with open arms.
Jen G: And 815 is pretty amazing too. What actually happened at 8:15? It always sound like it should have been I believe in you...
Stu Larsen: Well...8:15 was actually written on the spot in a pub gig I was doing with Matt Smallbone on bass and Paullie finch on drums. We were kind of just jamming on it then it just came out. I may have refined the lyrics a little for the album, but it was one of those songs that just appeared.
I guess it’s about the frustration of not being understood, not wanting to go to places because people don’t understand where you’re at or what is going on. But knowing that the reason that that frustration exists is because you walked away from God and did stupid things.
I think it may have been 8:15pm at the time we wrote it? And maybe 10:15pm when we thought we’d sneak it into the set list again...maybe?
Jen G: Wow that’s cool. What was one of your most memorable moments while making the album?
Stu Larsen: The most memorable moment during making the album would have to be hearing the first mix after all the hard work was done. It was a really cool thing to hear the songs with all the parts together. I hope that’s what it’s like when I get old and am about to die. I want to look back and remember all the good and bad things I did, and how I learned and grew through it all, and to be content with the way things have worked out.
Stu Larsen Page 3
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