EOWYN

Jen G.’s Music View

Eowyn is a creature in God’s ever-shaping hand. From her sound to her passion, Eowyn has given her music to the silent screams of her audience. She’s given a voice to those who are afraid of life. She’s giving strength to those who are too ashamed to talk about the pain that haunts them from the inside out.

“Face your fears and take a chance…” The lyrics are as strong as the voice behind them.

Addressing issues that plague the minds and lives of teenagers, Silent Screams is a force for the hurting.

Jen G.
Publisher
AWOE Magazine

Jen G.: Behind all the mystique of Eowyn, who are you?

Eowyn: Gosh, who am I? I wish I had a friend or family member answering this one for me. They’d probably have a better answer than I would.

I’d have to say I’m just a girl who loves the Lord, loves to sing, and loves meeting people!

Jen G.: What does your name mean?

Eowyn: My name is actually from The Lord of the Rings books—and now the movies. My dad was a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, and Éowyn is one of the characters.

People always ask me if it’s my real name, but it really is.

Jen G.: How long have you been making music?

Eowyn: I’ve been singing in church since I was five years old, but as far as writing and creating my own songs, that’s only been since I was 19.

I actually recorded my first album at 19 called One More Chance, but I keep that one very hidden! I still laugh when I hear it!

Jen G.: What is the significance of Silent Screams to you on a personal level?

Eowyn: When writing Silent Screams, I knew I wanted to convey a lot of what I believe young people are feeling today.

I speak daily with people who struggle with cutting, suicidal thoughts, or deep depression, and I wanted an album that could really speak to them—and for them.

The ironic thing is that a lot of this album actually tells a story from my own heart as well.

I guess I should have expected that because I always tend to write what I’m feeling.

“I want people to like me, and the truth is, not everyone will.”

Jen G.: Silent Screams is a powerful album that really speaks to today’s pain. In To My Surprise, you cry out, “Lord Jesus, You’ve rescued me… I surrender.”

Out of all the attacks of anger, rejection, insecurity, and depression, which one have you dealt with the most? And how did you find freedom?

Eowyn: I’d have to say insecurity is what I’ve dealt with the most, which can definitely lead to feelings of rejection and depression.

I’ve always cared a little too much about what people think of me personally.

I want people to like me, and the truth is, not everyone will.

I always find freedom by running to Christ.

That doesn’t mean I don’t still struggle at times, but I recognize the signs much sooner now and run to Him a lot quicker than I used to.

Jen G.: Why do you believe we keep silent when we’re hurting?

Eowyn: I think we’re scared of what others will think of us.

A girl wrote me on MySpace just last night and told me she was hurting so much inside, but she was afraid of what her family and friends would think if she told them.

Then she said something so profound:

“I’ve been trying to hide it from God too…and the truth is, He already knows!”

Isn’t that so true?

He does know when we’re hurting, and the beautiful thing is that He cares.

Jen G.: Why is it important to talk about what we’ve kept hidden—what’s slowly eating away at us?

Eowyn: When we hide things, we’re not only deceiving others—we’re deceiving ourselves.

That deception brings even more pain and suffering than the original hurt ever did.

Eventually, we end up putting up a false face of who we really are, and in the end, we don’t even know ourselves anymore.

When we begin to be honest with ourselves and others about how we truly feel, then real healing of our hearts and minds can begin.

“I love performing because it’s my chance to share my heart and reach out to those who need someone to listen.”

Jen G.: How have you reached out to those you’ve seen hurting?

Eowyn: A lot of how I reach out personally is through my music and from the stage.

I love performing because it’s my chance to share my heart and reach out to people who simply need someone to listen.

Off the stage, I’ve been known to pray with people at my merchandise table, or I’ll encourage them to write me through email—which many do.

From there, I pray for them.

Yes…even through MySpace.

“I’ve seen too many girls with tears streaming down their cheeks and filled with feelings of worthlessness not to care. How could I not share Christ’s love with them?”

Jen G.: Have you ever been pushed away?

Eowyn: I’ve sent emails that didn’t receive an immediate response, or I’ve offered prayer after a show and someone declined.

Those are the moments when I have to push aside my own insecurities and realize I simply have to do what I feel God is leading me to do, regardless of the outcome.

One girl who turned down prayer after a show ended up writing me a week later asking for prayer online.

That showed me that if I hadn’t asked, she probably wouldn’t have felt free to write later.

Jen G.: Why have you committed yourself—and your music—to sharing the truth you’ve found?

Eowyn: I’ve seen too many girls with tears streaming down their cheeks and hearts filled with worthlessness not to care.

How could I not share Christ’s love with them?

Sometimes I try to picture where I’d be if I didn’t have the hope of Jesus Christ.

Honestly, it scares me.

I truly don’t think I’d be here today if I didn’t have Him in my heart and life.

When I look at these hurting kids, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than share the truth of God’s love and forgiveness with them.

Jen G.: What does forgiveness mean to you?

Eowyn: Truly forgiving someone means you no longer hold it against them.

You won’t throw it in their face or bring it up over morning coffee.

You won’t hold it over their head for years to come.

Jen G.: What would you say to someone who believes they’re beyond forgiveness…who doesn’t think God would understand—or isn’t even sure He exists?

Eowyn: God casts our sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more.

He’s already forgiven us.

Most of the time, forgiving ourselves is the real struggle.

Behind Silent Screams

Jen G.: My favorite song on Silent Screams is Unfinished Memories. Can you tell me what it’s about and what it means to you?

Eowyn: I wrote Unfinished Memories after the death of my dear friend and guitarist, Matt Hallmark.

He died at the age of 21 after driving across a median on his way home from a show and colliding with another vehicle. The couple in that vehicle also died instantly.

Unfinished Memories expresses some of the pain I felt after losing him.

The lyrics also carry hope—for me, for his family, and for everyone who loved him—that one day we’ll see him again in Heaven and finish all the memories we couldn’t finish here on earth.

Jen G.: A couple of years ago your band went through an incredibly difficult time, losing your friend and bandmate Matt Hallmark in that tragic accident.

How did his life impact all of you, and how does his testimony continue to live on?

Eowyn: I tear up even thinking about him today.

He impacted my life in so many ways.

He was a great friend and an incredible brother in Christ.

He was so bold about his love for God—it was contagious.

I still smile remembering rehearsals when I’d forget to open with prayer and he’d say, in his Southern accent, “Eowyn, you didn’t pray!”

So I’d stop and pray right then.

His death was tragic, but so many people have come to Christ because of it.

I’ve shared his story from the stage many times, but one of the coolest things happened after he passed away.

Matt had been writing several young people on MySpace, encouraging them to know the Lord.

One of them wrote me after Matt’s death to tell me he had given his life to Christ because of Matt.

God truly works all things together for good.

Jen G.: What would you say to those who’ve lost friends or loved ones and can’t understand why they were taken so suddenly?

Eowyn: Never give up.

I know if Matt were here today, he’d encourage me to keep going. If I didn’t, he probably would’ve yelled at me in that cute Southern accent of his.

Just like in Matt’s death, even though it was a tragedy, God still brought good from it.

It’s never easy to lose someone we love, but we can’t lose ourselves in the process.

They would never want us to.

Jen G.: What would you say to someone who’s allowed the silent screams to consume them…someone standing on the edge of suicide or who’s given up hope?

Eowyn: Run to God.

His arms are open wide, ready to receive them. All they have to do is come to Him.

He will heal their hearts and minds if they ask.

At the same time, remember that we’re human.

While God can heal us spiritually, we may still struggle emotionally.

Don’t give up.

Ask God to help you see yourself the way He sees you—full of worth, beauty, and more potential than you could ever imagine.

And don’t be afraid to reach out to others for prayer.

We aren’t meant to carry these burdens alone, and that’s okay.

It doesn’t mean you’re weak.

It means you’re humble enough to say, “I need help.”

Jen G.: Would you invite them to the life you’ve found by asking them to come to Jesus?

Eowyn: Of course!

If you’re reading this and wondering, “How can I run to a God I don’t even know?” the truth is—you can know Him right now.

If you feel a tug on your heart, that’s probably Him drawing you.

No matter where you are or what you’ve done, you can ask Him right now to come into your heart, forgive you, and heal you.

It’s that simple.

He loves you more than you can imagine, and He cares for you deeply.

My prayer is that this year you experience His love like never before.

To learn more about EOWYN, visit www.eowynmusic.com.