 So as we hear skillet playing in the background we get an awesome chance to sit down with a great man... Paul Colman
The day is Sep. 13th, 2005.
It's hot and humid outside but we are sitting here in Pauls nice air-conditioned RV.
When did you first start writing songs?
-I wrote my first song when I was 11, it was called “Godzilla king of the Mormons”
and its atrocious, cause I think what happened was that the Mormons came over that day and I was also watching Godzilla on cartoon corner and somehow put the two together
Is that like the Australian cartoon network?
-yeah cartoon corner (he begins to sing it…), if you called my dad right down in Australia and say “what’s the first song Paul wrote” and he would say Godzilla king of the Mormons.
Is it one of your favorites?
No not really… its not a favorite in anyone’s book
but yeah I was 11, so 38 this month. How many years is that?
I guess its 27 years, how about that 27 years ago!
”Paul breaks into a Beatles song “ It was 27 years ago today! Ok Sorry. That was meant to be a short question.
At what age did you decide to follow Jesus?
Did I ask it the right way?
-Yes well done (chuckle), probably about 7 or 8, but I didn’t know what it really meant.
When I was 4 I knew what it meant, I was kind of young everybody thinks but I understood it…
-Good for you man, yeah I understood it about last week sometime.
What was your first big performance and what songs did you perform?
-My first big performance was probably opening up for Larry Norman and then I was his backing band and all of the songs that I performed of my own I would not even own to performing today, but I remember we performed a lot of his and that was pretty fun.
That was kind of my first big time infront of a big crowd, I was probably about 19.
It was fun?
-Oh yeah it was a blast, I was a huge Larry Norman fan, still am.
Me too
-I got to hang out with him in Norway about a month ago
Really?
-Yeah I’m not lying there are photos on my website, they documented it.
Are there any upcoming albums and if so could you tell us a bit about it?
-My records been out since march 1st , and I’ve just started writing a new one
but I probably wont record it till next may and I probably wont release it for a year.
I’m still promoting the one I’ve got.
What’s in your mp3 player?
-I’ve got Coldplays new record, I’ve been listening to a bit of David Grey, Daniel Bettingfield, a bit of elbow, I’ve been listening to a new worship artists called Aaron Shust, interesting guy! What else have I been listening to… Sarah McGlocklin I’ve had on recently
You’ve got a large player
-Ipod, mute math.
They’re going to be huge
-yeah they’re incredible, u2’s latest record.
Yeah that’s what I’ve been listening to.
What do you find motivates you?
-Well there is good things and bad things that motivate me
The bad things that motivate me, lust for fame and elevation, the desire to be wealthy
And selfish desire for everyone to think I’m really good at what I do.
The Positive things that motivate me, are the desire to…
Just be more like Jesus.
Just to spend time traveling, hanging out, doing things that encourage me to know Him more. So those two things fight against each other… the evil and the good.
What intimidates you?
- The only thing that intimidates me are people that are more Godly than myself
They shouldn’t intimidate me, they also inspire me, but they’re intimidating because of the gentleness of their spirit and the smell of Jesus in them.
It more so humbles than intimidates. It begins by intimidation but then humbles me
I don’t know I don’t get intimidated by much, I probably should haha.
Oh yeah manipulative people intimidate me a bit, cause I don’t like things indirect, I like it direct. But then again I’ll just find some way to steam roll the over.
Do you have any Children?
- Two children that I know of.
Two little girls , that first bit was a joke.
How old are they?
- 3 ½ and 1 ½ … yeah they’re beautiful little girls
Does your family ever come out on the road with you?
- No it’s too hard
What kind of message do you hope comes across in your music?
- I really hope that people just get a sense of the fact that God loves them.
Cause God know that He loves me and I think that’s an amazing statement.
He loves me and well I’m … me.
Another thing, I hope they get this Joy that to be really alive is to be with Jesus.
Cause you know… I’m not really capable of delivering that, so I know that’s when He turns up. Cause I really don’t have anything to give them, I can’t even change my own life. So I just go for it with everything that I have and I really ask God to do something special every time I play.
Is there an issue that teenager/youth may be dealing with that is close to your heart?
-Yes.
What is it?
- Oh haha…
There’s a voice in our heads really that tries to lead us away from our families
And family is everything. I think, I believe in the devil.
I can’t stand him, that’s why I call him loser-fer, cause he’s a loser.
I actually thought about putting a song on my next record and writing a song to him…
Saying you’re an idiot, you know the truth and won’t repent that only a fool would do that. If someone showed the truth to me, I don’t want to repent but I eventually hear God and I realize this is better for me. But you keep hearing Him you’re an idiot and all you want to do is hurt people and hate and destroy them.
I think loser-fer sends his strongest guys to the family… so what I would say to young people. Fight really hard and follow Jesus. |
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