Christian Music News

(Nashville, Tennn) —Earlier this year burgeoning band Samestate joined the Sparrow Records’ family. Shortly after, America was introduced to the Kansas natives’ unique sound on their five-song EP, which released last summer. In 2012, the band will kick off the year unveiling their first full-length album The Alignment slated to release February 28.

The five guys that make up Samestate (lead vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Dalton Diehl, guitarist Darren Harms, bassist Ryan Lytle, guitarist/keyboardist Raymond Wyatt and drummer Blake Leoni) merge their individual identities and musical influences into a cohesive musical unit with their debut, and with the help of veteran producer Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Third Day, Seabird), the end result is infectious and approachable.

Part of this 10-track unit is the first single “Hurricane,” written by lead singer Dalton Diehl and featured on both the EP and The Alignment. The attractive tune is continuing to make an impact at radio and is currently No. 8 on the CHR chart and No. 40 on the National Audience chart. Additionally, their friends at Air1 premiered the music video on air1.com last week and also offered the song as a free download to listeners worldwide.

"As a band we always hoped that ‘Hurricane’ would be the lead single,” says Diehl. “There was something different about it that we felt would be refreshing for radio. I always thought that there was a different type of yearning in the song, a call to stop trying to figure out the love of God and simply accept it. I'm excited that people are starting to relate and attach themselves to ‘Hurricane’. It even helps me know that I’m not the only one who struggles.”

The guys of Samestate, who met while attending MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS, have one mission: to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ, and want to be used to help others in any way they can whether it is through sharing life experiences through lyrics, doing an impromptu performances in restaurants or taking extra time to talk to fans. Where He leads, they will follow.

“This is a community,” comments Harms speaking about the relationship with their fans. “We want to offer what we can because we’re also going through life’s situations and it’s great to be able to offer help, advice and encouragement to each other and to the people we meet on the road.”

Diehl agrees, “We want to be that accessible and open to what’s going on in the peoples’ lives who come to see us. That’s a great part about being in a band.”