This Beautiful Republic

Ben

Andy

Jeremy

Brandon

Adam

For more information on each band member, click their image above.

Ben

My name is Ben Olin, I'm a vocalist/stage coordinator/ringleader/person-most-likely-to-get-in-trouble for This Beautiful Republic. I joined the band about a year and a half ago when the band and myself were both going through some really big transitions and it has been amazing. When I look back on how we got together and the story behind it, it's impossible to ignore God's working in the situation. He took five normal people who are moderately talented, but willing to do what He wants, and has brought us into this amazing opportunity to play music for people and live a dream that we never really thought we'd be allowed to live. He's surrounded us with people who are like-minded in our mission to write songs that encourage the Christian community and to perform them with excellence and in a very entertaining fashion; all for the glory of the One who orchestrated this from the beginning.

I really am convinced that I've been preparing for this my entire life; I just didn't know it. I have always wanted to do things my own way, I never wanted to be a wallflower or a yes-man, I wanted to be the one who would run into a situation that has never been taken before and prove (to myself and sometimes others) that there is another way to do things. When I was growing up, I watched my sister and brother take voice lessons, play piano, join choirs and vocal elitist groups, play bells in our church with my Mom, and simply because they did it, I would NOT do it. I would find other things to be good at or occupy my time, anything but what everyone else was doing.

So I graduated high school and went to college where I soon became the MC of the weekly meeting of Campus Crusade for Christ where I would write a skit or something funny for each week and then perform it in front of three hundred college kids (tough audience). I went on a summer missions trip to Myrtle Beach, SC and further saw God prepare me for the future. I grew incredibly with Him that summer. When I returned, my friend pretty much forced me into a local band that was a praise and worship band for a church. It was there that I began to learn how to write songs, how to perform, how to entertain. I stayed in that band for 6 years, learned guitar, put out one full-length CD, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

I graduated college and then got my "dream job," at an advertising agency. After realizing that I was no good at my dream job, I quit and started selling Hondas. I did that for two years (while playing in my band) and did very well; well enough that the company offered me a management job that would be accompanied with a large pay increase. It was then that I had this thought: "OK, Ben, here's the situation. You can either sell cars for the next 30 years, make a lot of money, work a lot of hours and have a lot of happiness; but have nothing to tell your kids or grandkids about. OR, you can quit, make nearly zero money pursuing a career in music, meet endless number of people, be able to encourage them, see the country as you travel to each show, and brag to your kids about it and how God did such incredible things over that time." I quit the very next day. I had a clear, rational thought and found what would really matter, what would stand for something when I died, and what God really wanted me to do.

So I began working full-time on my other project, writing songs, recording, trying to promote the best that I could. A month later, we broke up. Devastated and really confused, I began just driving around and spending a lot of time with friends of mine and through that, I met back up with This Beautiful Republic's old manager. She asked me if I had heard that they had lost their singer. I had. She encouraged me to contact them. I would not. I would not because I did not like their old band. She insisted that it was much different now and I avoided listening to the new stuff. Upon her insistence, I caved in and heard what they had been working on. Blown away, I wrote Adam an email that night indicating I'd love to fill in as they searched for a permanent replacement. We met for lunch and from there, everything has fallen into place, perfectly. As God had intended it from the get go. He has taught me how to deal with people, how to interact, how to write songs, how to perform them, and that He is always in control and that if I (we) are faithful to Him always, He will never let us down.

As I write this, we are four days from our debut CD's release and I am so excited when I don't have to worry about the details that surround a release of this magnitude. We've been so blessed, we've teamed with Forefront Records which has been home to some of the greatest Christian bands ever, and we have such an amazing support team there that I am blown away. I really feel God has put us together and that He is watching over this project and guiding it so I can't wait to see what He has in store for us as the CD releases and we begin to tour and really start to work on creating smiles in each crowd. I'm just going to hang on for the ride. Here we go!

Do you have a nickname?
Not really outside of the band. :)

What instrument do you play?
The strings, the heartstrings that is.

How old were you when you joined your first band?
18?

What's the most embarrassing thing that happened to you during junior high or high school?
Ummm... "Danger Will Robinson." :)

How are some of your favorite bands and artists?
Norma Jean, Underoath, The Chariot, but equally Relient K's recent two CD's, mewithoutyou, Copeland, Death Cab, The Used, TERMINAL

What's the best CD you've bought lately?
Didn't buy it, was given to me... Relient K's 5 Score ...

How many family members do you have? Who are they?
Six. Mom, Dad, Holly, Dave, Me, Darron

What are some of your favorite books?
The Thesaurus, MacBeth, It's All Downhill From Here by Andrew Schwab

What's your favorite story from the Bible? Why?
Currently (3/31/07)? Hosea. I like that God made Him marry an unfaithful woman and that he did it despite knowing the ensuing heartache. I think that we do that every day. We divorce God and marry an adulterous wife--things like career, money, popularity, anything selfish--but He still loves us and wants us so badly it hurt.

Tell us one thing about yourself that we probably don't know.
I have a business degree, play guitar and used to sell cars.

How long can you hold your breath?
As long as the note requires me to.

What's the best advice you've received recently?
hahaha ... Don't screw this up for us ... a paraphrase. :)

If you were walking down a dark alley and a gang of ninjas jumped out to attack you, which member of This Beautiful Republic would you want to be in your corner? Why?
Andy. He's the biggest TBR guy and I think that he could probably make them laugh enough to not knock us out.

What's your favorite thing about being a member of This Beautiful Republic?
People. I love people. I love talking to them and making them smile. There is no better feeling for me.

Andy

What instrument do you play?
I play the drums. I've been playing since junior high school. I always wanted to play drums. I remember every year asking for a drum set for my birthday and Christmas, and my parents actually got it for me one year!

How many family members do you have? Who are they?
I have two brothers and my parents. My Dad's name is Keith, and my Mom's name is Barb. In my eye's they are the best parents a kid could have. They've taught me so much and I couldn't imagine where I'd be without them. My older brother's name is Adam, and my younger brother's name is Alex. We're all close to each other and would do anything for each other. I've been very blessed from God to be in my family and wouldn't trade it for anything.

What are some of your favorite books?
I never liked to read when I was younger. In fact I never even finish a full book until after high school. But since then I've found that there is tons of good books and more to learn out there than a lifetime is able to consume. Some of my favorite books are The Divine Romance and 100 Days in the Secret Place by Gene Edwards. Also God's Ultimate Passion and The Untold Story of the New Testament Church by Frank Viola. Really any book by those two authors are good. Another great author is Watchman Nee. I have learned a lot from his books. I recommend The Spiritual Man. Madame Guyon is another one that I look up to. The word of God is a good one also. I like it the most.

What's the best advice you've received recently?
To keep my eye's on Christ and to live in and by Him. He is more than sufficiant and has more to offer than one could attain. And anything other than Him is lacking. There are too many things and it's in this life. They are distractions. What we need is Him. Not the things of Christ but Christ himself in us and us in Him. That changes everything.

What's your favorite thing thing about being a member of This Beautiful Republic?
That I get do do what I love and what I'm good at. And that I get to do it all with the other guys and girls in the band. We get to travel together and play together. And we get to meet so many awesome people along the way. And all the while serve and grow closer to God. I couldn't ask for a better job.

Jeremy

Do you have a nickname?
Kunks, Kunky, the Stritch, Stritchy, the Kunk-Stritch, Simon and GarKunkle, Skunk Football!

What instrument do you play?
Guitar

How old were you when you joined your first band?
16

Use one word to describe each member of This Beautiful Republic.
Adam, dedicated
Andy, goofy
Ben, outgoing (this is a huge understatement)
Brandon, level-headed

How are some of your favorite bands and artists?
My Chemical Romance, The Used, Relient K, Copeland, MeWithoutYou, Snow Patrol, Modest Mouse, The Killers, The Undeserving, and many, many, many more!

What's the best CD you've bought lately?
Five Score and Seven Years Ago—Relient K

How many family members do you have? Who are they?
Bruce Kunkle (my dad), Susie Kunkle (my mom), Ali Droz (my sis), and 4 dudes who live with me in a van. J

Who was the 13th President of the United States?
Millard Fillmore

What are some of your favorite books?
The Bible, The Bondage Breaker, The Final Quest, Mere Christianity, Blue Like Jazz, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, The Magic Waling Stick…

What's your favorite story from the Bible? Why?
David and Goliath, it’s just cool.

Tell us one thing about yourself that we probably don't know.
When I was a toddler, I used to dance around with my guitar while my dad played the piano… My parents don’t think I’ve changed much.

How long can you hold your breath? (Deep breath) One, two, three, four…sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three… Why am I still doing this? (starts breathing again)

What's the best advice you've received recently?
God is faithful, He doesn’t lead you to a place and then abandon you. Even though it might seem like things are falling apart, He’s still there; you can trust Him.

If you were walking down a dark alley and a gang of ninjas jumped out to attack you, which member of This Beautiful Republic would you want to be in your corner? Why?
Andy… Cowboy boots.

What's your favorite thing about being a member of This Beautiful Republic?
I get to do what I’ve always dreamed of doing, play music, and serve God at the same time.

Adam

I love being able to play guitar for This Beautiful Republic. Playing music has always been my biggest passion, so it’s a blessing to be able to do it all the time. I love what I do, and I love the people I work with. I think that’s the best anyone can hope for, at least as far as work is concerned.

Info for the gear-heads:
Right now I play an American Ash Telecaster through a Fender Twin 65 Reissue. For distortion I’ve been using a Tube Screamer, a Fulldrive, and a Rat. I use a fair amount of delay, and for that I have a Boss Giga Delay.

Do you have a nickname?
We come up with names every once in a while, but the only one that stuck is “Dad”. I think Brandon tried to get “Quail Brow” to stick, but it didn’t take.

What instrument do you play?
I play an American Fender Ash Telecaster. I love it!

How old were you when you joined your first band?
I was probably 16 or 17.

How are some of your favorite bands and artists?
Radiohead, Lovedrug, Jimmy Eat World, Terminal, Mute Math, Copeland, Relient K

How many family members do you have? Who are they?
My parents (Keith and Barb) had 3 boys. I’m the oldest, Andy is the middle child, and the youngest is Alex. I have a wife, Brittany. We’ve been married since January of 2004. We had our first son, Ashton in October of 2007.

What are some of your favorite books?
C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain, The Visitation by Frank Peretti, Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller, The Bible and anything Calvin and Hobbes.

What's your favorite story from the Bible? Why?
Maybe it's not a story, but I love Ecclesiastes. Some people see the book as depressing, but I find it liberating. It's a book about priorities. It reminds me that life is more than success, more than pleasure. It's about where to find true happiness, and it's about where we won't find it.

Tell us one thing about yourself that we probably don't know.
I’ve read Calvin and Hobbes and the Far Side for so long I can almost recall each strip from memory.

How long can you hold your breath?
Probably 30 seconds…

If you were walking down a dark alley and a gang of ninjas jumped out to attack you, which member of This Beautiful Republic would you want to be in your corner? Why?
I would choose Andy, because brothers have to stick together. It’s a rule. He’s also a good choice because he’s bigger and stronger than any of the other guys, and he’s a black belt.

What's your favorite thing about being a member of This Beautiful Republic?
Honestly, the part I most enjoy is getting to work with the other 4 guys. I love the writing and the performing, but it’s what it is because of who I get to work with.

The Band

The hope of eternity is not easily articulated nor readily captured in song. Many try but few are successful in generating a genuine connection between the music, listener, and the feeling of a life beyond this one. Yet, where imagination meets the glory of a future reality is where you will find this Toledo, Ohio outfit. The width, length, height, and depth of its calling are expressed in one lyric from the band’s debut album, Even Heroes Need A Parachute.

I get the feeling that I’m not home yet.

“The name This Beautiful Republic signifies a kingdom of faith and love,” explains lead vocalist Ben Olin. “And we chose our album’s title to emphasize the common ground that all humans share. No matter who you are or what you do, the need for a savior is vital. So we hope, beyond anything else, to show people this savior, Christ, and to give listeners a brush with eternity.”

To say that This Beautiful Republic’s debut release evokes strong, positive emotion would be an understatement. Sonically, the band lies somewhere between Switchfoot, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, and Taking Back Sunday. Heavy guitars, heavier hooks. But beyond powerful, commercial rock choruses and strong, dynamic, melodic songwriting is an element not found many places. It is the presence of something other-worldly that sets this band apart.

“Big choruses are an important part of the songs,” explains Olin. “Anthemic, driving melodies that people can sing along to is what we are about. And they are written with the live show in mind. We want the crowd to be able to partake in this and grab hold of it. We intend to make the music about the listener, not just ourselves.”

It is rare that a debut effort contains such strength from front to back. Consider the track “Cloud Cover.” It is an exercise in ambiance, which moves to a wonderful, wide-open expanse that is the song’s hook. Straightforward in its evolution, the song incorporates purposeful, direct instrumentation as well as structure, taking the listener deep into a heavenly presence. Similarly, debut radio single, “Jesus to the World,” contains a forthright chorus that lingers long after the song is finished, beckoning listeners to connect with heaven. This Beautiful Republic’s rock fills, beats, and riffs offer enough potency to satisfy the most ravenous audience. Added texture intelligently placed with keyboards and samples also make the record three-dimensional.

This Beautiful Republic has placed a heavy emphasis on its live show, stating that the song recordings are meant to be mere glimpses of its performance. Spin kicks, guitar swings, and multiple members in the air are common staples of a show that features a more aggressive feel than the album alone. And whether they are sleeping on floors or facing sleepless nights, hundreds of shows will follow their debut release.

Label innovator Forefront Records stakes its faith in this fresh unit by plotting a massive campaign around Even Heroes Need A Parachute. Citing the group’s universal appeal, there is little question that this move will prove pivotal to all involved. And This Beautiful Republic aims to obey its calling, welcoming and encouraging believers while inviting their searching with open arms.

“God has gifted us in this way, so that’s the main avenue we use. We want people to have a unique encounter with Him using the most powerful medium possible ... music. The confidence to risk doing this comes from the provisions we have experienced. He has always been faithful to help us every step of the way. So, we are going to go where He wants us and embrace His people along the way. If nothing else, we want all to know that there is a real beautiful republic beyond this world, waiting for us to take hold of it in the here and now.”