Seventh Time Down
The band 7eventh Time Down started years ago as band members – Mikey Howard (vocals), Eric Vanzant (guitar), Cliff Williams (bass), and Austin Miller (drums)- grew up together in Kentucky. As their school years closed, they felt the calling of God to use music as ministry.
“There was a point when we said, ‘Let’s be in a band and play music because it’s fun and let’s sing about God because it’s what we know,’” Cliff Williams said, “but there was definitely a point about three or four years back where the focus turned from playing music to ministering in the best way we know how. As musicians, the best way we know how to minister is through music.”
“Lyrically I hope we make a statement that’s inspiring for people to live like Jesus,” says lead singer Mikey Howard. “For us, the biggest goal is for them to not only believe in Jesus but to start following him and start to ask themselves some tough questions–What is it going to mean for me to look like Jesus where I’m at in my job? At school? Or for parents in that relationship with their husband or wife or kids? And for non-believers, I hope it’s inspiring for them to want to know who Jesus is. We want to present the gospel in a way that is intriguing and makes it a train that you want to jump on board of.”
“We’re excited about being Christians and we want that to be the message of our record,” says Cliff. “We want people to know that being saved and believing in God is exciting to us. I call it warfare, but it’s the most beautiful type of warfare because it’s warfare with no casualties. We’re warriors in a spiritual warfare. This is our craft and lyrics, guitars, bass, drums, melodies are our weapons and our tools. It’s a beautiful type of warfare. It’s love and excitement.”
The group entered the Christian music scene with their first album, “Alive in You” which was released in 2011. Their sophomore album, “Just Say Jesus” followed in 2013.
“With Just Say Jesus, we had so many people come to us and tell us their stories about how it impacted them and carried them through a situation,” says Van Zant. “We’re learning that that people are not just hearing the music. They’re absorbing it, and it’s influencing them. That has made me learn so much about songwriting and about what a song really is. It’s a three-minute sermon, and you can either uplift somebody, point them towards the cross, point them towards hope, salvation and restoration or you can point them towards devastation and hopelessness or point them towards nothing. Our approach is: What do people need to hear? What does God want to say? Let’s bend what we’re going to say to the music.”
Not only does this band touch lives with their music; their music is climbing the charts. “Just Say Jesus” remained on the radio charts for 52 weeks straight. “God Is On The Move” was the # 1 NCA and AC for 5 weeks in a row and #5 airplay song of the year 2016 Billboard. They have sold over 315,000 single downloads so far.
Their third album, “God Is On the Move” was released in 2015. This song quickly became popular with listeners- not just for the band’s great sound, but for the message as well.
With all of the time they spend on the road, the band was inspired by people they encountered for their latest album. “We’ve been touring the country for years, and every city we go to there are people gathering by the masses, and they’re all expecting that revival is just around the corner for our country and for their community,” says Howard. “We’re seeing it everywhere we go. We just want to remind people that, ‘Hey, you’re not alone. There are tons of believers out there, and they all are expecting the same things we are. They still believe that God is good and He keeps His promises.”
Howard says, “I’m starting to realize at 31-years-old, the father of two, that music’s probably the least important part of what we’re doing. I’m realizing that the sound of my voice and the music does not have the power to change hearts. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. Trying to steward His presence everywhere I go and trying to just chase His anointing trumps the music part of it. I feel really blessed to sing about Jesus, but more importantly I want to inspire people to be a steward of His presence.”
Mikey Howard: “I think we always talk about how we couldn’t do this if we weren’t playing Christian music. We couldn’t do it just being a normal band because it’s way too hard. Not worth it.”
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