Online interview with Olivia the Band
January 2005

www.oliviatheband.com

Nobody lives “aloha” – a Hawaiian word literally translated as “friendly and welcoming” – better than Olivia The Band. Its members Reed Cromwell (lead vocals, bass), Gabe Watts (guitar), Justin Abilla (lead guitar) and Christian Perreira (drums), who grew up on Oahu’s North Shore, have been as close as brothers since childhood.
The time the guys spent growing up together, where a day of surfing was as common as “doing lunch” in most other parts of the country, set the stage for this band’s development. After graduating high school, the band members pursued their collective musical vision and relocated to San Diego, Calif., a locale conducive to their avid surfing and water fun lifestyle.
After several months of bringing its pop/punk sound to sold out crowds on the West Coast, Provident Label Group’s Essential Records signed Olivia The Band to a record deal, with the band’s national label debut set for an early 2005 release.
Olivia The Band’s high-energy, joyful sound is a reflection of its dedication to friends, family and faith. But the band came about almost by accident.

Dennis:  Hey what's up guys! You guys are new to the mainland scene, especially here in the Midwest. Can you tell us a little about how you guys got together and then came up with the name?  
Justin: I was supposed to have a little sister named Olivia Grace, but eight months into the pregnancy my mom had a still birth. So we named our band in memory of her knowing that she is in heaven walking with God.

Dennis: My wife and I actually got married on the island of Kauai and noticed during our stay there is such a different lifestyle on the islands of the USA as here in the mainland. Growing up in Hawaii must have been incredible. How does the lifestyle change once moving to the mainland?
Gabe: Growing up in Hawaii was the best thing ever. The lifestyle is so relaxed and all about family. Everyone BBQ's and hangs out with each other at the beach. In California, the beaches aren't the most fun to hang out at, everyone seems to keep to themselves and people are a lot more materialistic. As for our lifestyle changing...there's a lot less surfing!

Dennis: We named your album as album of the month in January (click here for the review) on our site and have seen several people pre-order it from our links. I noticed such a wide variety in your music from pop punk to praise to naturally the Hawaiian influence. How would you like people to describe the style and variety of Olivia the Band?
Reed: There are so many different classifications for music in this day and age, acid fusion post hardcore funk rock pop with a little Latino spice, I gave up trying to classify music along time ago. We like just about everything so hopefully that shows a little in our music. 

4) Lyrically the cd is very straight forward and everyone will know that you have a goal to spread the message of Christ. Dealing with issues from feeling alone to family life and a song that really caught me was the song "Novocain" dealing with our desensitized society. That goes perfect with a question I ask in all interviews, a lot of discussion goes on in our site dealing with the issue of secular music. Our stance towards teens has always been that they must weigh whether the music is a positive or negative influence in their life. What are your thoughts on the influence of music on teens?
Christian: I think to a degree music has an impact. With lyrics most of the time, for me, I kind of end up making my own meanings, kind of like what that song means to me. The way someone lives their life is so much more of an impact. I think music is a great attention getter, like "hey, look at me this how I live my life." It puts your life on a pedestal. if what your music says reflects the way you live, that's when it means something! as far as the secular thing goes, that's between you and God. Who's to say, some people would say an electric guitar cant be glorifying to God. You gotta ask God about that, let Him convict you!
(This was an email interview so I just wanted to clarify...we do not think music by itself causes an influence.  I should have stated lyrical content.)

Dennis: You guys have a street team that is starting up called, "Olivia  Ohana." I noticed the people that are running it are the ones that started P.O.D.'s street team which is literally one of the strongest and largest in music today. I personally own some Warrior shirts as well. How did you team up with Matt and Andrea and how is it going so far?
Justin: We met Matt and Andrea through our manager Noah Bernardo who is
Wuv from P.O.D.s dad. It is such and honor and blessing to have Matt and Andrea on boar. We're totally aware that they could work for any band in the whole world and they chose to work with us. God totally hooked us up !!!!

Dennis: What message do you hope to bring with your debut album? 
Reed: There is a God who created the universe and knows every hair on your head. There is always hope. We dont deserve anything in life but still God LOVES us and wants us to change!!!

Dennis: What is your advice to teens struggling with their faith in Jesus or maybe issues of doubt and guilt squeezing them tight?
Christian: I know from experience its not easy. We have Jesus as our example of how we are supposed live, but at the same time there is no way we are going to be like Him. In John 1:12, it says that we have been given the right to call God our Dad. My dad is awesome and he is just a normal man so I try to remember how much more God, the Creator of the universe, the reason we all exist, loves me! The more you read the Bible the more you see all the verses about Him wanting us to trust in Him. We just have to remember that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We just need to surrender it all. in dying to ourselves the only thing we are really dying to is our selfishness!

Dennis: We have viewers from all over the world and many on the West Coast so I would not be fair if I didn't ask a surfing question. Now, I am in Missouri so know NOTHING about surfing. Compare the surfing in Cali to that of Hawaii and how often do you guys still get to hit the waves?
Reed: Hawaii- warm, clear water, powerful, beautiful. California- cold, murky water, weak, funny smelling We dont surf much in California because we are wusses. Haha, too cold. But when we are in Hawaii we surf as much as possible.

Dennis: What's the word on upcoming tours?
Reed: The mid-south in Feb/March a show in Hawaii early April and who knows after that.

Dennis: For those reading this and never given their life to Jesus, why
should they?
Reed: There is nothing greater than Gods love and nothing can compare! Seek Him and you will know exactly what i am talking about.