Justin Smith: One Way Home (with our new sound) formed about one year ago in September 2015. My wife, Leslie, and I - with our good friend, Phil - joined together to try something different musically. We wanted to stand out and be unique without losing the quality of live performances. So we started with something we were good at: harmony. From there, we just worked with our strengths. From guitar and dobro to mandolin and banjo; from adding stomp boxes we built to tambourines, glockenspiel, and other percussive elements. It took many, many hours of practicing and working together to solidify something we were happy with. We are always learning.

Leslie Smith: Yes! We collaborate on creating music. We really have to with the uniqueness of our style. No one element is more important than the other. Justin writes the lyrics and pitches ideas to us, and then we spend hours working through instrumentation.

Phil Alley: When we are working on music, we have to figure out piece by piece what we want, since we all play multiple instruments live, and there are only three of us.

Justin: I enjoy our collaboration, though it can be tough at times. I think it really grows us musically and personally. For instance, I stomp on a box while playing guitar and singing simultaneously throughout a lot of our set. But when I'm not doing those three things, I need to find other elements to thicken the sound. This style we play has forced me to become a better musician all around.

Phil: Mumford & Sons.

Leslie: NEEDTOBREATHE, Kelly Clarkson, and musicals.

Justin: Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, NEEDTOBREATHE, Nickel Creek, and classic rock.

Phil: Psalm 23.

Leslie: Psalm 71. The progression of affirming the holiness and standing of God, my refuge, my righteousness, my rock, and pleading to not be far from me. Verse 8 is the plea of my heart that I would always, above all else, with tongue and heart, worship God alone. Verse 17 is a story of my life, with the promise and foreshadowing of verse 18. It closes with a proclamation in verses 23 and 24.

Justin: 1 Peter 3:14-15. I find great strength and exhortation in this text. It pushes me to know that I must stand ready and willing to defend my faith at any point and on any matter, which doesn't come easily. It comes through study and learning. But the end, I think, is beautiful. We must do this as Christians, but out of gentleness and respect. I just love that.

Justin: I would say no. I enjoy what we do and on the scale we do it. It would really depend on the contracts and opportunity. If God opens a door, I won't slam it without first praying and looking at things logically.

Phil: Well, it all depends on the writing process. Since Justin writes the lyrics, he could have fifty or so songs. But it could take a few weeks of working every night to have the songs composed and then several more weeks to have them studio ready.

Leslie: Front Porch took from September when we started working on it to April when it was released.

Justin: As long as it takes.

Phil: Music is what I love and music is all I want to do.

Leslie: I enjoy the freedom and jamability of the Americana style.

Justin: I'm encouraged just to be able to play week in and week out with people I enjoy being around, especially my wife. We are very blessed and we love what we do.