Surfin' with the Channel Surfers 1998 Jesusfreakhideout.com Interview

The Channel Surfers are a brand new group with a sound that has been compared to the Beastie Boys. In January, 1998, guitarist Tim Bushong dropped his 6-string to answer some questions for the Hideout.

Jesus freak Hideout: Why the name, "Channel Surfers?"

Tim Bishong: Our sound man came up with the idea because Tim and Brad (the sound guy) watch movies all the Time (no lives), and can never decide on which station to stay tuned to.

JFH: How did the band get started?

Tim: It morphed from my previous band, Lovewar.

JFH: How would you describe your sound?

Tim: Funky rock conglomeration.

JFH: What bands have influenced your sound?

Tim: New Kids On The Block, The Neville Brothers, Celine Dion, Reba MacEntyre, Boyz II Men, Mozart, Backstreet Boys, Vanilla Ice, Tito and Latoya Jackson, Duane Eddy, Sandi Patti, Burt Bacharach, The Brothers 3, The Brothers Johnson, The Wayans Brothers, The Blackwood Brothers, The Marx Brothers, the Four Tops, Red Knuckles, Roy Rodgers, Cloda Rodgers, Rodger Whittaker, Petula Clark, Roy Clark.

JFH: You guys released your 1st album, "Tunnel Vision," this past fall, did you have any goals set while you were making it?

Tim: To make a Christian album that is contemporary, not a decade behind the Times. Something that we could all be proud of and be happy with in 20 years. Something organic (no pun intended).

JFH: What happened to Jason? Why a new singer?

Tim: Jason is a youth pastor and his schedule was soooo tight that we couldn't even get weekends open, so we opted to replace him with Aaron Scantlen, who is 21 and very boisterous.

JFH: What inspired the song "Masquerade?"

Tim: Hypocrisy- just general, everyday two-facedness.

JFH: Who sings "Lonely Guy?" Where you guys trying to make it sound like James Brown?

Tim: Jason Brown. Yes, we all like James Brown, and it's kind of a joke on all the celebrity lonely guys.

JFH: What is "the Sounds" about?

Tim: Going to small punk shows that are underground, and when the band hits, the old die-hard fans are like, "Oh, they've sold out now!".

JFH: What is "CTC?"

Tim: Cerritos Town Center in Long Beach, CA- a nice place to visit.

JFH: What is your favorite CS song?

Tim: Jon- "CTC" and the hidden track "Breathe", Lance- "Wasteland," our new song, Aaron (the new singer)- "Wasteland" and "Like Job," Timothy- "The Sounds"... 'because it's radically us'.

JFH: What's your favorite movie?

Tim: Lance- Jackie Chan's movies and Mallrats, Jon- I'm Gonna Get You Sucka and Austin Powers, Tim- Crimes and Misdemeanors and So I Married An Axe Murderer (and Zelig), Aaron- So I Married An Axe Murderer and Point Break.

JFH: Do you guys watch a lot of TV?

Tim: In comparison with our peers, probably not, but Seinfeld, SNL, and MTV are some favs.

JFH: What does the future hold in store for The Channel Surfers?

Tim: We are currently working on several new songs, trying to improve our live set, and story boarding our next video.

JFH: The Jesus freak Hideout site was started out of appreciation for good Christian music. We've set a goal to try to use the site to spread Christian music, as well as God's Word, & show others how great Christian music can be. Do you listen to Christian music? If so, what bands?

Tim: Jon and Lance grew up with the Violent Burning and The 77's, but we mostly listen to worship music, as far as Christian music goes. We all have different tastes- Aaron likes Kirk Franklin, Tim- classical, and we all like jazz, funk, etc...we honestly don't listen to a lot of Christian music.

JFH: I really appreciate your taking the Time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for us. Are there any last comments you'd like to make?

Tim: Thanks for the opportunity to spew, and to our fans out there- we love all 3 of you! We are currently on tour with Reality Check, so keep your ears open.