Twitterview with Jeff Caylor
by Ashley Ramsey on 05/18/2009 at 12:13 PM
You've probably noticed the new Twitter button on the left-hand side of the website. We're in our third month of trying to steward Twitter as a social networking tool and today we took it to a new level by doing our first "Twitterview." Our guest was Jeff Caylor an independent singer-songwriter that Boundless is particularly partial to and has frequently featured on the podcast. If the interview seems a little disjointed it's because all the questions had to fit into the 140 character tweet format.
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Boundless Good Morning Jeff. Ready to get started?
Jeff Caylor Good evening. Let's do this. Since the answers have to be brief, why don't you guys just ask me "yes" or "no" questions. Cool? We'll call it a micro-view.
Boundless I guess it would be more accurate to say "Good evening" for you in Hong Kong. I'll see what I can do about some yes/no questions.
How is Christianity different in Hong Kong than in America? In other words, how does Chinese culture affect worship, beliefs, etc.?
Jeff Caylor I was just talking to someone yesterday about how "belief" in general doesn't seem to have the baggage it does in the US. People are interested in your beliefs, they don't openly mock or insult them. My experience at least. Incidentally, Hong Kong still enjoys a lot of freedoms that mainland China doesn't in that regard.
Boundless How has this affected your view of Christianity, if at all? Has it affected your music?
Jeff Caylor I think the culture in general tests my faith in ways I wouldn't have expected. Patience is important in a big, crowded city. As far as my music, I think themes of loneliness come up naturally in a city like this. First song on my CD goes there.
Boundless How is facilitating worship through music different in Asia compared with here in the U.S.?
Jeff Caylor I think we all have a lot to learn about worship and I'm learning too. I'm part of a fantastic church, though.
Boundless What have you learned from self-publishing and promoting your own music?
Jeff Caylor It's a lot of work. I suppose what I lack in talent, I have to make up for in promotion. And I hate promoting myself. When you make your first recording you think the world is going to somehow find you on their own. Then you sell 20 CDs. I'm grateful that I have a lot of friends who have helped get the word out. Not easy when you don't have a promotions budget.
Boundless Would you say that promoting yourself is your least favorite part of self-publishing?
Jeff Caylor No. I hate spending money more. But you have to do it to make CDs, make t-shirts, buy advertising. You have to have a strong stomach and a solid belief in your music, in this economy, to invest your money like this.
Boundless Motte has been looking for you on Pandora and has finally found you. The Boundless team definitely believes in your music!
Jeff Caylor Whee! Yes, I'm web-biquitous. Grooveshark.com is an interesting site too.
Boundless Which of your new songs kept you up at night the most?
Jeff Caylor I knew the album would be called What Birds Dream before I knew if it would be a song. It came at the 11th hour.
Boundless Well Jeff I know it's getting late but I have two more questions for you. What's the sickest you've ever been?
Jeff Caylor Haha! Once I ordered the hot salsa at Chipotle. It is as hot coming up as it is going down. I always go for medium now. Was that question from Ted?
Boundless You know it. Ted also asked when you're going to be open to having a guest keyboardist appear on any of your songs.
Jeff Caylor Ted: I'm mastering (this week) a very vibey remix album that will release June 30. I think you'll dig. Lots of synths. It's being worked on right now by an amazing musician / producer in the UK named Gavin Harrison.
Boundless Last question: How has your heart been affected by having your first album, Okay, recognized by CT as the #5 album of 2007?
Jeff Caylor When I made those recordings, I really just wanted to express some thoughts and emotions in song-form. I was amazed to get recognized that way, and really humbled. For awhile, there was this pressure to go beyond. You realize that it's really out of your hands though. I just want to make great music that hopefully connects with people. I think the new album is better, but it's also different. I want all my recordings to be different and not predictable.
Boundless We're really looking forward to featuring the new album on the podcast.
Jeff Caylor You guys really have believed in my music and me and I appreciate it a lot. You're excellent editors and amazing friends. Thanks so much! I'll look forward to the podcast, too!
Boundless Lots of mutual love and admiration! Thanks for staying up to chat with us. It's been a blast. Now go get some sleep.
Jeff Caylor Good time. As we say in Hong Kong, BYE-BYE!!
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Interviewing Jeff was a fun way to begin the work week. I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did. You can hear Jeff's music or read more about his life in Hong Kong on his website.
1. Caiti said the following at 9:31 PM on May 18:
YAY! I got a couple of his songs free off emusic.com. Everybody definitely needs to sign up for emusic at least to get the free downloads.
I first heard him on the podcast, and went crazy trying to remember who the artist was. I think I looked up the episode synopsis and everything. :D
2. June said the following at 3:03 AM on May 19:
Jeff is the worship leader at my church in HK - he rocks! It is so cool that you guys at Boundless are fans too!
3. Jo said the following at 12:30 PM on May 19:
What, you didn't ask him how he'd twitter the Gospel??? ;)