Peter Furler never had aspirations of becoming a solo artist.
He was the co-founder and lead singer of the Australian Christian rock group Newsboys, playing with the band from 1985- 2009. After nearly a quarter century of touring, he said he became burned out and quit music to live a different lifestyle.
“The first few years were such a thrill, but it got to the point where creatively I began to go through the motions and I had to stop the Ferris wheel and hop off,” said Furler, who will be performing solo as part of Friday’s Winter Jam Christian rock fest at Wells Fargo Arena. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, so I kicked around the planet with my wife. We sold all our belongings and lived like a couple Gypsies. We still live that way now.”
And after traveling, Furler also started to do some writing. He went into the studio with writing partner Steve Taylor and started jamming. The result was Furler’s 2011 solo debut, “On Fire.”
Friday, Furler will be playing songs from the new album, along with some of the hits he wrote for Newsboys, like “He Reigns,” “I Am Free” and “Something Beautiful.”
“I’ve got (former Newsboys member) Phil Joel playing bass with me, so the show leans heavy toward the Newsboys sound,” Furler said. “We’re playing some of the hits we wrote back then. If I saw Sting live and he didn’t play ‘Rox- anne’ I’d be bummed. Hopefully we’ve found the right old/new blend.”
Popular Christian music has changed quite a bit since Newsboys started. A common complaint Furler used to hear was that the sound quality of albums by Christian acts was lacking in comparison to mainstream bands. Furler said Christan bands were operating on the “catering budget” of a mainstream act. Now recording software has become affordable enough that smaller bands are on a more level playing field with top acts.
“There were records I made in the ’90s where we were probably using close to half a million (dollars) in gear. But you could get better sound now from Garage Band,” he said. “When you listen to Christian radio, it sounds fuller and bigger, but the sad thing is it makes a lot of things sound the same.”
With Newsboys and as a solo act, Furler has written a lot of upbeat praise music, but he doesn’t see it so much as spreading the word of God as making sure what he’s saying is true. “Truth is always truth,” he said.
“As a songwriter I’m putting the truth to a great melody. Finding life, truth and peace, that’s my role. Someone else might feel the need to lead everyone a certain way with their music. I believe I’ve found the way to love, peace and joy, but people have to follow their own convictions and go with that.”
Winter Jam 2012
Winter Jam 2012
With: TobyMac, Sanctus Real, Peter Furler, Newsong, Kari Jobe, Building 429 and Group1Crew
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St.
Cost: $10, tickets available at the door only
Info: jamtour.com or iowaeventscenter.com
