Band puts faith in music

The band members all are Christians but don’t want to preach, the singer-guitarist said.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Together less than a year, ambient indie rock act Sewing Machine War is still attempting to find its identity.

Influenced by the likes of The Walkman, Sigur Ros, Death Cab for Cutie, The Thrills and Lovedrug, this Warren quintet — Joe Mackey (guitar), Cody Duma (guitar and vocals), Cory Duma (drums), Dan Usay (piano) and Chris Solentjes (bass) — isn’t sure how to address its Christianity.

“We all believe in Jesus and stuff, and we try to use the band to send out a good message through our songs, but we don’t label ourselves Christians,” said singer-guitarist Cody Duma, a 2005 Warren Harding High School graduate. “We’re not like Christian rock. Everything we do we try to do for God. We try to put him first and give him the glory of everything we do.”

So how are they different from other Christian rock bands?

“Because we don’t feel our call as a band is to preach from the pulpit or to have a praise and worship kind of feel,” Duma said.

“It seems like Christian bands, it’s just a whole different thing. We think we can reach more people if we avoid being put in a box and just play. We all believe in Jesus, and we know he gave us the creativity and the strength we have to play.”

So far the band has a demo’s worth of material, which it hopes to have ready later this year. A full-length album is slated for a 2008 release. Material in the mix includes the upbeat “The Weatherman,” the ambient guitar and Rhodes organ-fueled “Mind in a Dream” and the solemn “Jericho.” The latter track was recorded with one acoustic guitar and a lone drum track. 

As for the band moniker, Duma said it was his twin brother Cory’s idea, with everyone having their own interpretation. He said he feels as though Sewing Machine War is a metaphor for good against evil. 

You can decide for yourself when Sewing Machine War performs Saturday at Cedars Lounge. Duma said the band’s concert presence fits perfectly alongside such local bands as The Zou, The Devotees and Posture Coach; however, his outfit has been playing more out-of-town dates, including in Akron.

“We just try not to please one certain audience,” Duma said.

“We just try to write for ourselves. We write what just comes out, and we think it’s good. When we play with people, it seems like we try to stand out and be different, but not just for the sake of being different.

“We just try to make it real and be genuine with our music, and we try to really share that.”