With 2004’s independent four-song EP Connectology already under their belts, Circleslide’s first full-length and highly-anticipated CD, Uncommon Days, showcases their vertically-slanted lyrics and unique musical mix of alternative, classic, melodic rock, pop and reverent moments of worship. All fit for a multi-faceted audience, Circleslide’s music allows the band to play a club one night, a church the next morning and a college or coffeehouse in between. According to frontman and guitarist Gabe Martinez, the band’s bassist and Gabe’s brother Tim Martinez, guitarist Aaron Gillies and drummer Mark Alvis, this is right where they want to be.

“We’ll go anywhere people are,” says Gabe. “We have no problem telling pastors we invited someone to a church service from the bar the night before. One time we were at a conservative mega church and in through the door walked a dozen or so bikers who had been at our concert the night before. They were moved by the worship and resulted in one of them becoming a missionary.”

With music always an influence in their lives, Gabe and Tim knew it was their life-calling. “Growing up, our dad raised us on singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan and Keith Green. As we grew older, we longed for other artists that went beyond the surface,” Tim recalls. “The Choir’s Chase the Kangaroo absolutely revolutionized our whole musical life to the point where we would drive hours and hours just to see them in concert.” It is The Choir’s 1990 release Circle Slide that explains where the band’s moniker hails from, and along with The Choir and other spiritually-based artist influences such as Adam Again, The 77’s and U2, each have helped mold Circleslide’s distinctive sound.

The band began performing nationwide while entering numerous secular and Christian music competitions where, in 2003, the band won top prize in the “Contemporary Christian Band” category at the Gospel Music Association’s Music in the Rockies competition. This put the quartet on the radar of industry executives, including John Mays (Nichole Nordeman, Point of Grace, Matt Redman), the current A&R representative for Centricity Records. Their EP, Connectology, soon followed, as did plans for a full-length project. A few years later, they are more than ready to release Uncommon Days.

The production behind Uncommon Days hails from Pete Kipley (MercyMe), re-enlisted Connectology producer Tommy Collier, while including Steve Hindalong (City on a Hill, Jeremy Camp, Cool Hand Luke) to sit in behind the boards. Fellow members of The Choir Marc Byrd (City on a Hill) co-produced and Derri Daugherty engineered.

Steve Hindalong comments, “Derri and I feel honoured that they took their name from our old album, but their music is absolutely modern and relevant. Uncommon Days is a stirring album of emotive songs, and I consider myself blessed to have been a part of the creative team.”

Gravity, the first single going to radio, is a celebratory and hopeful song praising God’s love where, as Gabe states, “the music is ecstatic, celebrating the fact that His love can lift us even when everything around us says we can’t be lifted, that there is that hope.”

Love Unfailing turns the question of “Does anyone else feel tired?” into a musical prayer. This song, he explains, “Continues the theme of dealing with the ever-changing world around us as people of faith who are reaching for the light.”

The concept of the song Uncommon Days, also the inspiration to the CD title and featuring guest vocals from Daugherty, “revolves around the fact that the days we’re living in are uncommon,” shares Gabe. “We’re in a time when history is being made, where extraordinary circumstances are unfolding and uncommon occurrences are taking place. We deeply want to embrace life with all of its amazing opportunities, but at the same time are cognizant of life’s tragedies. This song talks about how grace covers all of that.”

Constantly on the road and already performing songs from the project, Gabe, Tim, Aaron and Mark are ready for Uncommon Days to officially hit the hands and impact the hearts of the listeners.

“I feel like listeners are going to get a dose of hooky melodies and a definite maturity surrounding the meaning and music,” Tim concludes. “Even though it’s our debut record, we’ve been hashing it out live for five years and have seen the level of impact the music’s had with those we’ve come in contact with. Beyond making and performing music, our bottom line goal is to inspire people and encourage them, no matter where they’re at in their relationship with God, and by pointing them to Christ. We’re here to meet them wherever they are.”

Uncommon Days is available today at your local Canadian Christian retailer. For more information on Circleslide and to hear audio samples from the album, visit their YMZ artist page.

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