Moderator: will the band be promoting the new album in Lancaster?

Don: Um...as far as promoting the album in Lancaster, I would hope that we could try to play one show. I am looking forward to playing in Lancaster.

Moderator: Colleen asks: Why did you guys decide to go without a drummer on this album (which I am losing-sleep-over-excited to hear!)

Don: Our former drummer Steve, recently had the opportunity to start his own restraunt and that's something that he's always wanted to do. It takes a lot of work and time to make something like that succeed and he felt that being in the band would not work with that kind of schedule. It became pretty easy to work without a drummer after that. :)

Note, July 16: Apparently there was some confusion about the response to the question of Steve's departure. Don asked me to post the message below to help clear up any misinterpretation that his response may have created. He says, "it is important to me that people don't feel there was or is anything lurking behind the scenes." --

Don: Steve left the band in 1997 for an opportunity to create and manage his own restaurant - something he has always dreamed and talked about since we became friends in high school. As his friends we were happy for him. As his bandmates we were so sad to lose him. We have played together many years and have lived with one another on the road and during recordings so much that he is like a brother. For many reasons, his departure did coincide with the fact that our songs were beginning to rely less and less on the rhythmic presence of the drums - so he was able to leave without feeling that he was putting us in a difficult position. The possibility of recording with us in the future does certainly exist as we remain good friends - as anyone who knows or has seen the band can easily imagine.

Moderator: PaC asks: how did you come up with the name for your band?

Karen: Um...the name is about 15 years old by now. I can't exactly say what it meant to me at the time, when we started using it. Now I think that innocence and purity of heart are always in need of being regained and that's sort of the things that are worthy of striving for.

Moderator: Have you or will you release a tape of your videos? Since MTV hasn't played them, we don't get to see 'em!

Don: The videos are something that we don't own or have control over. It's something that A&M owns, so it's really up to them when or if it's released.

Moderator: Does asks: what sorts of music are you listening to lately? influences for the new album?

Karen: We have records that have stayed with us over many years and we find ourselves listening to the records that were important to us when we growing up. Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young, Peter, Paul & Mary, Judy Collins records. Those are just a few.

Mike: Right now my favorite things to listen to are Lucinda William's most recent record and a lof of old Johnny Cash, from the "Sun" record years. Also listening to a lot of Seseme Street because I have two small children.

Don: Ditto for Karen since we live in the same house.

Moderator: Crionox asks: Where was the new album recorded (I remember that a couple of tracks on the Bright As Yellow EP were done at home, so I was wondering if you decided with that kind of environment on the new album)?

Don: The new record was recorded here in our house and also at a small studio in downtown Lancaster.

Moderator: The real audio clips from the Kneeling Elephant website suggest a more straightforward and stripped-down approach to the production of the new album. What influenced the highly "acoustic" songs and why no drums on the album?

: Since we were recording the songs at home and by ourselves, the recordings took shape in a natural and organic way. When we made a recording it began by starting small, usually just guitars or sometimes the performance of the song by Karen with guitar and voice together, and when that went well the song usually had a sense of seeming nearly complete. So, we tried not to stray too far from this as we brought the song to finish. I think this process of recording led to simpler arrangements. And, given the type of songs we have been writing in the past few years, I think it was more obvious what the songs should sound like then in the past. The music that we listen to is, for the most part, simplistic and sparse. Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Bob Dylan among others, are what we mostly listen to around the house. These are all folks we listened to when we were younger - in my case because they were what my Mom played on her stereo, and in Karen's case it was music that her brothers and sisters were listening to. This is the music that influences us the most - or I should say it is the music we are most affected by. I hope that it had some positive affect on our record. A long-winded answer, I know. Thanks for your excellent question. Peace.

Moderator: I used to be a music director at WETN, Wheaton College Radio. The Innocence Mission was one of only a few major label bands we programed on the Christian station. I'm wondering how you feel your music fits in with Christian radio and what relevance your faith has on the music you create for the general market?

: Faith and the hope that comes of faith are mysteries that there is always a longing to express, and I think that's a longing that is part of our songs. Belief in God gives meaning to all aspects of life, so that small moments and everyday events can be looked at with wonder. And sadness and tensions can be felt and expressed without despair. I can't help thinking that God recognizes the need that people can have to express sadness. And I think that each person also feels a need to say " I have hope" and to say "Amen". A lot of times for me all of these things will combine in one song. Thanks for your question, Jonathan.

Moderator: Xenoi asks: How long did the writing for this album take? Do the songs come quickly?

Karen: I guess there were between our last album and this album, there were about 60 songs, there were a lot of songs written, but only a few stayed around. Sometimes we just lose a connection with a song or just realize that it wasn't a very good song in the first place.

Moderator: Leec: i loved umbrella (still do). can you tell me if there was a certain theme or particular inspiration for those songs? i'd especially like to know what inspired "now in this hush". it's one of my all time favorites!

Karen: "Now In This House" was just about wanting to be able to articulate things better and to be able to be better at communicating with people. It was written at a time when I was really having trouble writing songs when there was a long space of time between songs.

Moderator: Ktmay asks: Do you find it hard to be a positive influence in music, when there has been so much negativity. (in the grunge era)

Don: Um...it's hard for us to really know what kind of influence we are. We just try to write about the things we know and about the people we are and hopefully, that finds some like minded people.

Moderator: Ian asks: Karen,I always use music to help me through good and bad times,Stevie Nicks was always my saviour when younger but now you have such a great influence on me your lyrics and beautiful melodies help so much,I think it is important that you know this,Clear to You will always be closest to my heart but so many others make me happy,sad and content,thank you so much,Ian,UK

Karen: Thanks so much, that means a great deal to me.

Moderator: dave from San Diego asks: I see you are now a trio, and from the sound samples from the new album so kindly put up by Kneeling Elephant, the new album is the most "acoustic-sounding" to date. Was the intent to go more acoustic anyway, or was it precipitated by the departure of your drummer?

Don: That's a good question! I think the songs that we've been writing during the past three years have been simpler and as we recorded them, we started with acoustic guitar and as we finished the song, we tried not to stray to far from that.

Moderator: Margaret asks: This is a more general question about how you compose your music: Does music come first or lyrics first? And how important are lyrics in your music? So many bands say that the lyrics are minimally important to the music...but it feels as if the music integrates clearly with the lyrics...what do you think?

Karen: I agree with you about the importance of lyrics to a song. It can be lovely and freeing to sing a melody without words, with just any syllables. But the song will ultimately be much more meaningful to us and we will feel more connected to it once a lyric is part of it. I often labor over words long after the music has been finished, I suppose I'm a slow thinker, a slow writer. Don can write much more freely, with beautiful results. About the integration of music and lyrics - yes, that's true, it's the combination of the two that I am most affected by in other people's music, the music I love best.

Moderator: Allison asks: Are you touring to support the new album? Where will you be going?

Karen: So far we only know that we'll be playing a few concerts in the Northeast in late September - early October, and two concerts on the Lilith Fair tour, in Pittsburgh and Detroit. We may travel a little more later in the fall but nothing else is planned yet. We'll try to let anyone who is interested know about concert dates by way of postcard and through the Kneeling Elephant website. Thanks, Allison.

Moderator: Karen, I read that you've had a child. Has that changed your perspective and songwriting at all. I know that since I've had my babies, my own writing has taken on a whole new outlook (=

Karen: It's been the happiest year of my life since our son was born. Some of the songs on this album were written out of saddness about being childless. I haven't written anything since our son was born, but there will be a lot of joyful days to write about.

Moderator: What recording gear do you have at home - that you use to record your songs? Is this album "handcrafted" in that you recorded the whole thing in your own studio?! Also: What on Earth happened with your old label? I love your music Karen- "Kate Castanino" from Seattle is my sister-in-law to be (Jesse is my brother) we all met you at the Backstage in Seattle on the GLOW tour. You are still our favorites! Your lyrics and quiet beauty is mesmerizing. Than

Don: Thanks for your kind words. We use the Alesis ADATs and some tube mics and record throughout the house and at our small studio in downtown Lancaster. As for what happened to our former label, A&M, who knows? I can't speak with any real knowledge of the financial and business side of the collapse. But, it had been a wonderful group of people to work with for a long while and when they started to let the good people go it seemed to us to just continue to unravel. I am sure there are many more complex answers to that question but this is the only side I know personally. Peace.

Moderator: Rik asks: Hi guys, So glad to see you're still making music... I love it! But a Gus Gus remix? I was shocked and happily surprised by the results... How did this come about?

Don: Thank You! We too, were "shocked and happily surprised" by the Gus Gus remix. It was something that Kneeling Elephant really wanted to hear, and with much persuasion on his part brought about. I like the idea of taking something that exists already and creating something new from it, like the "found poems" that Annie Dillard creates and writes about. Peace.

Moderator: Ray asks: In a time when Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, and now even Sixpence None the Richer are garnering lots of airplay on radio, do you think this will also be a good time for The Innocence Mission to become better known to the masses? Will Kneeling Elephant do a better job promoting you than A&M did? God bless and PLEASE tour Florida!!

Don: It is difficult for me to answer that question about the masses. I only hope that this record is found by people who are moved and affected by it. Whether or not it is the masses is beyond me. :) And yes, I do think Kneeling Elephant will do a good job. They have a genuine regard for the music and they are good and creative people. Thanks and God bless you in return.

Moderator: I was wondering if your version of "Moon River" is on any of your recordings, or if it will be soon? I've heard a few bands do it, however, it sounded amazing when you performed it in Cols,OH at the Newport.(maybe 2-3 yrs ago) Thanks!

Don: Moon River is one of Karen's favorite songs and we recorded it a few months ago. It is part of an EP/Sampler that can be obtained at this web address. I am glad you enjoyed hearing it in Columbus, Ohio. We always enjoy playing it - even with the tough chord changes. Peace.

Moderator: Well....The hour has drawn to a close. Innocence Mission needs to leave soon....Any last words from the band?

Don: Thanks for being here. We look forward to seeing you soon. Goodbye. :)