Michael Felker of Convictions

Michael Felker  0:00  
convictions found me. Maybe like a year after I like accepted God. And I was so excited because this was like my first Christian band. And I was gonna, like start writing all these Christian songs and being like, this other person. And I remember telling my dad, I was like, Dad, like, that's Christian. I was like, Dad, I'm gonna, I'm gonna join this Christian band. And then it's called convictions. And he was I thought it'd be like, really supportive and psych. He was like, Yeah, I don't want you doing that. And I was like, why? Like, what do you mean? He's like, Yeah, he's like, if you're gonna do that, like, you really have to, like, walk the walk. And I remember sitting in his driveway, and I was like, I basically have to become a different person. And I'm okay with that. So that's where the title I will become came from.

Trevor Tyson  0:40  
What's up, everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of Trevor talks. I'm your host, Trevor Tyson. And I'm just so excited for today's episode, simply because the guest is a frontman for the grizzly award winning metal core band convictions, and they embody a few of my favorite things to discuss being metal core mental health, faith, and so much more. So, I'm excited. I hope that you guys are excited. And even if you're not metal core fans, like you know, we've had some of the heaviest hitting metal core bands of all time on this show. We've had Jay Coors from August Burns Red Matty Mullins from Memphis may fire. Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Taya from Hillsong you know, just all of the Hardcore scene bands. You know, that's a joke, but you guys can laugh later or whatever. Please help me welcome Mr. Mike Felker. Mike, thank you so much for being here, man.

Michael Felker  1:30  
Hey, man, thanks for having me. Man. This is awesome. I really appreciate you man.

Trevor Tyson  1:33  
Dude, of course out once I heard convictions. I was like, Oh, this has got to go down like this is sick. So again, thank you for being here today. And I know that you've been on the road doing festivals and tours, so you have to be exhausted. So seriously, from all of us here at Trevor talks. Thank you for being here.

Michael Felker  1:52  
Oh, no, man. It's a pleasure, man. Appreciate it.

Trevor Tyson  1:55  
So you guys played a festival or two over the past week? How is the festival season going for you? I know you've been doing secular and Christian festivals, which is an awesome dynamic. But has anything stood out to you? What's your favorite festival thus far? Um,

Michael Felker  2:09  
so we just did three. The first one we did was Kingdom Come fast. And then this past weekend we did audio feed and creation fest. It was pretty weird because like, outdoor festivals, like always weirded me out. I'm like, is it gonna rain? Is it gonna like, what's it gonna be like? I know, it was COVID and everything. It was like a kind of a wildcard to see like, you know how turnouts and stuff would be but it was pretty good. It rained a little bit during creation fest which was terrifying. It like rained, I would say like 15 minutes before we went on. And then like, right when it stopped, like the whole crew, and everybody just like grabbed all our gear, threw it on stage. And we're I'm like, I had a towel under my shoe. And I'm just like, wiping down the stage right before we go on. And luckily, we had a really good set, but it was crazy. Because like right after we finished playing back to rain, so it was just a sauna like all weekend, like, oh, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. It was just like rain and just like hot, muggy sweat, but there's a lot of metal heads that came out and it was a good time.

Trevor Tyson  3:19  
Well, for all the people that are listening for summer festivals. Everybody's like, oh, it's going to rain. It's going to cool down. No, it's not like that. It gets muggy it gets hot. Everybody's humid, so you guys muscled through it and with your style of aggressive worship as you call it. That had to be really hot like running around jumping and bouncing people to encircle pits. All and you're screaming at the top of your lungs. Obviously. That is gonna be freakin hot. Dude. How do you learn that?

Michael Felker  3:50  
Well, I learned my like, My look is I'm always doing the tank tops, but I'm always wearing black jeans. And if I could pull off the shorts, that would be great, but my legs are way too white and pasty for that. So

Trevor Tyson  4:05  
just yeah, that's that's me too. I even at festivals, I try to wear jeans if it's not just scorching hot just because I've got little white white chicken legs and they stand out like is Casper coming up or what like that's just how I roll and I don't have all the cool tattoos the mascot but it had to be fun going from convictions to we the kingdom and like forgetting and country and all these bands. That has to be a very interesting lineup. But as you said there are a huge core base of metal heads that come out to these festivals and even the smaller festivals, the bigger festivals. They're all so much fun festival seasons enjoyable and I'm glad that you had so much fun out there but I can't wait to see you guys rip one. I totally missed the last tour. You came through Atlanta and Chattanooga which I'm in both places equally. And I was like, dang, one of the times I had COVID And then the other one I forgot what happened but it seemed like you had big crowds come out. So I'm excited to see what's coming next for convictions. But one thing that really intrigues me about you guys as collective is that your sound is unique on its own. And that stands out for itself. But the lyrical content as well like the words actually mean something, which is kind of unique to find, it may found sound very cliche to say that, but a lot of music these days don't have that much depth in their lyrical content. So for all the listeners out there, as I kind of joked on earlier, we have a diverse base of people that listen in with CCM fans seen kids, soccer moms, teachers, skateboarders, aspiring musicians, and so forth. What do you think that connecting dot for your fans and convictions is? Is it the vulnerability behind the music? Is it a collection of a lot of different things? Or what really stands out for you from the artists perspective?

Michael Felker  5:55  
Well, we have quite a quite a broad fan base, I'd say. So, you know, it's kind of hard to, you know, pinpointed on one thing, you know, there's some people that just want to come out and let off some steam or, or maybe they had a tough week at work, and they just want to come to a show and you know, Mosh and have a good time. And that's a great thing. And then there's others that we have, we've affected personally, which, which is really rewarding. You know, people that have shared their stories of, you know, struggles and maybe mental health issues and things like that. And it really kind of brings it home on why we're doing it. And you know, why we fought so hard for so long to share our message? And and, yeah, it's just a lot. It's a lot of different backgrounds. But it's really, it's, it would really be tough to pinpoint like one audience, you know, that we're touching down on whether it's they want Mosh or they want lyrical content? I can't tell you.

Trevor Tyson  6:56  
Well, yeah, you do it both so well. And for those who haven't heard of convictions quite yet, what would the short intro be for convictions? The elevator pitch the core of your message, whatever you want to explain?

Michael Felker  7:11  
Well, I would just probably put it on aggressive worship. That's our moniker. It's a Yeah, it's like, another moniker is a motion capture to noise. So it's like, there's spiritual elements, of course, but it's, it's aggressive. And we try and have a message that most Christian artists won't touch down on. So getting to the core of like, real world issues and struggles is like, very, very important to us, like reaching people that high level. But yeah, it's aggressive. It's angry, but it's, it's like screaming for it with a reason, I guess.

Trevor Tyson  7:51  
It's rock with purpose. And yeah, that's just such a needed thing. With me being a metal core fan myself, it's like, you go to these shows, and a lot of times, there's not as much depth to like, why the band is there. They're either getting drunk before the show, like God forbid, and just, they're living that Rockstar life, but I've never got that vibe from you, thankfully. And the band's catalogue is really extensive. And for time sake, I really want to dive into a few of the overarching themes of some albums and EPS that you've put out, as well as that doing a deep dive into some of the singles that you've done over the past few months. And first up, I really want to talk about hope for the broken as I listen to that record, it just hit home for me in so many different ways, like we discussed beforehand. I talk about mental health a lot, because it's something that I've personally struggled with in my life. And especially in the faith based market, you don't hear as much of people talking about their personal issues as in depth that you have in your music. And it's of course, gotten a lot broader on the people that are discussing it, but to go in as depth as you are with convictions. That album really struck a chord with me. So what was the writing process? Like for hope for the broken? What are some of the themes that you've talked about throughout the album? And what would you want people to walk away from it with?

Michael Felker  9:15  
Okay, I gotta, I gotta go back a few years with that one. So, hopefully the broken was written after I will become so I like to look at it as like an extension of extension of that record. So I guess going back a little further with I will become that song was my first full length record with the band. And was that my journey? Stepping into the role as a Christian man, as faith was new to me, I was at my beginning. So a lot of that record is like preparation for hope for the broken it was kind of like establishing my place in the kingdom. I guess you could put or like finding my footsteps. Have some grasp and and moving forward and then hopefully the broken is kind of that tipping point where you can use your struggles and your obstacles in life to help others. I think that's kind of like something that God revealed to us was there's a lot of strength and being vulnerable and hope for the broken I guess is the you know that title there. But throughout that record, we talked a lot about mental health with songs like voices personal issues, and you know, heart aches and break up like this epic heart. Yeah, it's, uh, I definitely have to do a little bit of digging because it's been a handful of years since we put

Unknown Speaker  10:46  
it a while since you've done a good job with it. You almost kind of like Trump there has been a while guys, it's been a while.

Trevor Tyson  10:54  
We won't get into politics, but had that out there. But that record, like especially voices that really hit home for me, I enjoy it through and through. So excellent job on that not gonna fan girl will cut that out, but not really going to cut it out. But I'll cut it out right now. But the second I really want to talk about is the EP, I won't survive. And you start off with the song the war that followed me home, which from what I got from the music video. And obviously the lyrics is really touching on PTSD from war. And just the music video all on its own has its own story. But from that track, going into the record, it was really admirable that you put that as like, Hey, this is the first thing people are going to hear because PTSD like honestly and faith based content you don't see as much at all. PTSD a little bit more. Our friends at heart support are doing some amazing things for veterans, so shout out to them. But when it comes to I won't survive starting with the war that followed me home. What did that look like going through your head, especially for the rest of the record just diving into people's individual stories? That was a very touchy topic to discuss.

Michael Felker  12:02  
Yeah, so that was one of the first songs that were written for the record. Being on the road, we've come across so many incredible people and in different walks of life. And we've been really fortunate enough to have some people share their their stories and their struggles. And Cory is a friend of ours. He's one that helped us write this song. We met him down in Orlando, and we hit it off, like right away. It was like an old friend that you're meeting for the first time. And quickly he he started sharing his stories about his his story overseas fighting the Afghanistan war. He I don't know that. I don't know the name of that war is like we can we should definitely

Unknown Speaker  12:53  
it was a war.

Michael Felker  12:54  
Okay. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Please. Cory was opening up to us about his his stories, fighting and war and, and how he had lost his friends. And, and not just that, but almost like he had him taking the war home with him. He was struggling with PTSD. Some of his friends actually took their lives after coming home and serving, which is hard to fathom. And we just had a really close connection with him. And when we set out to write this record, I wanted to have a concept record of sharing survival stories. Cory was super vulnerable with us. In the end, he allowed us to ask some very sensitive questions. Telling us, you know, his story is fighting and coming home. And so I wanted to tell that song in a chronological order from having the nightmare right in the beginning. I break down my mind awakes in the wake of hysteria, it's happening again, I see his face in the place where I rest my head. So it's very literal. And we wanted to try and get it as close to the real thing as we can because I haven't served and nor is anyone in my band, and what we know is just what we see in movies and stuff, you know, so I tried to Yeah, like habit is authentic and in to his stories we could and yeah, it kind of set the tone for the rest of the record with survival stories and suicide and, and situations that are out of our friends control and finding hope and faith and that hopefully, will inspire others, you know, like with their you know, their walks. So, yeah, yeah, Korea is a big helping hand and that song and we can't think of enough at him and people who have served it's, it's pretty sad to see the limited resources some of these guys have coming home. So starting a discussion with you know, about that was really important, and we wanted to be a part of that. So thank you, Cory.

Trevor Tyson  14:57  
Come on, man. Thank you, Cory for that. and you move on from there, and the price of grace. And this one stood out to me just because it's, it's obviously very vulnerable. And it's more of a personal story for you. And the inspiration is from losing from someone to suicide, who was a fan of the band. And that has to be a really hard thing. In fact, like, we talked with Jay cores about why heart support exists. And he explained that there are a lot of people coming out the shows with cuts on their wrists with given up razors, and etc. But I haven't necessarily heard a story about someone losing a fan to suicide, as you did. And you actually reached out to his friend who would come out to the shows with him. And he opened up on the story and gave you the blessing to write the song. So what's the story behind CJ and Travis? And how did this really come to fruition to become a song?

Michael Felker  15:58  
Yeah, it was, it was a little unexpected. I mean, definitely unexpected. But we, we had songs in the past, like voices, like we just talked about, we're, you know, we opened the discussion of mental health awareness and sharing anti suicide messages and things like that. But I have never really had anybody in my close circle of family and friends commit suicide, luckily, and hearing CJ, share that news. You know that Travis had taken his life. I didn't know what to do. We didn't know what to do, except talk about it. And we started sharing the story about how to fans of ours would come and see us all over the country. It was like Florida, and Texas and New York, or maybe New Jersey. But these guys are crazy, man, they're going all over to see us and supporting us. And Travis, today's best friend, Travis was like very unfamiliar with metal. But he, he was really drawn to it because of the community that that it has. It's, it's sweaty, it's aggressive, people are letting out steam. But it's also a very positive place where people can connect with each other, and relate and be real. And that's what we love so much, you know. And Travis, I think was really intrigued by the so he'd kept coming out with CJ to these metal shows. And our experience, Travis was great. He was just really kind guy, he's, you know, he's, he's had a lot going for himself. You know, he told us about his daughter. And he was really quiet and standoffish. And in hindsight, I think a lot of it was just maybe possibly toxic masculinity are something that that idea where you have to bury your feelings and keep it all together. Right? And unfortunately, it didn't, you know, he, he took his life. And we wanted to open that discussion. So we wrote this song price of grace and the perspective of CJs best friend. Right in that moment, when he received the news in his dorm, it was he was circling the room, and he was on the phone. And he was in this moment of denial. So we wrote the song, in a chronological order, again, just like the one that followed me home, and tried to break it down as real and raw as we can, we could interviewing CJ. And he was, he went way over the hill for us with allowing us to share a voicemail that he put together for us just sharing what he would have said, you know, how do you call Travis that night? And what you know, like, what his parting words would be in a way and as hard at it as it is to hear and as vulnerable as it is. There's a lot of people that connect with that, and share those feelings. And we just feel really blessed that we can share that, you know,

Trevor Tyson  19:02  
and you y'all did a wonderful job with it. Like, as being someone who's received the phone call about a friend dying by suicide. Like, it's, it's not something that comes natural, I guess, because it's a little bit more in depth. Because in that moment, you're like, you don't understand, like, it's not like they had quote unquote, cancer or physical disease that was deteriorating at their brain and it's like, you don't know how to feel. It's like, should I be mad? Should I be angry? Should I be upset? Like, why would you do this? And a lot of times, like, depression can be that like, it obviously takes a lives. And it's something that doesn't need to be talked about, and you don't hear it as in depth as you guys have pieced it together. And it it really opens up a conversation like you guys were trying to do so I appreciate you putting that out there. for people to understand, because a lot of times they're like, Oh, that's a selfish thing to do. And over the past few years, we have really started a conversation, especially in faith circles on like, you know what, it's not really that simple. It's not something that you can piece together. Like, you may not be able to understand it, just like I can't understand the pain of losing a child or having cancer, etc. Like, these are all things like you don't have to understand it. You just have to understand that like, you know what, some people aren't okay, mentally. And while Yeah, quote, unquote, like it's okay not to be okay. Like, sometimes you really need help for it. And when you lose someone in that capacity, you can't blame yourself. It's not something that like, Oh, if I could have just talked to them, like, woulda, shoulda, coulda type thing, right? It's hard to move on from so with opening a vulnerable discussion like that. I'm sure you've had a lot of fans come up and really just express their gratitude for you opening that conversation and being so vocal about mental health is if you're open to discuss it, like, have you had those moments of desperation, like even before your faith journey where you were struggling with your mental health and you needed someone to talk to? And how'd you get through that?

Michael Felker  21:19  
Yeah, we I've touched on that personally. There's a song we written A while ago, Moros. There's a lot of personal experiences in there with my, my struggle, suicidal tendencies when I was very young. Yeah, it's challenging. And I think what's important is, like you said, like opening that discussion, that's what we really want to promote. It's just discussion, you know. It's funny, too, because I was just talking about this over the weekend, when we, when we were writing this song Pricer grace, sitting in the studio. I hate to be preachy, or like, try and push my spirituality on anyone here. But I felt a strong spiritual attack, writing that song, because we've written songs like that, like morals and, and things like that, where we talk about suicide and mental health. And I had this voice, I swear, it was like, the devil or something. It was crazy. It was like, it was like, don't write this song. This is stupid. Like, it's been done before. Everyone writes songs like these, it's, it's played out, it's cliche. And you're gonna sound washed up, it's generic. And I heard that voice. And then I had, like, it was almost like, in that moment, where I was like, No, that's probably because I'm on the right track, that I'm having these thoughts. Just do it anyway. But like, go all the way, you know, go, go try and go above and beyond and really just, like, really lean into it. Because I think that a lot of people can be helped here. And that was just so funny, because I had that like voice and that's kind of how I knew it, you know, like that. You're on that right path and opening that discretion. You may have that feeling like where you're you're reaching out to a friend who's going through something and you're like, man, like, I'm gonna look like a dork saying, I love you, man. I'm thinking to you, you know, are like, having those like doubts like, oh, I probably shouldn't say anything. Like that's like, I think the enemy in a way, and I think that it's like a lie. And it's something that we really want to promote was just having that discussion, you know, reaching out.

Trevor Tyson  23:39  
Yeah, and that was an attack and I'm so glad that you were able to see this song through and the vulnerability doesn't stop there. Your latest single supernova is something that I want to talk about in particular, simply because, number one, the imagery used in the music video was like next level stuff it so very well put together video I'm like, dang, where'd they get the budget for that? Like, that's crazy. But the lyrics as usual, like, as we see are, the listeners have heard in this discussion, they just keep getting a little more vulnerable. And some lyrics really caught my mind and the track and it says I'm tracing constellations to find a purpose compared to the heavens, my wife seems worthless, left in an endless void with my only myself to blame God heal me like the stars, you know them all by name, the imagery, the vulnerability, the sound, the video, all of it's just a perfect storm that comes in to serpent supernova. So I'd really like to know where did the thought process start for the song for you personally? And what's the message that you want people to take away from it?

Michael Felker  24:47  
So supernova is about abandonment. Or there's a tagline abandonment is the curse. In those lyrics that you were talking about, there's there's scripture influences

Michael Felker  24:59  
that I got like, I can't think of the specific Scripture but it's God knows the stars all by name. It's just kind of like tracing constellations to find a purpose connecting the dots on why people leave you or why. You You always feel isolated. And a lot. I think a lot of people relate to that. I've struggled with abandonment issues from an early age, parents divorcing and friend groups, you know, walking out on me and things like that, and breakups. And you name it. Abandonment is a is the main theme of supernova. And yeah, that was writing that was pretty challenging, too, because, you know, being fresh out of a breakup or something like that, like, you don't really want to like air, your dirty laundry. And it's not necessarily about that, but mainly abandonment. And we wrote it, like, in a very short amount of time, it was a really cool studio experience. But like, Zach and I got together and we were challenging ourselves as, as an artist, you know, like, okay, like, this is what we do. Let's do it. And we just locked the doors in the studio and just bunk hunkered down and got to work. And I'm really proud of that. It was really fun experience. But we made sure to take as much time as we needed to, to make sure that it was authentic and to the root of, you know, what we felt and that supernova.

Trevor Tyson  26:24  
Oh, the and with all the fans coming out to shows buying merch and being so supportive of the band. I know that it probably hasn't always been that way, especially living as a touring musician. traveling the country in a van. A lot of people are like, Oh, it must be so glamorous being on tour. And we're like, it has its perks. And like, obviously, there's a calling there, but we all have to start somewhere. So what was it like growing up for you? And have you always been drawn to heavy music? What's kind of the story of going from Mike Felker, the creating convictions and everything in between?

Michael Felker  27:03  
That's a rabbit hole. I was drawn to heavy music, probably like early, early Junior High sixth grade, maybe. I was just really drawn to heavy music in particular. One because my dad brought me up with like, alternative rock and cool like punk bands like offspring and things like that. But metal in particular, was just such a powerful sound, and angry and aggressive and angsty but powerful. That was, I think the main draw for me, because I always felt a bit outcasted. And I've always been drawn to like counterculture things, extreme sports, skateboarding. Just having a having felt outcasted from an early age in school, finding powerful music that really just kind of expressed how I felt on the inside was I think the seed that kind of planted it for me. And in my later years, I'd been playing shows since I was 15. But particularly like Christian music. It was like the most like punk rock thing you could do. Because it was like, Yeah, I'm angry, and I'm just so on fire. But if I can use that, in a positive light, trying to share a good message is the most like counterculture thing on top of a counterculture thing. So it was just like, me like taking it to the next level of being like, punk. I guess I don't know how to work out a word here. But yeah, it was just kind of like taking a stigma and flipping it upside down.

Trevor Tyson  28:44  
Come on, man. And when did faith come into the picture for you? Now I know the answer, because I found a YouTube video of you and your brother. And I found that to be very encouraging sodwana know this, or let everyone else know the story behind your faith journey and how your brother had such a big role in it.

Michael Felker  29:03  
Okay, I'll try to make it as punctual on time as I can. Testimony is pretty long. So yeah, my brother that you saw in that video, my stepbrother, Andrew, he, he's pastored a church now. But when we were in our late teens, we were like 19, and we were both working a security job. And I had gone through like a really rough breakup. And I wouldn't call myself a Christian before that, but I I was going to church here and there with my my dad. And so like I believed in God, but can't say I was Christian. I wasn't really like, I didn't really understand what that meant or who Jesus is. But I was going through this big rebellious phase at that age, where I was watching like, documentaries like religion plus or Zi guys, things like that. up. And I was like out to like, ruin people's faith. And I had these theological debates, and my brother who was studying theology at the time, who was really concerned about this. So like, I remember pulling him aside, we're working security. And I just lay it out. I'm like, bro, like, how can you believe in this and this and this, and thinking he would be quick witted to like, come back. And, you know, debate with me, he was stumped. And my brother's super smart. So it was like a big deal. So he set out and like, did all this research, all this studying, and he came back to me and we, we started there. Were it was kind of like, okay, there's, there's something more to this. There's there could be truth to this. But around that time, like I said, I had gone through like this serious depression breakup. I really wanted to, like, end it all, it was a really tough time for me. And I tried speaking out, I tried talking to therapists or considering medication, you name it to try and like pull myself out of this rut. And it wasn't until like, my brother in the church approached me. And I was just kind of like, this is silly. Like, this is so stupid. I don't even I'm not even entertained by this. It wasn't until, like, the lowest point where I was like, you know, what, screw it. Like, I'll give it a shot. Like, I've seen what it's done to people and, and how it's transformed people's lives and things like that, especially in like, some of my, my family groups. I was like, Screw it, I'll try it. And what am I what I got to lose out on and believe in this, you know, and about that time, I just, like, accepted it. And I just like went with it. My life was like, radically changing quickly. And it's not, I can't say it's gonna be like that for everybody. But convictions found me maybe like a year after I like, accepted God. And I was so excited because this was like, my first Christian band, and I was gonna, like, start writing all these Christian songs and being like, this other person. And I remember telling my dad, I was like, Dad, like, that's Christian. I was like, Dad, I'm gonna, I'm gonna join this Christian band. And it's called convictions. And he was I thought it'd be like, really supportive and psych. He was like, Yeah, I don't want you doing that. And I was like, why? Like, what do you mean? He's like, Yeah, he's like, if you're gonna do that, like, you really have to, like, walk the walk. And I remember sitting in his driveway, and I was like, I basically have to become a different person. And I'm okay with that. So that's where the title I will become came from. Wow. So that's kind of like a snippet of like my testimony and like journey into convictions. I'm trying to keep it short and

Unknown Speaker  32:45  
comfortable. Like, you don't want to keep people here all day. I

Trevor Tyson  32:48  
do. I'm just kidding. But there. There are often times when you're chasing your calling, and really like for you coming out of that journey of questioning God or really accepting God, adjoining convictions, and all of the things but there are a lot of people out there listening that are feeling intimidated by fear, anxiousness, or maybe they have an opportunity that they feel would make a difference in the world. As we've heard you walk through your journey, what would your encouragement be to someone out there who's struggling with anything that's really holding them back from being the person that they were created to be?

Michael Felker  33:26  
I feel like a question. Like that would probably be like case by case, you know, like, what's holding them back? But um, I don't know. It's tough. Like, I don't want to just say like yellow.

Trevor Tyson  33:38  
It's hard to really niche down and finding the answer. But, like, so many people out there like, oh, let's take it by anxiety. Like if someone's out there and let's say they got a phone call similar what you got from August Burns Red, they're like, Hey, dude, we want we need you to come fill in for this. Those are some big shoes to fill. And in this it's like an obviously a God ordained opportunity. It can be intimidating. How would you overcome that fear? How did you overcome that fear? And how would you encourage others to do the same

Michael Felker  34:10  
thing believing believing in yourself? As cliche as that is it's hard not to find a cliche answer here but I spent in my personal experience, I spent so long like dreaming of being on that stage. I guess this this way literal, like being on that stage but spent so much time like believing like this is what I'm made for. And this is like, what I'm destined to do and getting like a call like that like to sing for August Burns Red maybe false confidence. Like you know, like I don't know just like owning the opportunity and having that belief in yourself whether you know, you're an artist or or you're chasing a degree and College or whatever it is, but like truly believing yourself, even if it's like, fake it till you make it like that false confidence thing. Yeah, it's just kind of taking that first step. And for me, it was just kind of like, okay, this is way over my head, but it's like a once in a lifetime thing and you only live once and, and I really believe I can do this. And I don't know, it's hard, that sounds arrogant when you like, say it like that. But like, whatever that passion is that this person is struggling with. And if they're anxious, like, you really do only live once and you just got it, you got it, you got to do it. I don't know. Like, there's more to life than, you know, just working a nine to five and, you know, just like, going through the motions, there's more to life and you may never get a chance like that, again, whether it's, you know, getting accepted to a college or, you know, that job opportunity, whatever it is, you know, like, you gotta go for it. I don't know, it's probably sounds really boring or cliche. I wish I had more to say here.

Trevor Tyson  36:02  
Man. Oh, man. After this interview, it makes me want to go do an even bigger deep dive into convictions discography. Thank you so much to Michael Felker, for taking time out of his day to join us here at Trevor talks. I strive to bring you guys meaningful, purposeful content that hopefully helps you overcome objections in your life. And after hearing Michael's stories about behind the songs and how convictions got started his faith journey. I feel great. It's almost like I just got out of therapy. And I hope you feel the same way. But guys, be sure to go check out convictions on all streaming platforms, go watch the music videos. If you're not in the overbought all go read the lyrics and really just appreciate the work that they're doing in the metal core space, I think is admirable. I think it's phenomenal. And I'm so grateful to have had him on the show. Again, all the links are going to be in the description for convictions, convictions rocks.com. And all the social media platforms will be found down below. So thank you guys again for taking time to listen into this week's episode and we will talk to you guys next week. Bye now.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai