Growing up as a Christian, Relient K lead singer Matthew Thiessen says that it’s hard for him to ignore his faith when writing lyrics. It tends to leak through, which has helped the band join their idols MXPX in the Christian pop punk genre.
Although Thiessen isn’t ashamed of his religion, he doesn’t like it that Relient K are being pegged in a genre due to a few references to God.
“We don’t like the Christian rock label in general,” he says. “Music shouldn’t be pegged in any genre lyrically. But we’re pretty laid back, so we don’t really care how people label us. It opens us up to be good influences on the kids.”
This Ohio-based band are gaining some speed with their new album MMHMM. That momentum has helped them land the opening spot on the current Simple Plan/Good Charlotte tour. Thiessen says that the fans have been nice to them and he doesn’t even mind that they don’t scream all that much.
“I don’t know if these guys [Simple Plan/Good Charlotte] realize it, but they are making these kids scream like 20 times a night. So I think that they are saving it all up for them. That’s OK though.”
Relient K may garner more screams when they play on the main stage at this year’s Warped Tour. They will share the stage with The Offspring and Transplants on their first Warped Tour trek around North America.
“Any other time we’ve been at Warped Tour, it’s as a fan. It is a little unnerving. I mean this is our first time playing at Warped Tour and we’re not starting on a side stage.”