Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music on Amazon!

Bethany Dillon


On February 24, 2006, JfH writer Andrew Shaw had the chance to interview Sparrow Records recording artist Bethany Dillon backstage before her concert. Besides writing her own music and only being seventeen, her passion for the Lord is unmistakable, which influences her entire live show. If you haven't heard of Bethany Dillon, check our her sophomore offering, Imagination which released Fall, 2005.
This interview took place on: February 24, 2006



  • Jesus freak Hideout (Andrew): So you've already released two great albums, had a song featured in a big-screen movie (Dreamer), and yet you're only seventeen?!??
    Bethany Dillon: Right.

  • Andrew: How did you do this?
    Bethany: Well I'm actually almost seventeen and a half, so...

  • Andrew: Oh, Right!
    Bethany: The truth is, we're busy a lot of the times, and yet (there are) only a few days a month I feel overwhelmed. I think because God is giving more and more peace about the fact that it has so little to do with me, and so much with Him pursuing things, and trying to increase himself. All of that, especially the thing with the movie, it could have been overwhelming, but the Lord just made it clear that I don't think He's too concerned with my song being in a movie, but just (people) knowing about Him.

  • Andrew: That's awesome. I identified in particular with "Vagabond," because of its missions theme, because I've been on a lot of mission trips myself. Is mission work important to you as a Christian?
    Bethany: Very much. I actually support a missions organization called Gospel for Asia, and they work in the 10/40 window, which is mostly India, (specifically) with the Dalit people. Since I was about eleven, **There was a knock at the door, and Bethany's supper from Panera arrived** I wanted to be a missionary. So, yeah, my heart is definitely in that.

  • Andrew: I was listening to Imagination, and you have the pop songs, and then you have a song like "Airplane"…
    Bethany: Bethany Dillon *laughs* Which is my favorite!

  • Andrew: Mine too. When you were recording the CD, was it your goal to sort of step outside the pop/rock mold of standard Christian music and make some really neat songs, or was that just a thing that happened in the studio?
    Bethany: Oh, no. Sometimes it's a fight to have a quirky song on a record, but the truth is, sometimes you gotta write songs for radio, and that's fine too. I think there's a part where it's like, you know, just respecting the vehicle of "the label" and all of that, but if I could, I would have a whole record of quirky songs. Someday I will!

  • Andrew: Who are some of your musical influences?
    Bethany: Umm…the reason I started playing guitar is Jennifer Knapp, because she plays guitar, and is a girl, and the only other person I'd seen play guitar was my Dad. So, you know, a 47-year-old man didn't really appeal to me when he played. So, her music was a big deal for me, and Sara Groves, I think she is the writer that I'd love to be someday.

  • Andrew: When did you start playing guitar?
    Bethany: I started playing guitar when I was eleven.

  • Andrew: You've come a long ways!
    Bethany: Well thank you!

  • Andrew: You're playing solo tonight, but you're also on tour with Jeremy Camp. Are you enjoying that?
    Bethany: Oh gosh. We were on tour with him last fall, and I think he had too much fun. And we were like, "Are we really doing ministry, suffering for the Lord?" They're just a great family, he has a great band, even the people that do lights for him, and they all just have the greatest hearts. The show is a small part of what we do on tour, the rest of the day is what is fun for us.

  • Andrew: What's your favorite song to play live right now? **At this point, Bethany catches me staring at her supper from Panera Bread**
    Bethany: Hey, would you like some?

  • Andrew: No... uhh...
    Bethany: Panera is amazing! Probably my favorite song to sing right now is a song that is not even on a record, called "You Are On Our Side." I think probably for most artists, the newest thing they've written is the most fun because they aren't tired of it yet.

  • Andrew: Favorite bands?
    Bethany: My mom would kill me if I didn't say U2, so U2. Switchfoot…they really have impacted the way I write. Definitely Caedmon's Call, I grew up listening to them - 40 Acres was like the coolest record.

  • Andrew: Cool. One last thing, what's the last thing you listened to?
    Bethany: This guy, Clint Brown, he's a black worship leader and has this CD called In His Presence, and it's amazing. So I just put it on, and I just like want to run a marathon! So anyway, that's what I've been listening too.

    Bethany Dillon

     

    go to main Interview page

     

  •                  
    Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!

    Search JFH




    This Thursday, July 25, 2024
    SINGLES
    Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors Burn (feat. Ellie Holcomb) - Single [Tone Tree]

    This Friday, July 26, 2024
    ALBUMS
    Pat Barrett Happily Hidden [Capitol CMG]
    Before There Was Rosalyn Hypocrites EP [The Charon Collective]
    Bloodlines Holiness Cries EP [Facedown]
    The Collingsworth Family Classics & Hymns [Gaither]
    Dex the Nerd Who Loves Jesus Pixelated Virtues Online - EP (independent)
    Danny Gokey Sound of Heaven [Sparrow]
    The Hillbilly Thomists Marigold (independent)
    Kestrel Vessel EP (independent)
    Ken Tamplin Stand Up And Shout (4 CD Box Set) [Girder]
    Swingin Hammers Blood in the Sand EP (independent)
    Thrive Worship Praises & Prayers [Integrity]
    Tyraels Ascension Hell Walker [Rottweiler]
    Phil Wickham The Jesus Way Collection - EP [Fair Trade]
    Thousand Foot Krutch The End Is Where We Begin (Reignited) [The Fuel]
    Young Noah A Positive Sign EP (independent)

    SINGLES
    2 Minute Minor & Dave LeBlanc Golden Calf - Single (independent)
    Tina Boonstra Can People Ever Really Change? (at Old Chapel) - Single [7Core]
    Chad Cory Love Forward - Single [DREAM]
    Dreamers Make A Move - Single [DREAM]
    Fit For A King TECHNIUM - Single [Solid State]
    Keith & Kristyn Getty Scarlet Thread (feat. Zach Williams) - Single [Getty]
    Good Weather Forecast Let's Build A House (feat. Real Life Guys) - Single [DREAM]
    Heal the Hurt RUIN - Single (independent)
    Hyper Fenton Show Me What You’re Working With feat. Peabod - Single (independent)
    Lauren, Amber & Kenna Every Praise - Single [Horizon]
    Claire Leslie Original - Single [Capitol CMG]
    Mission House Faith More Precious Than Gold, Everything In Your Hands + Suscipe - Triple Single [Integrity]
    MotionPlus Kings Grace - Single (independent)
    OM53 Letting Go of Yesterday - Single (independent)
    The Riverside Blade of the King’s Tongue - Single (independent)
    Sean Rodriguez Jesus Will - Single [WieRok]
    Sidewalk Prophets Come To Jesus - Single [Curb]
    Souljornerz The Lamb - Single [Polished Arrow]
    The Spirituals Be Thou My Vision - Single [Integrity]
    Uche Agu, Revival Today Worship The Whole Earth Will See (A.K.A America Will See) - Single [DREAM]
    Verses Philippians 2:5-11 (feat. The Sing Team) - Single (independent)
    Village KNG Turn'E Up (ft. Monty G) - Single [Soldier Sound]
    We Are Messengers God Be The Glory (Remix) [feat. KB] - Single [Curb]

    VINYL
    Disciple By God Vinyl [Girder]
    Disciple What Was I Thinking? Vinyl [Girder]
    Element 101 Stereo Girl Vinyl [Burnt Toast Vinyl]

    Next Friday, August 2, 2024
    ALBUMS
    Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]
    Brandon Heath The Ache [Centricity]
    Chandler Moore Live in Los Angeles [Tribl]
    Rock Springs Worship Hymns Vol. 2 [StowTown]

    SINGLES
    AWZY Shadow - Single [DREAM]
    FYR FYTR, Make Sure I Took the World on My Shoulders - Single (independent)
    Mainstream Worship, Melanie Rivera Praise You - Single [DREAM]
    Ian Yates My World Is On Fire - Single [7Core]

    VINYL
    Anberlin Vega [Equal Vision]



    For all release dates, click here!
     



    Check out Ninties Worship Night!



    Listen to the new Album From Millennial Reign!

    Check out depositphotos for royalty free images