Online interview with Sambo, bass player for Justifide
January 7, 2003

Dennis: While many other guys your age are out dating and attending college, you guys are hitting the road doing tours and shows. What do you miss the most about living a "normal" life like your friends back home?
Sambo: I don't really miss anything. We aren't the college type, we were born to be on the road ;) It would be nice to have a girlfriend though, our schedule isn't too kind in that aspect, but we get days off every once in a while and get to watch movies or just relax like everyone else. 
Dennis: Sambo, your dad travels with you guys keeping an eye on you but my question is who is keeping an eye on him? 
Sambo: Haha > > well the cool thing with my dad is, he lets us tell him anything. So if he says or does something, he is open to reflection from us. My mom is just a phone call away too. She makes sure he doesn't spend all the money on nice dinners or fun things. 
Dennis: There has been some discussion that your latest CD, The Beauty of the  Unknown, that it is not as straight forward with a Christian message as your first, Life Outside the Toybox. Is Justifide trying to pull away from the label "a Christian band"? 
Sambo: We have always been a band to write whatever is on our hearts and minds. So whatever happens, happens in that regard. We are all Christians so in writing about our lives, that is going to be one aspect and an underlining theme. We aren't a Christian band though. We don't believe in Christian music. Music can't be Christian, it's the people who are. Plus, the connotation of what a Christian band is, it's not who we are. We play with a lot of "Christian bands", and it's not really our scene, although this is where God has us right now.
Dennis: A lot of discussion goes on in our site dealing with the issue of secular > music. Our stance towards Christian teens has always been that they must weigh whether the music is a positive or negative influence in their life. Many of the harder bands that are of similar style to you choose to use a lot of offensive language. What are your thoughts on the influence of secular music on Christian teens?
Sambo: I think for some people, music has an enormous amount of influence, it certainly does for me. For me, most Christian music has more of a negative effect than secular music does. If I don't like the music, it drives me crazy and gets me in a bad mood. I don't care anything about lyrics nor does it have an affect on me. But for some it does. Our view is if something, anything is dragging you down, then stay away from it. If it's secular music, we don't encourage it. If it's Christian music, we don't encourage it. If it's rated "R" movies or violent video games that are having a negative influence, find something else to do.
Dennis: Most of the bands we review are bands that really promote violence, extreme offensive language and sex, bands like Mudvayne, Korn, Blink 182, Eminem, ICP. So what would your recommendation be on bands of that extreme for Christians? 
Sambo: Bands with such messages as violence and sex and a lot of taboos in our culture are really a reflection of our society and write about that. This is all a part of life and the world around us. Too many Christians judge them and have such a negative view towards them. The ironic thing is that most of the people or bands with the harshest messages are the ones that are the coolest people to be around, cuz they don't front. And bands or boy bands with parent friendly messages are sometimes even more rude in person, or at least have the same attitudes or worse then the "crazy" bands. If a Christian is offended by reality, then they are gonna have a hard time reaching out to the world. I'm not saying to become numb or complacent towards life and its good sides and bad sides. But actions are only the result of how we feel and perceive the world inside our hearts. Correcting someone's behavior or condemning someone for that is pretty shallow, we have to change our heart. And most of the bands with such extreme messages are really lost little kids inside an adult's body. A lot of them act in these ways just to sell records. The music industry cares about money, and will do anything to sell records. And no publicity is bad publicity if you know how to work it. So all that said, if it has a negative influence on you, don't listen to it, that's how we feel. If you like the music and have the ability to see it as it is and leave it at that, I don't see a problem with listening to it.
Dennis: Many Christian bands complain about only finding themselves ministering to other Christians and then make that switch to the secular market only to find they are then not able to minister. Knowing your desire to tap into the secular market, where do you see the ministry aspect of Justifide in the future?
Sambo: Well a lot of bands who call themselves Christians don't have the music to reach out to the mainstream market. Also, Christians can fool other Christians very easily, cuz they know what they want to hear. Someone else who isn't Christian is usually not as naive, and words are shallow, actions are what speak to them. So saying they love God and worship Him, but then not living out His love will usually fool Christians, but not anyone else. To reach out to the world, your own life has to be a humble one and one that reflects God, in everything.
Dennis: Some of the songs on Life Outside the Toybox deal with some very straight forward temptations. What temptations do you see yourselves dealing with on a daily basis as young men and what advice would you give to todays Christian youth?
Sambo: Well it used to be drugs and partying, that whole scene. Girls are something that will never go away, and beautiful women will always exist. That is probably the universal temptation for men everywhere. My advice would be for us to educate ourselves, always be learning, about relationships/sexual addictions/the way our minds work and the reasons for our actions. Remaining ignorant is a sure way to not grow in any area of our lives.
Dennis: Congrats on "To Live" becoming #1 last week on the Christian Radio Weekly rock chart! I have enjoyed hearing it on The Torch on XM Radio. That is what I got for Christmas by the way and that is all I have listened to in my car. What would we find in your CD players right now?
Sambo: Thanks for the compliments! I actually don't bring a CD player with me on the road. but back at home, um....Santana, Charles Mingus, Jimi Hendrix, Los Lobos, Albert King, and so many more! =) hope that helps you out and hope to see you soon!