Music: two vowels and three consonants create a word that embodies one of the most poignant forces known to man. It is a medium that can make one run the gamut of emotions from dizzying heights of happiness to the depths of despair. One can imagine a life without doctors, scientists, or politicians. Indeed we could still live in such a world, but try to imagine one without songs. It is by music that we are transported down roads of memory to where a certain song brought us happiness, a release for anger, or a way to cope with the ordeals of life.
This is what music means to the members of Given and this is why we have chosen it as a way of life. After nearly losing one of our members to a car accident we finally began to seriously consider what we were trying to achieve as a band. The death of a cover band and birth of a band followed.
Our songs are about life, what it does to you, and what you can do with it. Our lyrics are taken very seriously because we feel we have an obligation to write songs in a manner that allows the listener to relate and feel alongside us as we sing. The music is a vehicle for our lyrics and as such we have drawn on a wide variety of influences to create a sound that is enjoyable for a broad spectrum of listeners.
The power of two electric guitars is combined with the subtlety of an acoustic guitar each playing its own line to combine into a melody that somehow seems to sing by itself. A six string bass allows for a wide range of notes that coalesces with the intricacies of the three guitars. The drums accentuate the guitars and the melody line with complex beats and timing changes. All of this is topped off by powerful lead vocals punctuated throughout the songs with soaring three part harmonies. The result is a full rock sound that is complimented with intervals of blues, country, and folk influences.
In the end the music is what it is and that makes it hard to generalize what it sounds like by dropping it into a "category" to which different listeners have alternate definitions. So put it in, give it a listen, and let the music speak for itself.
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