A Heart That's Ripe
  Krishana Kraft, Brio Magazine -- January 4, 2006

At 17, Tyler Burkhum spent his last year of high school as a new member of Audio Adrenaline (Audio A). Today, in his mid-20s, he’s balancing between being a husband, dad and guitarist on the road with Audio A. Through the years he’s matured both musically and spiritually. Read on to hear about his journey.

How did you get involved with Audio Adrenaline?
When Audio A had a guitar player quit, I had this random opportunity to audition for a band I’d never even heard. I was 17 and lived in Minneapolis. I auditioned and three months later I moved to Nashville, Tenn.

How involved were you with Until My Heart Caves In and writing songs?
I wrote a pretty large percentage of this record. I probably wrote more on this record than any other record I’ve done with Audio A.

What inspired your songs?
All of our songs come from what’s happening in our lives. For me, I went back to that first moment when I knew I believed in Jesus and that He died for my sins. There was this freshness and a moldable aspect of my life, and I was ripe for God to use.

I wrote about the beauty and wonder in those moments; it’s nothing I did other than accept a gift that was offered to me. I’ve discovered that when I’m not asking questions and searching for answers, I’ve settled and become too comfortable with my faith.

The theme of this album is giving your life, giving your heart to God. So the questions we all need to ask: Where’s your heart? What are you living for?

What does it look like to live the theme of giving your life and heart to God?
It’s unbridled passion. It’s not being ashamed. I definitely think it’s screaming at the top of your lungs, “I give my life to You!” To me that’s what it’s about. It’s about giving your whole life.

For everybody who has given his or her life to Christ, technically every breath we take is about ministry.

Tell us about the song “Starting Over.”
It’s kind of like looking at yourself in a mirror, and your face doesn’t shine the way it used to — your eyes don’t sparkle anymore. It’s kind of like asking, “Who are you?” The song is about how we sell ourselves out sometimes by not choosing good things and not choosing innocence.

I moved to Nashville when I was 17. For a good two to three years, maybe even longer, people see you and see that you’re young, and the first thing they do is attack your innocence. The only reason they do that is because they’re so jealous. They know it’s been so long that they had that kind of innocence. Being innocent isn’t the same as being stupid. It’s choosing not to let bitterness control your life and choosing the right things. Bitterness is like poison. It chokes you. God gives you a desire to want innocence and not thinking the worst of people.

The lyrics to the song “All Around Me” are captivating. Tell us about this song.
It’s just a simple song about rolling down the window and feeling the sun on your skin, sensing God’s peace and beauty. As a human in this beautiful world that God created, even with all its problems, I can still look at the sky and know God is around me.

What are a few of your favorite things?
A nice big black cup of coffee... I sure do like music... I love to travel... I just love going home... Playing in the park with my family.





[ BACK to articles and more ]

<< SOURCE >>