Rocking in ‘Color’

Christian rock band from southern Manitoba forms connection with audiences of all ages

December 10, 2014 | Young Voices
Nicole Block | Special to Young Voices
Band photos courtesy of James Shiels. Being in a touring rock band means being away from home, which can be difficult for members of the Color. Ultimately, connecting with audiences and sharing their faith with people across Canada makes it worth it.

As a youth group leader at Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, B.C., I know how difficult it can be to capture young people’s imaginations. But when the Color, a Christian rock band, played for our youth group during a recent event, the foursome quickly caught everyone’s attention.

After they played their last song, lead singer Jordan Janzen gave a short talk promoting World Vision. Every youth’s eyes were glued to him. Janzen asked people who were considering supporting a child to put up their hands, and the band members passed out pamphlets from World Vision. To my pleasant surprise, many of our youth put up their hands.

After I first saw the Color play for our youth, I saw the band perform again at the Canadian Youth Workers Conference in Kelowna, B.C., where they connected with young adults. It became apparent to me that the band is making an impact on not only children, but young adults as well. I thought they were unique, and being that they are fellow Mennonites, I asked them for an interview. They agreed.

Made up of Janzen, guitarists James Shiels and Larry Abrams, and drummer Tyler Martens, the Color hail from southern Manitoba. Janzen was a solo artist for six years before he started the band with Shiels in 2009. With Christian rock bands like Starfield and Tenth Avenue North as their inspiration, Janzen and Shiels began writing the songs that appear on the Color’s 2012 self-titled debut album. Highlights on the 11-song CD include “Hailey,” an acoustic ballad with beautiful harmonization and heartfelt lyrics that encourage listeners to be themselves.

A few months after the album’s release, the band won three Gospel Music Association of Canada Covenant Awards, including New Artist of the Year. The Color have toured across western Canada in support of the disc, and spent two weeks in 2013 as the support act for acclaimed Christian singer-songwriter Tim Neufeld of Starfield. The band recently wrapped up their “One Sure Thing” headlining tour, which takes its name from a single the group released on iTunes this past July.

According to Janzen, along the way band members have learned that being in a band isn’t just about making music, it’s also about connecting with the audience.

The four have also overcome the hurdle of deciding who should be in the band, and have settled on a line-up they are happy with. Being part of a band takes an immense amount of commitment, and finding a good dynamic between band members has been very important to them. It is clear that they were successful in finding this dynamic and commitment among the current members. On stage, one sees the light-hearted and sincere connection between the band mates. Each considers the band his second family.

This family dynamic is important to the players, who are often away from their real families.

“It is especially hard because two [of us] are married and two [of us] are engaged,” Janzen says. “Being away from our wives and fiancées can be difficult.”

Janzen and Shiels agree that being able to see the change they are making in people’s lives with the Color’s music makes it worth it. The band members have a true passion for sharing their music and spreading the Word of God. Both Janzen and Shiels have a history in youth ministry; one worked as a youth pastor, and the other worked as the director at a Bible camp.

It is clear that the Color know how to connect with young people. Do they ever feel a conflict between the desire for fame and staying grounded in their faith?

“We have been so fortunate with our family and supporters,” Janzen says. “They have helped us so much, just being there and holding us accountable for staying strong in our faith.”

Janzen, Shiels, Abrams and Martens have worked hard and are committed to making personal connections with the people who listen to their music.

When it comes down to it, the Color are four musicians who have a passion for serving God and making music. It was a pleasure getting to know them in Kelowna, and I wish them the best of luck with their work.

Nicole Block, 21, is a fourth-year anthropology major at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She grew up in Ladner, B.C., and is a member of Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, B.C.

—Posted Dec. 10, 2014

Band photos courtesy of James Shiels.

Being in a touring rock band means being away from home, which can be difficult for members of the Color. Ultimately, connecting with audiences and sharing their faith with people across Canada makes it worth it.

Made up of four young men from southern Manitoba, the Color recently wrapped up their ‘One Sure Thing’ headlining tour, which takes its name from a single the band released on iTunes this past July.

The Color, a Christian rock band from southern Manitoba, connects with audiences of all ages.

Nicole Block is a youth leader at Trinity Baptist Church in Kelowna, B.C.

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