The Insyderz began as a project of Joe Yerke and Nate Sjogren, who led worship at their church at the time. The band found their break at the 1996 Cornerstone Festival. They began playing on their campsite, and wound up garnering the attention of Michael Sean Black and Gene Eugene, who signed them to his label Brainstorm Artists International. While that label folded soon after, the bands first album, Motor City Ska (1997), effectively established their presence in the Christian music marketplace and garnered the attention of Steve Taylor's Squint Entertainment.
Their subsequent release, Skalleluia, was probably their most widely known and successful album. The album, which was devoted to ska-based praise and worship, included an all-star lineup of Gene Eugene, Terry Scott Taylor, and Steve Taylor. Despite the backing of well-known artists the album faced criticism from the outset. Praise and worship music, heralded by artists such as Hillsong, Rich Mullins, and Matt Redman, was experiencing substantial growth as a genre at the time, and some accused the band of "jumping on the bandwagon". Skalleluia was extremely well received; Beyond charting on Billboard's "Hot 200", "Heatseekers", and "Top Contemporary Christian" charts, their rendition of Rich Mullins' song "Awesome God" won the band a Dove Award for "Hard Music Recorded Song Of The Year" in 1999. Part of the reason for its success was that most of the songs on the album were fairly recently written, and were widely known as contemporory worship songs. Covers included Twila Paris's "We will Glorfiy" and Keith Green's "Oh, Lord, You're Beautiful". Their manner of playing worship songs is still relatively unique.
While Skalleluia was an unexpected hit for the band, the sound of the band was significantly different than they had displayed on their first album. For their next album, Fight of My Life, the band returned to their previous sound. The band also made a point of returning to their ministry roots by turning down several major record deals and choosing to tour in secular clubs with ska bands such as The Skeletones and Jeffries Fan Club.
It was widely rumored for awhile that the Insyderz, who apparently recorded their first album in a garage (sounded like it, but not true), had in fact broken up. The truth be known they were sick of record label politics and decided to go "underground" until things got sorted out. Their webpage, rarely updated, had few changes for several years after the release of Skalleluia Too! in 1999. In 2001 a compilation CD entitled The Greatest & The Rarest (or alternately Tails of a Comet) was released. Many of the members of the band married including Nate Sjogren (drums), Bram Roberts (Trumpet), Beau McCarthy (Bass), Kyle Wasil (Guitar), and Joe Yerke whose gravelly vocals mark the band. The band decided to spend more time working and ministering in other locations, and other projects.
Most of their fan base dissolved during this absence, yet in 2003 they re-activated, appearing at Cornerstone, and releasing an album entitled Soundtrack to a Revolution. This album received little hype but is considered by most to be the best to date. After the release the Insyderz went through another lineup change adding Royce Nunley (Suicide Machines) and Dan Powers (Blueprint 76) on bass.
In the first half of 2005, the band announced on their website that they would be playing their last three shows in August and September of that year, which lead to confusion on whether they were the band's last three shows or the tour's last three. Later, in August of the same year, the site was updated to announce that the band would be breaking up after their final show on September 24, 2005, as a part of the I'll Fight Fest presented by The Salvation Army.
They later reformed in 2009 for a European tour with Good Weather Forecast.
In 2012, The Insyderz launched a kickstarter campaign to fund their next album, The Sinner's Songbook, and succeeded in raising the funds to do so, and was released on September 3, 2012 independently at http://theinsyderz.bandcamp.com
Discography:
1996: Rockin' the Hubcat (7")
1997: Motor City Ska
1998: Skalleluia!
1998: Paradise CD Single
1998: Fight of My Life
1999: Skalleluia Too!
2001: The Greatest & The Rarest
2003: Soundtrack to a Revolution
2012: The Sinner's Songbook
Current Members:
Joe Yerke - vocals
Nate Sjogren - drums
John Miller - bass
Matt Darcie - Guitar
Alan Brown - cornet
Tim Reynolds - trombone
Past Members:
Beau McCarthy - bass guitar
Bram Roberts - trumpet
Pedro Zapata Hernandez - trombone
Michael Lloyd - guitar
Kyle Wasil - guitar (until 2000)
Sang Kim - trombone (until 2004)
Mike Rowland - trombone (until 1998)
Todd Miesch - drums (until 1997)
Enthos
The Insyderz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm getting dizzy and it's hard to see
My lungs are heavy and it hurts to breath
Can't lift my head, stare at me feet
It's all getting clear
You tell me I don't want to hear
I know you see my eyes the fear
I clench my teeth and shut my ears
The words of truth made clear in writing
Oh, Lord deliver me!
I want to be free so I may mount up on wings
For once I don't feel so dead
I can breath again and lift my head
No longer bound to a life once led
True to everything he said
I want to fly all around
And not look back or touch the ground
I want to fly up so high
And look deep into Your eyes
Gravity means nothing to me
Just another lock broke free
Against my face the wind will blow
To the world Your glory shows
I'm tired of Satan's attacks
Get the devil off my back
Down the tunnel I see light
Nevermore will I have to fight!
Pick it up (3X)
Hey (4X)
Oh, Lord deliver me
I want to be se free
I want to fly so high
Look deep into Your eyes (4X)
The song "Enthos" by The Insyderz expresses a feeling of suffocation and desperation, as the singer feels trapped and weighed down by their own struggles. The lyrics describe physical and emotional symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, and fear, suggesting that the singer may be suffering from anxiety or depression. Despite feeling hopeless and exhausted, the singer finds solace in faith and a desire for freedom, hoping to rise above their difficulties and escape from their current state of being. The idea of flying and looking into God's eyes represent a sense of liberation and spiritual connection, offering a glimpse of hope in an otherwise dark and uncertain world.
Overall, "Enthos" is a deeply personal and introspective song that speaks to the struggles of many individuals who feel trapped by their own limitations and the weight of the world around them. The lyrics offer a powerful message of hope and faith, encouraging listeners to seek liberation and find meaning in their lives, even in the midst of difficulty and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
The walls are closing in on me
I feel trapped and confined, like the walls are closing in on me.
I'm getting dizzy and it's hard to see
I feel disoriented and everything is a blur.
My lungs are heavy and it hurts to breath
Breathing is difficult and painful, like something heavy is crushing my chest.
Can't lift my head, stare at me feet
I feel defeated and powerless, unable to look up or face the world head-on.
It's all getting clear
Despite my attempts to ignore it, the truth is becoming more apparent to me.
You tell me I don't want to hear
I am resistant to the truth and the reality of my situation, even when it's pointed out to me.
I know you see my eyes the fear
I can't hide my fear, even though I try to put on a brave face.
I clench my teeth and shut my ears
I am stubborn and resistant, unwilling to listen to reason or advice.
I've tried it all and I'm sick of fighting
I've exhausted all my resources and feel defeated and hopeless.
The words of truth made clear in writing
I finally understand the truth and accept it as written.
Oh, Lord deliver me!
I am calling out for divine intervention and assistance.
I want to be free so I may mount up on wings
I want to break free from my struggles and soar to new heights, spiritually and emotionally.
For once I don't feel so dead
I feel alive and full of vigor and vitality for the first time in a long time.
I can breath again and lift my head
I am no longer suffocating and can look up with a sense of renewed hope and optimism.
No longer bound to a life once led
I have shed my old way of life and am no longer tied down to my past mistakes and failures.
True to everything he said
I have come to accept the truth and teachings of God, and am committed to following them.
I want to fly all around
I want to explore the world and all it has to offer, free from my past burdens and obstacles.
And not look back or touch the ground
I am focused on the future and forward progress, without dwelling on my past mistakes or getting bogged down by earthly concerns.
I want to fly up so high
I aspire to reach new heights, both spiritually and emotionally, to reach a greater understanding and sense of purpose.
And look deep into Your eyes
I want to connect with God and experience the fullness of His presence and grace in my life.
Gravity means nothing to me
I am unburdened and unencumbered by the weight of my old life, and feel free to fly wherever my heart desires.
Just another lock broke free
I am shedding my old self and embracing a new, transformed version of myself.
Against my face the wind will blow
I am excited and invigorated by the prospect of new experiences and the unknown, eager to embrace whatever lies ahead.
To the world Your glory shows
I am awed by the beauty and wonder of the world and see it as a reflection of God's divine glory and majesty.
I'm tired of Satan's attacks
I am weary of the obstacles and challenges that Satan has put in my path, and am committed to overcoming them with God's help.
Get the devil off my back
I am calling upon God to protect me from the devil's temptations and distractions, and to help me stay focused on the path ahead.
Down the tunnel I see light
I have hope for the future and see a path forward, even when things are difficult or uncertain.
Nevermore will I have to fight!
I have faith that with God's help, I can overcome any obstacle and that I will never have to fight alone again.
Pick it up (3X)
An invitation to lift one's spirits and energy, to push forward and not give up.
Hey (4X)
An exclamation to encourage and motivate, to keep going and keep the faith.
Oh, Lord deliver me
Reinforcement of the earlier petition to God for help and protection.
I want to be se free
Restatement of earlier desire for freedom and liberation from past struggles and hardships.
I want to fly so high
Reiteration of earlier aspiration to ascend to new heights and aspirations in life.
Look deep into Your eyes (4X)
A final plea to connect with and fully surrender to the love and guidance of God, to find hope and inspiration in His divine presence.
Contributed by Mateo J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.