"It's a new day and a new chapter for this band," exclaims an obviously excited Rutz. "We have a new sound, a new direction, a new feel, a new member, a new label and new management, so it felt like our old skin didn't completely contain what we do now, nor did it do this band justice anymore."
Though the players brainstormed for months before making the moniker switchover, they wanted a title that wouldn't be tied to any preconceived notions or specific music industry connotations. Originally, VOTA didn't have a meaning, instead creating a blank canvas for the listener to interpret, though a longtime listener soon pointed out an alternative meaning anchored in faith.
"One of our fans did a Google search and found out it does have a spiritual meaning, which is an interesting nod to God's sovereignty," explains Maranville. "VOTA is a Latin root word that stands for a collection of vows before God, which echoes our goals of using this music to His glory."
Outside of ministry intentions, the group's self-titled debut is loaded with artistic innovation, taking cues from the players' previous alternative dichotomy, plus additional influences ranging from dance poppers Maroon 5 to ethereal rockers Augustana. Add in a return outing with famed producer Nathan Dantzler (Relient K, Audio Adrenaline, Tree63) and VOTA brilliantly straddles the line of current and timeless.
"We really tried to throw the rule book out the window with these sessions and we tried to look at each song specifically and give them what they needed," offers Olesen. "We stretched our limits in every sense even down to the way we recorded. A lot of times a band records the drum tracks, then bass, then guitar and then vocals, but we took it one song at a time, which made the process more expensive, but artistically it was great to freshly move to each element. In the end, all the tracks have a wonderful diversity, which allows you to listen all the way through and put on a nice iPod shuffle mix."
Adding Friesen not only added an extra layer of paint to the band's dynamic, but also a brand new instrument in the form of keyboards. Though those sounds appeared on older albums and in concert, they share double billing with the guitars on this endeavor, putting a bit more groove in the step of these Nebraska natives.
"We had honestly been looking for the past three or four years for somebody to fill this part and we knew Riley was a real answer to prayer," ruminates Rutz. "He fit the profile we were looking for perfectly, we get along so well and he lives in Lincoln, NE, which just reaffirmed it for us!"
Beyond the studio, that fleshed out sound has expanded on stage, leaving VOTA a force to be reckoned with either in headlining, festival or even outreach styled environments such as on its onoing 180 Tour a public high school assembly program designed to encourage students in their character and decision making. The foursome's veteran status certainly doesn't hurt, with Olesen serving as arguably the most explosive rock n' roll front man in recent memory.
"Part of what we're tying to do is take the live show to another level, and now with four members, we're giving the audience an even more engaging show," Olesen adds. "We bring all our own sound and lighting on the road and we take the show really seriously, plus its been really encouraging to have support from our fans right from the get go of performing the new songs."
There's no doubt anyone leaving a VOTA show will be thoroughly entertained, but outside of a mere performance spectacle, there's a much more introspective thread that runs through the guys' sets. Besides showcasing a relatable message that runs the gamut of personal and spiritual relationships, plus being lights in even the darkest corners of society, members' humanitarian interests are also major components.
"We're interested in moving beyond just the music, which you can see in something like our partnership with Food For the Hungry and everything that's continuously being out on the 180 Tour, our commitment to encourage students through the 180 Tour" muses Maranville of the endeavor they started in 2006. "We want to offer students and listeners of all ages to consider how they can make a positive change in this world, whether that be by lending a helping hand or just living a life of character and integrity on a daily basis."
Olesen echoes those sentiments, also adding the gang's earned additional wisdom through experience, along with ongoing faith refinement. "We're not looking to be defined by being musicians and rock n' roll and we hold on loosely in that sense," he sums up. "Now that we're not 16-year-olds wanting to be rock stars, we're sensitive to where God wants us and I think that's given us a mature focus to kind of break the mold of going through the motions- whether that be with the way me make music, the 180 Tour and how we interact with everyone we meet along the way."
www.votaband.com
Give It to Me
Vota Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me something real I can't deny
Feelin' asleep, buried alive
Give me something real, bring me to life
Just can't seem to find it on the left
Just can't seem to find it on the right side
I'm just left right here now in the middle
Give it to me, give me a sign
Give me something real I can't deny
Feelin' asleep, buried alive
Give me something real, bring me to life
I ain't gonna set for somethin' less
I'm done with collecting days of regret
If you've got to give or take away
Come bring it to me
Give it to me, give me a sign
Give me something real I can't deny
Feelin' asleep, buried alive
Give me something real, bring me to life
This is the end of me
This is the end of me
Give it to me, give me a sign
Give me something real I can't deny
Feelin' asleep, buried alive
Give me something real, bring me to life
Give it to me, give me a sign
Give me something real I can't deny
Feelin' asleep, buried alive
Give me something real, bring me to life
Give it to me
The lyrics to VOTA's song "Give It to Me" express a deep longing for something real and powerful that can bring the singer back to life. The chorus repeats the phrase "give it to me" as a plea for a sign or indication that there is something more to life than what the singer has been experiencing. The verses provide more detail about this feeling of being lost and buried alive, with an inability to find what is needed on either side. The use of the phrase "buried alive" adds a sense of desperation and urgency to the song that is echoed in the repeated request for something real.
The singer's refusal to settle for something less or to continue collecting days of regret shows a determination to break free from this feeling of being stuck or lost. The final lines of the song, "This is the end of me," could be interpreted as a surrender to this desire for something real, as if the singer is willing to let go of previous ways of thinking or living in order to find the answer they are seeking. Overall, the song's message is one of hope and the belief that there is something more out there, waiting to be discovered.
Line by Line Meaning
Give it to me, give me a sign
I'm asking for a clear indication or signal to guide me
Give me something real I can't deny
I want something genuine and true that I cannot ignore or reject
Feelin' asleep, buried alive
I feel like I'm in a state of lethargy or being trapped without any escape
Give me something real, bring me to life
I need something authentic to rejuvenate me and revitalize my spirit
Just can't seem to find it on the left
I've looked to the left but haven't found what I'm seeking
Just can't seem to find it on the right side
I've searched to the right but still haven't discovered what I need
I'm just left right here now in the middle
I'm stuck in the middle without direction or guidance
Feeling a need, yeah
I'm overwhelmed with a desire for something meaningful and real
I ain't gonna set for somethin' less
I refuse to settle for anything that's not genuine or worthwhile
I'm done with collecting days of regret
I'm no longer interested in accumulating or dwelling on past mistakes
If you've got to give or take away
Whether you have something to offer or want to take something from me
Come bring it to me
Please bring it to me so I can evaluate its worth and decide my next move
This is the end of me
I've reached my limit and can no longer tolerate the status quo
Give it to me
Once again, I'm asking for something genuine and meaningful to fulfill my needs
Contributed by Ian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dodgingarrows
Luv this song!!
pcswr88
Sweet song
Hunter Patterson
COuld you upload Bye Bye please?