The Advice

Art is always a response to something that is felt inside. For The Advice, that response comes in the form of bluesy, soulful, pop music from hearts that have been gripped by their Christian faith. Brothers Matt and Jared Houston formed the band with good friend and bassist, Jeff Madden, while still in High School. Like many bands just starting out, The Advice spent their weekends practicing in their parents’ basement for gigs at coffeehouses and local churches around their hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. In the beginning stages the band focused on honing their sound and their line-up, says guitarist, Jared Houston "All of those different musicians we had in the early years of the band really helped shape our sound today." Once keyboardist, Aaron Bowen joined the group in 2005, the core of the group was in place.

The group reflects a racial, as well as, musical diversity that has become a defining characteristic of the band. What makes the diversity work in the case of The Advice is the fact that it was not intentional but happened naturally. And those characteristics, along with the band’s independent success on the national Christian radio charts with the song "Your Love Set’s Me Free", drew the attention of Inpop Records in the summer of 2010. The band signed with InPop and released an EP followed by their debut album last year.

But after a year of internal transition at the band’s record label, 2014 now find’s The Advice independent once again. According to singer Matt Houston the band is more excited than ever. "We couldn’t be happier with where God has us right now. It hasn’t come without struggles and testing our faith, but we believe that every door that has opened and closed for us has been ordained by God. We’re just excited to follow His lead and see where it takes us!"

Music may be the universal language, but it is only in a relationship with God that people are truly united with one another. The band tries to set an example of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. They truly believe that God’s love is color blind, and want that to be evident in every area of their ministry.