The birth of ANTI-TYPICAL came during a summer visit to the mountains of Colorado in the city of Brighton. I (Jairus) had gone to visit my aunt and uncle for a week and while I was there I started to experiment with making beats on my computer. I had previously thought this album would be mostly organic a cappella type stuff, but I soon realized that I was having more fun making things all "in the box" on the computer. It was much faster anyways, and I do love efficiency. Once I returned to Dallas I started working feverishly on writing new material with this rock/dance/groove feel to it. After writing the song "Anti-Typical" I knew that I needed to name the album after it. I needed a title that encompassed the differing genres (it's so hard for me to stick with just one), and it seemed to work. Actually, the name Anti-Typical originally came from an old song I wrote back in high school and since then I've always liked the phrase. The harder rock style you hear on this album is really just a throw back to the kind of music I originally loved to listen to when I first started writing songs. I don't know what it is, but I love the edgy power that gets conveyed through this kind of music. I'm a person who likes to get loud, yell, and carry on when I'm passionate about something and this kind of music let's me accomplish that. I'm also addicted to good blues-based grooves and Earth, Wind, and Fire. Both of whose influences can be heard on this album. The lyrical content comes from a few places--one, I love writing in similes or metaphors that aren't common. For instance: "You're just a love cracker served on a tray. Virtual fame hamster caught in a maze." Those definitely aren't clichés thank goodness. I enjoy seeing pictures in my mind that I've never thought before, and a lot of these lyrics help me to do that (and I hope help you to do that too). As far as subject matter, most of the songs are focused on spiritual warfare and truth, Spider Fence is just fun, and Imagination On Fire/It's Magic are love songs. By the way, "Imagination On Fire" is a re-make of an old song called "Times Are Changing," which a few of you might remember from years past. For all you musicians and gear heads out there, I created most of the music in Logic and Reason. I really enjoy that combo. I recorded almost all of the vocals, guitars, and bass using a super simple portable recording rig that I could haul where ever I needed to go. I'm the kind of person that works better when things are simple. In fact, most of the guitar you hear was not played through an amp but was made with digital amp designers. The simplicity of not having to mic up everything is a true delight for me. It allows me to enjoy the creative process more. In the end, I hope that ANTI-TYPICAL is an experience you've never had before and that it's as fresh and exhilarating for you as it has been for me. I'm absolutely mind blown at the awesomeness and grandness of The Creator, and I can't help but write music from this place of smallness--a bit of dust trying to explain the going ons of the universe. I can only do so much. But, even though I'm that insignificant, it's still really fun. Enjoy!