Interview with Allen Osorio
How does your faith inform the things you make?
I always hope that the music/art I make is a natural outpouring of a heart affected by God’s grace. The faith and the making are inseparable. I believe that Jesus is supreme and I believe he heals and forgives sinners and sufferers and that all of human existence hinges on that reality. To portray that in the way I live, the things I make, and the thoughts I think is fundamentally what it means to call myself a follower of Christ.
I’m burdened a lot by this new wave of spiritual deconstruction that has become popular recently. There are plenty of songwriters weaving spiritual themes into their music. Many have Christian backgrounds and emphasize themes that sound agnostic and even cynical at times, often due to a history of being hurt by the church. This breaks my heart, because there is a real hurt there, dealt by real sin. But, I refuse to conclusively nod my head with, “Christians screw up a lot, therefore the church can’t be trusted.” I think this causes many to believe that “real” art can’t come from Christians.
I mention all this to continue answering the original question: I think the (healthy) local church has been underestimated in its role in developing the creativity of its members. Perhaps the average Christian in America sees the church as an event to attend once a week, but I believe a church with a plurality of humble elders who deeply care about shepherding God’s people well ought to be a safe haven for all those who want to grow in grace and wisdom, which includes creative endeavors.
What are you “putting into good order”(our definition of creativity)?
I love this definition.
I think my answer relates back to the spiritual deconstruction stuff where I see uncertainty and anxiety being promoted. I see that as a very disordered and destructive thing. You can have brokenness and honesty, doubts and anxieties, all while still holding fast to the truth. They’re not mutually exclusive. I believe that’s why we have so many psalms. I believe that’s why we can pray the paradox, “I believe, help my unbelief.”
There’s truth and beauty in God’s word. His word stands forever. I want that to be a theme in the things I create, even if it's a very subtle line. To take the scriptures seriously, to be committed to a local church, to regularly fellowship and worship God with other believers, to call a trusted friend to remind you of God’s promises in a moment of weakness--these things are life giving.
But to some, it’s foolishness and it’s offensive. I just want to make sure it isn’t my personality, rhetoric, or creative pursuits that cause offense. That way I can be sure that it is truly an example of John 15:18.
What do you think it means to be made in the image of God?
I had to go to Genesis this morning to reflect on this and I thought it was interesting how God builds up to saying “Let us make man in our image.” Before that He’s making beasts according to their kind. It almost sounds like all the creatures are being made from scratch. God’s creating the world from his wisdom and making everything out of nothing. When it comes to man, there’s the distinction of “let us create in our image, according to our likeness.” We have some of that authority and dominion and ability to create order. We are creative and we have moral obligations, “do justice and love mercy.”
What are you working on?
Right now I’m working on a project called Full Hearts, Empty Places. This is my attempt to be a little more intentional in songwriting. I want to be more thoughtful and not just make an album that’s a mixtape of random songs I’ve written. The constant theme in the album will be dealing with grief. Specifically, the grief of a suicide of a dear friend. I want the lyrics to deal with how much weight and significance we put into our careers and vocations. I know that affected my friend a lot. A lot of the songs are based on moments where I deeply sympathized with what he was feeling, and even more tangibly felt the temptation to take my own life. At the same time, I didn’t want to be trapped by that. I wanted to use the songs to speak truth to myself and remember that I’m not defined by this, that I’m a new creation in Christ and He’s got a sovereign plan for me that I don’t fully see.
I also just made a ridiculous song with Jermaine Van Buren for a Soundcloud Old Spice contest.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about finding beauty in the mundane. I think it’s something that needs to be fought for. God’s goodness and justice and mercy and kindness and faithfulness are to be found everywhere at every time, and I pray for the ability to see it and let it change me.
Who is a role model for you/Who inspires you?
I got into making music through a group of friends from my church in Georgia. They all inspire me and, I don’t mean this is a bad way, but they’re kind of a bunch of nobodies. When we think of an inspiring person we often shoot for the people who have really “made it” or have some sort of platform. It is so common to put an inordinate amount of hope in a single person, but people often get hurt that way. So, I think it's more encouraging to find inspiration in these “nobodies.” Another person like that was the associate pastor of my church in Georgia. He just has a good grasp on practical Christian living and applying theology in such a beautiful way. I am very thankful for his ministry in my life. And of course my parents. I am deeply thankful for how they raised me. It sounds super cheesy, but I try to find inspiration in all the people I cross paths with.
Musical inspirations. I listen to and am inspired by a lot of music, but some key ones: Jon Foreman (Switchfoot). Mutemath (Paul Meany, Darren King) From Indian Lakes (Joe Vann). Bon Iver (Justin Vernon). Citizens and Saints (Zach Bolen). Kings Kaleidoscope (Chad Gardner). Copeland (Aaron Marsh). Andrew Osenga. Penny and Sparrow. Jon Guerra. P.O.D. Blindside. La Dispute. As Cities Burn. Explosions In The Sky. Beautiful Eulogy. Nobigdyl. Tobe Nwigwe. Sampha. Making lists is stressful for me and I just need to accept that I’ll leave some of my favorite artists out.
A few books that have really inspired me recently are The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart by Harold Senkbeil and Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund.
Tell us about your creative process
Voice memos are the key to my process. For me it’s about getting something on a voice memo. That’s the first step one hundred percent of the time. Sometimes it starts with me humming stuff, or notes, or a line or phrase. I don’t know if I have a real structure, I just like to record. The end result is usually quite different from what I start with.
I like playing the guitar with weird tunings. That’s what people who don’t play guitar do. They just change the tuning so it sounds cool but you can put your fingers in minimal spots. People are like “whoa you must know a lot about music theory” and I’m just like nope. I’m very much a non-musician. I prefer to call myself a producer, because I love arranging samples and altering their sonic qualities.
Do you have any more thoughts on how we understand creativity?
I had an epiphany a few years ago that helped me take some of the stress out of the way that making art can start to feel like a competition. The tweetable version is “When I am creating something I want to create it, not in pursuit of perfection, but in light of perfection." For me this idea of pointing to perfection took all of the weight off. The Lord is perfect and my goal is just to point to him. So I don’t have to do it perfectly. I just have to give it my best shot and give thanks.
What albums do you wish you had made?
Definitely Carrie and Lowell by Sufjan Stevens. I think because of how simple it is in light of everything else he’s done. It’s a great example of simplicity that shines a light on something better than his more complex discography. I really love the way he brings you into a specific moment with the fewest amount of words possible.
Keeper of Days by Jon Guerra is one of the most beautiful Christian records I’ve ever heard. I aspire to that level of artistry and faithful lyricism.
Another really good one is Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest by As Cities Burn. It’s super heavy and heartfelt and visceral.
Is there somewhere we can find your work online?
All my music can be found on pretty much any platform under the name Allen Odell. I like to dabble in a variety of artforms that can be found at allenosorio.com. Though I definitely need to update my website, oops.
Here’s a link to one of my latest songs on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1Bqv0JCx5OfgOD3d3mYHEJ?si=e5da3d8a4c6a4017
I’ve also done some production/mixing/music video work for a few other friends:
Benjamin Daniel - Fear Hymn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzrydB4shoY
Dylan Case White - Loose Grip
https://open.spotify.com/track/7CkTFia39Fvk8MxqAMWzeU?si=42669c135a104e9f