PureVolume

Members: Seth Lienard, Aaron Rosell, Stefan Swanson

If You Will may be a small-town power trio, but they confront some weighty subjects. To any listener, this is evident in the raw honesty of their lyrics. "We don't mess around with overdone pop," explains drummer Aaron Rosell, "and we don't hold back on our sincerity. We're not about to turn our backs on what music has meant to us all these years."

On their freshman album Flight Plan (2007), the band mates made up for what they lacked in musical experience by focusing on lyrical integrity. "We all have this need to put what we're going through down on paper," says bassist Seth Lienard. "Stefan has a song on that album about dealing with his mom's stroke, Aaron has one about personal rebirth, and I have a few about relationship struggles and trying to find self-purpose." For a band made up of high school students, they certainly achieved impressive openness - all the while maintaining the versatility in style that they've become known for.

For their new EP Above the Earth (May 2009), If You Will has upheld their outgoing philosophy while maturing exponentially in musicianship. The band relies on both heavy rock and blues-funk to question personal motive, reprimand racism, and denounce child abuse - to name a few. The songs don't settle for easy listening alone, but instead encourage deep thought and emotional release.

Put this kind of passion and expertise on stage, and If You Will offers a live performance to behold. Complete with dual lead-singers and thrilling instrumentals, the band produces a memorable show unparalleled by most young trios. "The people that come to these shows are going through the same things we did when we wrote our songs," guitarist Stefan Swanson observes. "We just want to give them a half hour away from it."

If You Will is expecting to release their second full-length album in December of 2009.