Music - Dizmas

Dizmas are (L-R) bassist Nick Aranda, drummer Clayton Hunt,

singer Zach Zegan, guitarist and vocalist Josh Zegan and guitarist Jon Howard.

Photo by Jared Martin for Forefront Records.

This past June I was given the amazing opportunity to meet the members of Dizmas, a Christian pop/rock band. DIZMAS, their third CD, had just been released and their concert tour for the new album was just beginning. A local radio station was interviewing the band and had invited my sisters and I to sit in. At that time, I had no idea the type of music they played, let alone who these guys were. The morning before meeting them I was extremely nervous. Though I had previously met a few music artists, I had never really hung out with anyone in that industry and expected them to be on a totally different level than I was. My worries were soon laid to rest after meeting the lead singer Zac, guitarist and vocalist, Josh, drummer, Clay, guitarist Jon, bassist Nick, their manager, Joey, and Edwin, a roadie. All of them were so easy going and friendly. During the interview with the DJ, they would joke around with each other, showing how comfortable they were with each other, in turn making me more comfortable. Though they have a fun side, they also have a serious side. While Dizmas was off air, a listener called in. He was in a local band and was struggling with separating his music from his ministry and asked Zac how he managed to separate his ministry and music. I can’t remember word for word how Zac answered the question, but I remember being left in awe at his answer. Zac answered by saying just as we should not only act like Christians in Church but in every act we do, your Christian ministry should be intertwined with your music. Though it seems like a simple answer, it hit home for me. I realized that I wasn’t living the Christian life every day; if anything I was avoiding devoting my life 100% to Christi out of fear. I thought about this during the rest of the interview, and then saw more clearly that these men were living just as they preached, just as I should be living. After the interview, my sisters and I took a few pictures with Dizmas and got a copy of their new CD.

That night, Dizmas was putting on a concert at a local Church and I wanted to know their lyrics frontwards and backwards, so I ended up listening to the CD all day. As I listened, I realized (ready for another simile?) that just as the members of Dizmas are so fun and Christ-centered, so is their music. The guitar riffs on “Play It Safe” are pretty awesome, while the lyrics yearn for us to stop, “playing it safe” and encourages to, “fall in love with the honest conviction,” or more plainly, to have faith in God without needing proof or evidence. “Redemption, Passion, Glory,” in my eyes, is Dizmas’ rock version of a worship song. Through this song, Dizmas reflects on how great a sacrifice Jesus’ death for us was and how amazing it is that He chooses to live in us; “This is redemption,/ that you would die for me/ And this is salvation,/ that you would live in me.” I could continue to go on about the rest of the album with nothing but high praises, but I think you understand how awesome I think this band is already! : ]

To sum things up, the concert that night was incredible and will be an experience I, and the friends I invited, will never forget. Zac really worked the crowd, seamlessly combining sharing Christ with others, the music and giving a great performance. I could also tell, from how the rest of the band performed, that they were just as passionate about the music as Zac was. Plus, watching Josh sing his parts of the lyrics, which he did so animatedly, was really fun to watch. After the show, Dizmas stayed to talk with their fans, which I thought was really nice and a great way to intimately share Christ with others.

After experiencing what is Dizmas, I can honestly say, without a doubt in my mind, that Dizmas is my favorite band. Not only is their music great, but the five Christians that make up the band inspired me in that they are living proof as to what it means to live Christ-centered lives. I encourage any of you who are reading this, if by God’s grace there are actual people reading this, to visit Dizmas’s myspace. You can order their CD from their merch site or buy it off iTunes. Don’t forget to buy one for a friend! … and if you ever get the chance to go to a Dizmas concert, NEVER pass it up!

Dizmas Bio - Dizmas, the name some believe belonged to the good thief that was crucified with Jesus, was started by brothers Zach and Josh Zegan, and friends Nick and Clay while they were attending high school together in 1998. A few years later, Jon, from Pennsylvania, joined the band as a guitarist. Dizmas’ first album, On a Search in America, was released in June of 2005 and had an indie/screamo sound. The first track on the CD, “Revolution”, was aired during a May CSI: NY episode entitled Stealing Home. Their sophmore album, Tension, came out in May of 2007 with songs “Shake It Off” being used by ESPN and “Play It Safe” reaching #1 on the Radio & Records Christian Rock National Airplay chart by Aug 03, 2007. Their latest self-entitled CD, DIZMAS, was released April of 2008. While it features four new songs, the album's other six songs are from their older albums which have been revamped for a more melodic pop/modern rock feel due to their recent signing with Forefront Records.

Sounds Like: (Christian Artists) Blindside, Emery, Tooth and Nail
(Mainstream Artists) Foo Fighters, Thrice, Thursday

Dizmas’s Myspace: www.msypace.com/dizmas

Interview with Zach Zegan (it’s really good!): http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/Interviews/Dizmas2007.asp

Check out their blog (their touring in Czech right now!): http://dizmasmusic.blogspot.com/