The Living Room sessions

“The Living Room Sessions”
A community of artists changing the face of pop culture
In faith, love and revolt.

Music and art is a vital force, it is a universal strand that unites us all. It can be a weapon for good or bad. It is a universal language that will speak life or death into many. I introduce to you guys a very good friend of mine doing some amazing things in Chi-town. I look forward to joining forces and doing something significant for Christ together.

JS: Bro! wanna welcome you to the first official online “the living room sessions. By the way thanks for being on our anthems for a broken world record.
ES: It has been an amazing adventure already. By the way, I am Esteban Shedd and I go by Boogalu! Not that it matters too much. Ha. I also have a great crew of artists with me called ALERT – musicians and such. We rather call ourselves simple servants though.
JS: You and I go way back in the Chi-town music scene. We performed together at multiple venues including a very cool gig in Germany. Give us a long story short of them days…
ES: Great times. Powerful shows. God empowered work. LOTS of laughs and memories and….fake music videos crossing the English Channel.
JS: Many things have shifted recently in your life, from starting ALERT Music, a new job, marriage in the forecast…how has that been for you?
ES: Great but challenging…I feel a load of responsibility and excitement. I see Jesus orchestration of everything in His timing. I guess last year has been the lesson of learning to let go and follow the Master in a deep way. And marriage…ha, I can’t wait! As fr as ALERT goes….I am blown away with it all.
JS: The music and arts has always been something not viewed as a powerful tool especially growing up in Church as a kid. I remember people being applauded for the desire to be a missionary or an evangelist, which I think is awesome. But when the desire to pursue the arts was voiced it was sort over-looked..any thoughts on that? And how important music and art can be for today’s generation?
ES: Music is powerful and so are the arts. They are God given and have the ability to communicate truth in a powerful way. In short they are a tool – nothing more or less. I see two extremes with the arts in the Church. One is that they are not valued or used to the extent of what God has placed them there for or two, artists become too infatuated with the arts and not God. I read a great quote from Joel Houston of Hillsong United the other day, “…at the end of the day, our art is simply a donkey.. Just like the one that carried Jesus.. just a donkey, who’s purpose was to carry the Savior.”
If they carry the message of the Savior the arts are a tool they has limitless possibilities for use within the body of Christ and reaching out.
JS: what are you working on these days? Care to share any visions and dreams? What motivates you? What are your passions? And will there ever be a time you can sit back on your chair and say….I am successful…I did it? What would you say to the local city artist looking to be a successful artist?
Success…haha. My definition of it is this. Christ – Him crucified and resurrected and living – and others first. Powerfully living and creating each day with the power of the Spirit. If these things are kept first, my life will be successful. It has nothing to do with what the world tries to force feed us, which is exactly what most artists seek their whole life – “to blow up” (this concept is a joke to me). Check out “Under the Sun” on the coming ALERT album.
ALERT is kicking off now. Albums, Live outreach to broken communities and people, an Art launching pad, as well as discipling shorties in the ways of Christ.
THIS IS MY JOB NOW! I let go of “my dreams” and God brought His better blueprint.
I will basically be doing music production and discipleship full time from the Chicago Public Schools to a music venue near you.
Redemption through Christ inspires me. My favorite verse from God’s mouth is this, It is for freedom that Christ has set you free…” Galations 5:1 – Check it out for yourself. There is no other answer for the world – from the gutter to the silver spoon.
Love ya’ll. Can’t wait to move forward together!
PPPPEEEACCCCEEEEE!