Already deemed by Alternative Press Magazine as one of the "100 bands to watch in 2010," Deas Vail is ready to let their voice be heard with the recent release their Mono vs Stereo debut Birds & Cages, out now.

Deas Vail began as college friends playing music together for fun. They didn't begin as a group of musicians trying to start a career. According to Wes Blalock, “A friend and I started playing songs that I had previously written, and it grew before we knew it. People within our local music scene were attracted to what we were doing and new players fell into place. One day we opened our eyes and realized we had a band. So, we started writing songs of our own and progressively began taking our music more seriously.”

Birds & Cages is their newest album and if you like emotional alternative rock like Relient K, Owl City, Mae and Death Cab for Cutie, then you’ll really enjoy Deas Vail.

I got the opportunity to interview Andy Moore about the song “The Things You Were.” Here is our conversation.

Please tell me the message behind the song “The Things You Were.”

Wes wrote the bulk of the lyrics, however he’s explained the background of the song to me. His parents got divorced not long before Wes got married. This song is about Wes struggling with the idea of his parents splitting up and praying for God to reconcile things between his parents. At the same time, he was directing the message of the song to his parents asking them to reconcile. I know Wes has a specific personal connection to this song. For me personally, I find the message of hope at the end of the song to really be inspiring. Even in the middle of pain and struggle, God still uses all things for good for those who love Him.

Please tell me about any Bible verses that you consider to go with the song?

Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Here are the lyrics:

It's making perfect sense
Why I'm putting this one off
I'm going to take that second chance,
Before the day is done.
Maybe this is love,
And maybe it's something else

I slowly come apart,
And I'm trying to let go.
What if this is love—what I barely believe in?

You were ordinary
Until You came and saved me.
This is not what it seems.
Not You've taken me by surprise
And given me new life

I turned every light on
But I still can't find my way
I forget this, what is love?
Today could remind me.

You were ordinary
Until You came and saved me.
This is not what it seems.
Not You've taken me by surprise
And given me new life

It's something to live for...

You were ordinary
Until You came and saved me.
This is not what it seems.
Not You've taken me by surprise
And given me new life

Given me new life
Given me new life

Here’s what Charles Spurgeon says about Romans 8:28 in his Morning and Evening Devotional: Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure. He knows too that God is always wise, and, knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise. He can say, “If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God ordains it.” “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact.”

God doesn’t make bad things happen to us. He came to give us life and to live with Him eternally by trusting in Jesus alone for our salvation. God is bigger than any calamity that we experience in this world, so if you are struggling with pain or don’t know why you are going through trials, know that God works works all things together for good for those who love Him. God’s “given me new life” through His Son Jesus. Thank You Jesus!

You can listen to the song here.