By Gillian Vine
Jase Preston would like Z Amigos to be famous, with the faces of the six band members smiling out from magazines covers worldwide. It’s not out of vanity, Preston (30) says, but from the belief that if a Christian music group such as his can hit the big time, it will be a great way of evangelising to the young unchurched – and a welcome change for magazine readers experiencing saturation coverage of the breakup of stars’ marriages.
“The secular market is an untapped ministry,” Preston says.
Th e Hamilton group seems to be heading in the right direction with a successful launch in January of their first CD, “Insanity Roc[s]”.
“The launch went fantastically,” Preston says.
At 30, he is the oldest member of Z Amigos. He plays acoustic guitar and contributes vocal harmony behind lead singer and guitarist Adam Helliwell (22). Rap vocals are the province of Brenz McGillan (22), while Tom (Chappy) Chapman-Smith (19) plays the fl ute, Kraz Scott (20) the drums and Jase’s wife Evelyn (28) the electric bass. Completing the team are sound technician Ben Craig (19), and drama specialists Lance Parkinson (23) and Richard (Tuck) Lemmens (19).
“It started as a drama team in 2000 of Brenz, Adam and Lance, then in 2002 we formed the band,” Preston says. Drama continues to be used in presentations, although the musical side is increasingly dominant.
“We started from nothing and it’s taken a lot of work – and God’s help – to get where we are. All the glory goes to Jesus.”
Z Amigos is usually described as a rock band but that gives no hint of their extraordinary range, which includes heavy metal, rap country and western, and even classical.
The reason for this eclectic mix is the way their music – they use all their own compositions – is created.
“Adam is the main writer. He brings something along and we thrash it about a bit,” Preston says.
Although band members belong to Hamilton’s Presbyterian Discovery Christian Centre and are “committed Pressies”, the majority of Z Amigos’ gigs are not in church settings.
They played at last year’s Waikato Easter Camp, at the Northern Faith Festival in December – “that went with a bang,” Preston says – and spent a week at the international Girls Brigade’s Fonomarae, “Come Alive 2005”, at Ngaruawahia in January.
Th ey also played at this year’s Parachute Christian music festival, along with other Presbyterian bands including Replika and Page 9, who are based at Auckland’s St Heliers Presbyterian Church.
For Z Amigos, gigs are seen not only as an opportunity to strut their stuff but also to connect with young people, mingling with the audience before and after the show, listening to their stories and using opportunities to evangelise.
“We want to get the Gospel message out there,” Preston says.Because the band is largely self-funded and members work or study fulltime, his dream of a six-month tour may take some time to realise. “It would cost $60,000 and that’s a lot of money. We’re not about making money but money does help make the ministry.”