Lance Odegard

Lance Odegard played live in concert at House of James on Emerson Street in celebration of the release of his debut CD with the chance to feel. The event took place on Saturday, August 23rd at 8:00 PM on the store’s outdoor extended patio.

Lance grew up in a family that cherished music, and began playing the violin at the age of four. Lance and his family played as a string quartet at music festivals and they were constantly part of musicals and performing groups. At age twelve the trombone quickly replaced the violin as Lance’s primary instrument.  As he pursued his musical passions, he ended up taking two years of trombone studies at the University of North Texas. Lance received his first guitar at the age of sixteen.  “My parents were so tired of me walking around the house playing any melodies I could pluck out with this old ukulele that I found,” quipped the artist.  Lance began writing his first songs at age 19.

Up until the beginning of August 2003, Lance lived locally in Abbotsford; but has moved to Camrose, Alberta where he and his wife Aimee work as Resident Life Directors at Canadian Lutheran Bible College. Lance is also the Director of Worship at the college. 

Several of the musicians who contributed on the CD made up the six-piece band (of the CD release concert) including Josh Bergen on drums, Edmund J. Buhler on electric guitar, Mel Hayes on vocals, Matthew Unruh on acoustic guitar and vocals, Steve Klassen on bass, and of course Lance on acoustic guitar and vocals. Together Lance and Steve produced the album.

When asked who would especially enjoy his new album, Lance said thoughtfully, “I think those who like honest acoustic based music that encourages introspection, awareness of the world around them, and a bit of antics thrown in will enjoy it. My hope is that my songs would be described as authentic, amiable, earnest and articulate. Many of my songs would fit in the miscellaneous section.  I don’t try to write songs that have a particular sound, as much as I try to write songs that sound honest and void of pretense.  On with the chance to feel I have sought to use a full palette of musical styles (incorporating genres such as alternative country, progressive folk, and jazz) while exploring the lyrical terrains of reconciliation, personal brokenness, playfulness, and introspection -- all wound together with redemption. I write with an introspective style that remains conversational and inclusive.  I love to discover in song how similar all of our stories are.”

Lance chooses to write music because he believes that all of our living comes out of our view of God -- the picture we hold in our minds of who God is colors how we see ourselves and our world. Songwriting for him is a way to “attempt to dismantle some of our domesticated views of God, in hopes that we can rediscover an earthy wonder.  I hope my songs can lead people to an enlarged view of God and a rootedness in the here and now.”

More information about upcoming Christian concerts & events can be viewed in our events section.