Christian Music Online

Encomium The Portland-based rock band

May 22, 2007 – 8:43 am

Alex Sloyer, 25, has served two tours of duty in Iraq as a U.S. Marine and says he’s seen enough of man’s capacity for evil.

“I don’t see war as a necessity,” he says. “Very little is gained by war except for more war and regret.”

Now a self-described pacifist, he says he prefers to focus his energies on what he calls the New Covenant – the law of love proclaimed by Jesus.

“It’s having something like love as a driving force behind your decision-making,” he says. “You can only breed more positive things from that.”

Sloyer is breeding that positive energy with his band mates in Encomium, a Portland-based group that will perform at 7 p.m Wednesday, May 23, at the Youth Center at East Hill Foursquare Church, 50 N.W. 5th St.

Sloyer plays bass in the Christian band, the name of which means “expression of praise.” Bandleader Devy Jamin, 30, a native of Indonesia, says he plays music at Oregon City Blessing, a Portland church, and adds that he was divinely inspired to start the band.

“When God touched my life, I gave my talents to him to use me,” he says, noting he embraced his belief in Christ while attending college in Eugene. “God kind of shifted my vision to impacting people through music.”

Jamin plays guitar and sings for the band and also serves as primary songwriter. Formed in 2005, Encomium draws on diverse styles, including emo, grunge, folk rock, punk and new wave.

Musical influences

The band credits U2, Coldplay, Switchfoot and Delirious? as inspirations, and its eponymous CD sounds at times like something Blink 182 might produce, with just a whiff of P.O.D. wafting through the atmosphere.

“When I write music, I just use acoustic guitar,” Jamin says, adding that his band mates then assist him with the song arrangements.

He says he writes songs in both English and his native language of Bahasa-Indonesian, and proudly notes his band has been profiled in the Indonesian press.

Jamin’s wife, Sharon, is also Indonesian, and manages Encomium. She chuckles noting she pulls extra duty as the band’s photographer, merchandiser and roadie.

“It’s a way to give my talent and time to God,” she says.

Drummer Ariyanto Salim 29, loves hip hop, jazz and gospel, but says whatever he plays, he’s never far from his creator.

“My heart has always belonged to God,” he says. “I can’t play too much music without his presence close to me. It doesn’t have to be Christian rock, just whatever music I play I need his presence close to me.”

Isaac Munandar, 19, just joined the band and plays keyboards. Like the other members, he says his faith inspires him to perform.

“I wanted to maximize every opportunity I had to do something for God,” he says.

On that note, the band members say they’re trying to convey a hopeful message in a pop culture that’s not always receptive to it.

Keeping it positive

“Christian music conveys a lot of positive messages, be it for Christians or for others,” Salim says. “It brings good news to the world, whereas as we can see the secular music is becoming more and more immoral. Other than sex, money and stealing your boyfriend, they have nothing else to talk about.”

Jamin says some bands popular in the secular world, like U2, combine their oft-expressed love of God with more worldly political issues successfully. Encomium, on the other hand, is essentially a plugged-in praise vehicle.

“We are bringing a positive message of music and bringing a message of (Jesus’) love and mercy for everyone,” he says.

Encomium has played youth centers and such festivals as TomFest, an annual Christian music showcase in Camas, Wash., that is distinguished by its emphasis on bands appealing to young people who sport tattoos and piercings and who might not feel comfortable at tamer Christian festivals.

Indeed, Encomium’s members say they would even consider playing a secular setting if the opportunity presented itself, and emphasize that they’re not “perfect” and believe in a Christianity that is accepting of others’ spiritual quests. The band members are humble about their failings and have had to hash out disagreements, they say, but work hard to be friends.

“I think the best part of being in a band is the friendships,” Sloyer says.

Salim adds that the band simply wants to make an impact, and recalls a pastor telling him that his church used the band’s music in a worship session.

“There is no feeling like that, being able to touch people with music,” he says.

Free Concert

Encomium will play at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in East Hill Foursquare Church Youth Center, 50 N.W. Fifth St. Admission is free.

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