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Human Fusion By Jenni Isaac Dan Haseltine [the visionary activist]

Charlie Lowell   Steve Mason   Dan Haseltine   Matt Odmark

Matt Odmark, Steve Mason and Charlie Lowell admit they don't always understand lead singer Dan Haseltine. Although it may have initially seemed strange, now it doesn't surprise them that Haseltine doesn't listen to Jars of Clay albums once they're completed.

"I think after you've worked on something for so long, it's hard to have a good perspective on what you've created," Haseltine explains. "About six years after it (Much Afraid) had been out, I put it back on and listened to it. At that point, I was able to make the connection of why I had written the lyrics I had written."

The primary lyric and melody writer for Jars of Clay, Haseltine is involved in all facets of the band, including producing. And for every aspect of the band, Haseltine has great dreams and vision. He also has words to express them.

"He has a lot of the stereotypical traits of a poet," says Odmark. "Someone who spends a lot of time trying to express through words. He's the one with the most ideas and the biggest dreams."

"The Steve Award for visionary goes to Dan," jokes Mason. "There's so much going on under the surface with him that we really have to be patient and know that he's up to some really fantastic things."

Though typically considered the creative "head" of the band, Haseltine refuses to take all the credit. Haseltine may bring in concepts for the words and tunes, but he relies on Lowell, Mason and Odmark to supply their input.

Of course, with each of the guys trying to put his personality into one album, there is bound to be conflict. Oddly enough, Haseltine places great value on it. He believes tension is necessary to create art.

"Anything that's worth creating has gone through or is in the midst of a season of tension," he says. "I feel like that's the way Jars is. We complement each other in a lot of ways because we're opposites, but sometimes those opposites really clash."

As the band has developed its identity, Haseltine has shaped his persona as a world relief activist. He has focused much of his energy of late trying to better the world. From sticky-floored clubs in the United States to AIDS clinics in Africa, Haseltine has found ways to bring God's message to all kinds of people.

Odmark especially admires Haseltine for his zeal: "Dan is kind of cerebral at times in that he's very intelligent and relationally, very expressive. He's an insanely hard worker at the same time. He's the kind of person who will gladly volunteer for three or four more things than they probably have any business volunteering for."

But constant action is what has brought Haseltine to the place in his life where he honestly feels as though he understands how God is using him.

"I've got a better idea of where I am in life and of where God has us right now," Haseltine says. "I'm excited about it. And I think now, in this season, we're having more fun than we ever have."

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© 2003 Christian Music Planet

This article was provided courtesy of Christian Music Planet magazine. For more articles on Christian music visit christianmusicplanet.com.

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