Indie Rock's Best Well-Kept Secret
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Production powerhouse
In today’s climate of self-made success stories, you may be scratching your head as to why you’ve never heard of indie rock’s best-kept secret, yet you probably know the names of the projects graced by Sprinkle’s name in the credits. He’s perhaps most lauded in the production department these days, churning out a practically unstoppable stable of hit records and obscure favorites, spanning Jeremy Camp, MxPx, Kutless, Hawk Nelson, Pedro the Lion and Thousand Foot Krutch to mention a mere smattering.
“The thing that makes the most impression on me is the relationships I develop with the bands,” he asserts, shrugging off sales statements or chart placement. “Some of these guys are seriously some of my best friends. Making a record is almost like living together for a very short but intense period of time. Spending up to 16 hours a day with people can develop some serious bonds.”
So what’s his all-time favorite project behind the boards? It’s a difficult question for someone with such a vast catalogue, but one that includes the following: “Acceptance’s Phantoms is still such a great record to me,” he ponders. “This one seems to still have cult status, especially with a lot of band people. Copeland’s You Are My Sunshine was such an amazing thing to be a part of and I feel like I really learned a lot from those guys as well. It’s probably the most beautiful thing I’ve worked on. I still think Jonezetta’s Cruel To Be Young is one of the best records I’ve ever made, but it’s such a shame it never caught on. Anberlin’s Cities is another great one. I feel like it’s possibly the most epic record I’ve had the honor to be a part of. This is a great example of a group of people with a strong, like-minded vision that really came to fruition.”
Remembering Rose
Before finding fame behind the scenes, Sprinkle also fronted the short live Rose Blossom Punch from 1997–1999. The group released just two albums, but was quickly embraced in the alternative rock scene given its crunching guitars and aggressive vocal delivery.
“Rose Blossom Punch was my first go at ‘frontman’ and it was a time when I learned a lot of tough lessons and had a chance to make music with some amazing people,” Sprinkle recalls. “I still want to find a way to release our EP that never came out.”
Growing up Lu
As one of the very first faith-inspired grunge bands, Poor Old Lu made history for more than one reason. Expanding the alternative rock scene with accomplished musicianship, the group’s discussion of controversial topics like drug addiction, sexuality and spiritual questioning was a breath of fresh air for struggling believers, as well as non-believers considering Christianity for the first time.
“Poor Old Lu was such an amazing time of my life,” Sprinkle confirms, though he remains humble in the recollection. “It’s where I cut my teeth in this crazy biz. I feel like the early ’90s was kind of the birth of the scene as we know it today. It was really fun to be a small part of it.”
A lasting legacy
Last but not least, the final component to our six degrees of separation from Aaron Sprinkle is the legacy he’s left thus far, despite showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Scan the bodies of work by countless acts in the alternative rock spectrum in the faith-based scene, alongside several secular artists, and it’s next to impossible not to notice his fingerprints, even if they’re only figurative. And if his creative outpouring over the past two decades is any indication of what’s to come, get ready for this unsung hero to slowly but surely become a household name and get the proper credit that’s been deserved since his first days on the job.
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About the Writer
Andy Argyrakis is a Chicago-based entertainment writer/photographer who appears in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Entertainer, Daily Journal, Concert Livewire, Hear/Say Magazine and Image Chicago (to name few). His record label writing credits include Warner Brothers, Atlantic, Curb, EMI and Universal, with additional photo credits for Fuse TV, Live Nation, Nikon, Pollstar, Celebrity Access, Paste Magazine, MTV.com and Vibe.com. He’s also the author/narrator of "Access Matthews" (an audio CD tracing the career of Dave Matthews Band) and spends considerable time on tour, including outings with Arlo Guthrie, The Guess Who, Madina Lake (on Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution) and Gospel Music Channel’s very own "Gospel Dream" (where he served as season one judge).
