The City Harmonic is a Christian rock band that formed in Ontario, Cananda in 2009 and were nominated for 'New Artist of the Year' in 2012 by the GMA Dove Awards. They just released their second album Heart on September 3rd.  

The City Harmonic is made up of Elias Dummer (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Eric Fusilier (bass), Aaron Powell (guitar), and Josh Vanderlaan (drums). 

We would like to thank Elias of The City Harmonic for taking the time to speak with BreatheCast. 

BreatheCast: How does it feel to have your new album Heart released?   

ED: "Fantastic! We've been really surprised and blessed at how well it's been received - especially in Canada! Christian music isn't NEARLY as possible in Canada as it is in the US, so we took it as a great encouragement that our Canadian brothers and sisters responded as kindly as they have!" 

BreatheCast: How would you describe your sound for people that haven't heard of you guys and what artists have influenced your sound?  

ED: "Hmmm. I guess something in the piano-based British Rock vein?  We're a pretty eclectic bunch so I'm not sure a list of influences would be all that obviously useful (because they shape us in different ways), but people tend to compare us to bands like Coldplay or Keane." 

BreatheCast: How many songs did you write for the new album, how tough was the final selection process? 

ED: "HEART was actually a concept album, so while we had song ideas that hit the "editing room floor," we actually wrote the lyrics to almost every song you hear on HEART while recording the album. We'd be recording, say, guitars downstairs while in the meantime writing the lyrics to "Live Love" upstairs in the studio at our co-Producer's place."

BreatheCast: Tell us the story behind your song, "A City on a Hill"? 

ED: "A City On A Hill' is the only song on this album that was written with anybody outside our band. We were over leading worship in the UK and so I spent some time hanging with Ben Cantelon and Nick Herbert over at Holy Trinity Brompton. It was interesting because I guess I was sort of wrestling through all the themes that we had been working through on HEART, and as we sat down to write together we ended up focusing on The Beatitudes and it's accompanying passage in which Jesus calls the church to be A City On A Hill... the "light of the world."  So it came afterwards, but almost seemed like a great focus point for what this album is about - living a life as those called to bear Christ's image to the world."

BreatheCast: If you could collaborate with one Secular Artist and one Christian Artist, who would you choose?

ED: "That's a tough question! I'm sure the band would all give different answers, but since I'm (Elias) the one answering the questions I'd probably have to say Bono and Martin Smith (of Delirious?). Really respect their ability to hold fast to their convictions and say what needs to be said." 

BreatheCast: Do you have a favorite scripture as a band or a truth that you use a lot? If not, what are some personal favorite verses of yours?

ED: "I'm not personally fond of choosing a "favorite scripture."  That said, I've lately been really just trying to wrestle with things Jesus actually said, in light of who the rest of scripture says that He is. Colossians 1 paints a picture of Christ as the very center of the universe, so when he turns around in the Beatitudes and says, "Blessed are the Poor" and "love your enemies," it's something we ought not take too lightly."

BreatheCast: If you could each play professionally for any sports team for one day, who would you guys pick?

ED: "Manchester United. Toronto Maple Leafs." 

BreatheCast: What are your touring plans for this Fall 2013?

ED: "This Fall we're headed out on our first leg of THE HEART TOUR! We're super excited to be playing these new songs and singing with folks all over! We'll be MOSTLY up and down the West Coast, with a few pocket shows elsewhere and we'll be bringing Shawn McDonald and The RoyalRoyal with us - so we can't way to get going starting in October!"