Mukala
Encyclopedia
Mukala was a Christian rock
band formed in the late 1990s. The group consists of singer
-songwriter
-keyboardist
Dan Mukala, guitarist
Alex Nifong, and drummer Jason Collum. They released one album, Fiction
, in 1998.
student at Belmont University
in Tennessee
.
In 1996, he became a professional songwriter and penned a number of Top Ten songs on contemporary hit radio
. Prior to forming the band, Mukala had also toured with other artists and led worship for a youth group.
According to Mukala, "the band got started out of a desire that God gave me to put together a group that . . . really was focused on reaching kids and not just playing music either. I've always felt that Christian music should be a medium that reaches into the mainstream."
Signed in early 1998 to Essential Records
,
Mukala released their debut album, Fiction
, in September.
The band's musical style drew comparisons to Silage, Smash Mouth
, and Beck
.
Their first single
, "Soap", received airplay on Christian rock and Top 40 radio stations.
In an industry first, the single "Regret" was released as an Internet
download
.
"Regret" was also featured on the soundtrack of the 1999 movie Drive Me Crazy
, starring Melissa Joan Hart
and Adrian Grenier
. Since the album's release, Mukala became a record producer
for such artists as the Backstreet Boys
, Nick Lachey
, Kimberly Locke, Ace Young
, The Afters
, Rachel Lampa, and Brandon Heath
.
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band formed in the late 1990s. The group consists of singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
-songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
-keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Dan Mukala, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Alex Nifong, and drummer Jason Collum. They released one album, Fiction
Fiction (Mukala album)
- Track listing :All tracks by Dan Muckala except were noted# "Soap" - 3:47# "Skip to the End" - 3:42# "Stranger Than Fiction" - 4:33# "Regret" - 4:28# "High" - 6:10# "Original Sin" - 4:54 # "Atrocity" - 4:22...
, in 1998.
History
Dan Mukala was a musical compositionMusical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
student at Belmont University
Belmont University
Belmont University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University.-Belmont Mansion:Belmont Mansion...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
In 1996, he became a professional songwriter and penned a number of Top Ten songs on contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
. Prior to forming the band, Mukala had also toured with other artists and led worship for a youth group.
According to Mukala, "the band got started out of a desire that God gave me to put together a group that . . . really was focused on reaching kids and not just playing music either. I've always felt that Christian music should be a medium that reaches into the mainstream."
Signed in early 1998 to Essential Records
Essential Records (Christian)
Essential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of a major label, Sony Music Entertainment.-History:...
,
Mukala released their debut album, Fiction
Fiction (Mukala album)
- Track listing :All tracks by Dan Muckala except were noted# "Soap" - 3:47# "Skip to the End" - 3:42# "Stranger Than Fiction" - 4:33# "Regret" - 4:28# "High" - 6:10# "Original Sin" - 4:54 # "Atrocity" - 4:22...
, in September.
The band's musical style drew comparisons to Silage, Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
, and Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
.
Their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Soap", received airplay on Christian rock and Top 40 radio stations.
In an industry first, the single "Regret" was released as an Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
.
"Regret" was also featured on the soundtrack of the 1999 movie Drive Me Crazy
Drive Me Crazy
-Tracklisting:# " Crazy " - Britney Spears# "Unforgetful You" - Jars of Clay# "I Want It That Way " - Backstreet Boys# "It's All Been Done" - Barenaked Ladies# "Stranded" - Plumb...
, starring Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Catherine Hart is an American actress, writer, television director, television producer, singer and businesswoman...
and Adrian Grenier
Adrian Grenier
Adrian Grenier is an American actor, musician and director. He is best known for his lead role on the HBO original series, Entourage, as Vincent Chase.-Early life:...
. Since the album's release, Mukala became a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for such artists as the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, Nick Lachey
Nick Lachey
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released...
, Kimberly Locke, Ace Young
Ace Young
Brett Asa "Ace" Young is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He came to national recognition upon appearing on the fifth season of the reality television talent show, American Idol, although he was eliminated from the competition on April 19, 2006, finishing in seventh place.-Early...
, The Afters
The Afters
The Afters are a Christian rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed at the same...
, Rachel Lampa, and Brandon Heath
Brandon Heath
Brandon Heath is a contemporary Christian musician from Nashville, Tennessee. He has released three studio albums: Don't Get Comfortable , What If We and "Leaving Eden" . He is best known for the No. 1 "I'm Not Who I Was" and "Give Me Your Eyes". He was nominated four times at the Dove Awards of...
.
Discography
Albums- 1998: FictionFiction (Mukala album)- Track listing :All tracks by Dan Muckala except were noted# "Soap" - 3:47# "Skip to the End" - 3:42# "Stranger Than Fiction" - 4:33# "Regret" - 4:28# "High" - 6:10# "Original Sin" - 4:54 # "Atrocity" - 4:22...
– Essential RecordsEssential Records (Christian)Essential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of a major label, Sony Music Entertainment.-History:...