Bennington couple strengthens their marriage and their faith through music

By Gary Demuth

Salina Journal

Jeremy and Kaci Neely are not afraid to explore their personal lives through music.

And the personal hasn't always been pretty: alcohol and other drugs, depression, low self-esteem and excessive sexual activity have tested the strength of their relationship.

"Music and performing has become good therapy for us," said Jeremy, 33.

The Neelys, who have been married 12 years, front a Christian-based rock and acoustic band called Wur'ship Project. Through their songs, written mostly by Jeremy, the couple have explored what they called "real life issues," much of which they've experienced firsthand.

"A lot of songs are about ourselves, what we've dealt with, the hurts and the pains we've had," said Kaci, 32. "Hopefully, through the music, we encourage young people to make better decisions while they're still young."

Even though the Neelys' music deals with many tough life issues, their songs are anything but depressing, Jeremy said.

"They're encouraging and full of hope," he said. "We just show people that someone else has gone through what they're going through, and that it'll be all right with God's help."

The Neelys, who live in Bennington, have recorded two self-produced CDs, including a live concert CD recorded in Hutchinson and at the couple's home church, Crossroads Church, 1125 W. South.

At the end of April, the Neelys were invited to record four new songs at a Nashville, Tenn., recording studio by a music production company called Zodlounge, whose owners had heard some of the Neelys' songs and were impressed.

For the Neelys, the chance to record their songs in Nashville was the culmination of a longtime dream.

"I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't dream of making music," said Jeremy, who sings and plays guitar, while Kaci provides lead and back-up vocals.

Met in college

The couple met at Barton County Community College when Kaci was 20 and on the college's dance squad, and Jeremy was 21 and on the cheer squad.

After a whirlwind romance, Jeremy and Kaci were married on May 5, 1996. At the beginning, things weren't easy for the young couple. Jeremy was developing a problem with alcohol and other drugs. Both had been sexually active before marriage, and knowledge of each other's previous partners caused feelings of jealousy and hurt.

"Having a partner that's been with so many others creates hurt feelings, anger and a lack of self-worth," Jeremy said. "You can't sweep that under the rug."

They began to work through their personal issues by making music. Shortly after being married, the couple moved to Salina, where Jeremy enrolled at Kansas Wesleyan University to study computer science. He also began taking guitar lessons from local musician Steve Hanson, owner of SM Hanson Music, 335 S. Clark.

"If I didn't, I'd be singing a cappella now," Jeremy said. "I had to learn an instrument to help get out the songs burning in my head."

A spiritual relationship

Jeremy wrote country music initially, until the unexpected death of Kaci's uncle in 1999 caused the couple to begin exploring the spiritual side of life.

"We began searching for meaning, something bigger than ourselves, and we came into a relationship with the Lord," Jeremy said. "From there, we moved into Christian rock."

In 2002, they formed Wur'ship Project, even though Jeremy said it's not a typical praise and worship band.

"It's not your Sunday morning stuff," he said. "They're songs that try to make a real emotional connection. In one song, 'Falling Down,' I look at my life through the eyes of the prodigal son as I deal with drug and alcohol addictions in my past. Our mission is to be very open with our songs."

The couple have toured both with a full band and as an acoustic duo throughout the U.S. and up to Alberta, Canada. They mostly book weekend gigs because of job and family commitments. Jeremy is a network administrator for Geoprobe Systems in Salina, while Kaci homeschools the couple's four daughters: Allison, 11, Aubrey, 9, Emma, 4, and Ella, 21 months.

The couple also developed a prison ministry and have visited Ellsworth Correctional Facility and the Ottawa County Jail.

"They're the most receptive audience, and Ellsworth has a great Spiritual Life Center," Kaci said. "We feel like we've made a difference there."

Amazing musicians

Last year, the couple signed with a Springdale, Ark.-based management company, MacLaughlin Music Group, that focuses on promoting Christian music artists. The company booked the Neelys to record a CD in Nashville and to work with professional musicians who helped the Neelys improve their vocal performances and stage techniques.

They recorded their songs with a full band that included a guitarist who had played with Christian artist Michael W. Smith and a former drummer for country superstar Tim McGraw.

"We've been around creative people before, but these guys were amazing," Jeremy said. "They just kept bubbling forth ideas and made me look at my songs in different ways. They helped pull a richer sound out of us."

The final version of the four-song CD should be mixed in four to six weeks, and then the Neelys will begin shopping it to major record labels and radio stations.

The couple also formed their own record label, 121 Records, on which they plan to release original material and sign up other local musicians.

They've earned it

To Kaci's brother-in-law Jesse Smith, who helps run their record label, success couldn't have happened to two more deserving people.

"The music has helped (Jeremy and Kaci) heal their past wounds, but it also may help some kid listening to it for the first time," he said. "They're very good at talking about what teens and people in their 20s are struggling through."

In the six years since Wur'ship Project began, the Neelys feel that music has helped change their lives for the better.

"We've grown a lot and come a long way since 2002," Kaci said.

n Reporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.