21:03
Interview conducted by Latrice McClendon

Please introduce yourself.

Torrance: I’m Torrance 17 years old
Evin: Hello, I’m Evin and I’m 22
Sean: And I’m Sean, 19 years old.

Tell me what 21:03 mean?

Sean: 21:03 is the 21st day of 2003. This is the day that PAJAM came with our concept. When they said, “We want a guy group.” Its scriptures are Genesis, Psalms and Revelations. Now Genesis said that Abraham and Sarah had a son Issac born unto them and he was a miracle child. And that’s to say we are the miracle group that was birth through the boot-camp and auditions and all the crazy stuff.

Torrance: And Psalms. Psalms 3. First of all it is the book of songs. It says, he will place a crown of pure gold upon the kings head. In other words he will exalt our ministry if we do what we are suppose to do.

Evin: In Revelations 21 it says God will dwell amongst the people and he would be their God. That means that He will be with us in our travels. He will anoint us and help us to do the thing that we are called to do.

Do you guys believe that singing is your purpose in life?

Torrance: Personally, I love singing since the age of five. I grew up in church and I tried to do other things, but it didn’t work out. But when I sang, everything started to come together. So that was confirmation that singing had to be my purpose.

Evin: I think God gives us all different gifts and talents so that He can use our gifts and talents to accomplish our purpose. I think singing or being a minister of the gospel is a means to my purpose. But I don’t think it is my total and complete purpose but I know that God has bigger and better things he wants me to do. I think this is one of the ways that He wants me to accomplish my purpose.

Sean: I think singing is my gift. I think my purpose is everything I do I please God. So, however I do that it is my purpose. Sing is just one of the gifts He has given me so I give it back to Him.

As a group, what are some of the obstacles that you had to overcome?

Sean: Making the band (laughing). Well there was an audition process. When it boiled down to it, it ended up being six of us, so it was a weeding out process. God places people where He wants them to go. Everything is strategy. This is how He wanted it to be. It came together crazy, but we are here now.

Evin: Yeah we went through a boot camp, which consisted of everything you see on Making the Band on TV. Push up, running, praying, passing out.

Sean: I passed out.

Evin: Also I think God is teaching us patience. Tempering us, because we have been together for about two years now and we’ve been signed for a little minute. God is just working some stuff out in us as a group and just waiting for the right time. The Bible says, to everything there is a time and a season. So God is just teaching us patience. That is something we had to learn as a group and to learn each other. Personalities, getting to know each other.

You said you have been together for two years, so what is the most rewarding part of being in this group?

Evin: The most rewarding part of about being in this group is knowing that you have two other people going through the same things you are going through. We go forth together in ministry. We hang outside of singing. It’s just knowing that if you need someone to pray for you, you can call your boy. We just want to hang out. Almost like a built in friendship.

Are there any artist that have inspired you in the past or now?

Torrance: I’m going to speak on this. My two favorites are Tonei and J Moss. I love Tonei because he is so sweet vocally. To me he is and I love his performance too. And J Moss, everybody love J Moss. Who doesn’t like J Moss. PAJAM, yes!

Evin: I would have to say Fred Hammond. Fred is awesome when it comes to worship and praise. And Brandi, would probably be my other favorite, I have liked her since her first album in 1995.

Sean: My list goes on and on, so I don’t know where to start. First, the person that made me want to sing when I was a little boy was Mariah Carey. People laugh at when I say this, they think it is a joke but she was my inspiration. As far as Gospel Music, it would have to be Kim Burrell she made me want to take singing a step further. Of course, J Moss, Karen Clark Sheard. Watching performers like Beyonce and Usher. Everybody is an influence. I love Paul Morton Jr., Donnie Hathaway. I could go on and on.

Who are some people that helped you get to the point that you are today?

Evin: Of course our family members. God first. PAJAM is our production and management team. Walter Kearney, Paul Allen and J Moss they came up with the concept of the group, put it together. They have done exceedingly above anything that you can think that they could have done. They have been a very important part of our development.

You guys are pretty young, how do keep a balance between your ministry and your own personal life.

Sean: I don’t forget that I have a regular life. I have friends. I want to go to out to eat. I want to go to the movies. All of those things keep me sane. It’s not just the group, the group, the group. Because, realizing that I have people that love me, it keeps me cool.

Now I would like to read some statistics and get your comments on them. Each year, approximately three million cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur among teenagers and approximately one million teenagers become pregnant. Can you guys comment on this for me?

Sean: First of all that’s a curse. Wow I didn’t know that. What?

Evin: That’s a staggering statistics. I think a lot of this is due to the day and age that we live in. It’s staggering but it’s not surprising. These are the last days. I think that we as young people or we as the body of Christ we need to put forth a message, abstinence before marriage. Things such as waiting until you are married before you have sex. There needs to be some holiness and moral values taught at home and in the church for these statistics to change.

You just mentioned that their should be holiness in the church, what are you guys do as a group to promote abstinence and saving yourself before marriage.

Evin: We are accountability partners. We are checking each other. We call each other.

What about the young people that you influence. Do you take a stand for premarital sex as a group and in your own personal ministries?

Sean: You have to be a leader.

Evin: In order for someone to look up to and listen to me you have to be about what you are doing and saying. If someone is looking at me and I’m not living it I don’t need to be doing what I am doing, I can’t really minister to them. It’s very important that we uphold a standard.

Just a couple of more questions. What advise would you give to teenagers, contemplating pursing a similar career?

Sean: I think you have to have thick skin. To be in the music industry you have to have thick skin because you quickly realize that not many people care about your feelings. Your feelings get hurt real fast. You need a support group. You need your core, your people that care for you. Our core is PAJAM. They will tell you what you are doing wrong, looking out for your best interest. You need to know who you are. So you can set yourself apart. Dedication, focus and the right attitude.

What does the future hold for 21:03?

21:03 Our album is coming out soon. We are looking to do some cross promotion and touring with the rest of our camp, Ramiyah & J.Moss. We’re still in the studio constantly recording. We are just looking for God to take us deeper in Him but into higher heights. We are also on a sound track of a movie called Second Chance, staring Michael W. Smith. We have a few songs on that soundtrack and looking for that to come out in the Fall.

Any parting words or advice you can say to youth about finding their purpose in life?

Sean: Seek God. Constantly pray, stay in your bible read. Live your life accordingly.

Evin: Watch those around you. Make sure they edify and uplift you and they don’t bring you down. Because your friends are a reflection of who you are. You need to watch who you are around.

Torrance: Always know that you are responsible for your own happiness. Nobody else. Do whatever you need to do to be happy.

Awesome. Thank you so much.