Proxy

he members of Proxy don’t think of themselves as another Christian rock band, more of a ministry.

A ministry that uses music to spread God’s message.

The Lakeland five-piece tries to blend 1980s progressive rock with a modern sound. The band has been together for about a year and a half, and more people are taking notice of their sound. The group is signed under TATE Music Group, a Christian music label from Oklahoma and they performed at Disney’s Night of Joy earlier this month.

The band is led by Michael Jimenez, 44, lead guitar; Matt Lopez, 22, rhythm guitar; Jarrius Haggins, 22, keyboard/percussion; and singers Micah Nicole, 21, and Joseph Kennedy Limper, 25.

Jimenez has been performing since the 1980s and got to play at CBGB’s in New York. He was almost signed by a label three times. His experience, he says, helps guide and focus the band.

The band is in talks with churches for three shows in the area, but their next show will be at SonFest at the First Church of the Nazarene in Vero Beach on Oct. 8. Their self-titled album was released in March.

Jimenez talks more below about Proxy.

Here are samples from three songs on their self-titled album “Proxy”: “Sacrafice,” “By Proxy” and “The Writing On The Wall.”

Proxy on Reverbnation.

Question:

What is the biggest struggle of getting discovered?

Answer:

The struggles are that people don’t take (Christian rock) seriously. They think we’re just another garage band or just another worship band until they actually see what we do on stage and how the show is actually performed. Then they’re like “oh wow,” then they’re “when can you play at our church or our function.”

Question:

How does having older and younger members help the band?

Answer:

The maturity gives me a way to say, I know what they’ve done because I’ve been there, and in reverse they keep me in check.
- Polk Beats