This Longing Heart

Back to Tomorrow

DEW is a Christian Rock/Alternative band that brings worship and music together in a humble and reflective manner. Their lyrically heavy, yet musically pleasing songs tell stories of God’s love, wisdom, and truth, allowing audience members to reflect on personal experiences and relate to the messages presented in the music. 

The original group of three-Derek Hennig, Wade Hennig, and Evan Price- formed in Charleston, Illinois in January of 2010, serving as a worship team for Otterbein United Methodist Church. After a few months, Derek was introduced to a few musicians while attending a campus ministry at Indiana State University. One, Matthew McKnight, was a drummer and sound technician, and he offered to record a few songs that Derek had written. Once finished, Matt showed the songs to a friend, Kevin Heiser, who also happened to play bass guitar. A few weeks later, Matt and Kevin officially joined the band, and DEW began playing and leading worship at different churches in the area. As Matt began to sharpen his production skills, he found that drumming was no longer his calling. In need of a drummer, the band contacted a friend, Dustin Weddle, who accepted the invitation to play a show with DEW. The show went extremely well, and Dustin soon became a member. 

The founder and leader of the band, Derek Hennig, found his knack for writing before knowing how to play a guitar. As songs and melodies filled his mind, he discovered a new way of connecting and talking to God. It is evident in the lyrics and melodies that each song was God-given, and DEW now hopes to reach the world with them.

Lead guitarist and keyboard player, Wade Hennig, began his musical career on the piano. After years of athletics, he switched gears by learning to play guitar. Inspired by classic rock guitarists and his love of all genres, he soon developed his own rock style. 

Guitarist Evan Price also picked up the instrument later in life. By playing both electric and acoustic guitars, his versatility allows the band to find and utilize new sounds.

Bassist Kevin Heiser is the most experienced of the group, with events such as ICHTHUS under his belt while playing for other bands. Kevin played the upright bass in a symphony orchestra for a couple years before picking up the bass guitar, which he found to be his choice instrument. Not long after picking a bass up, he quickly used his music background to master the instrument. For DEW, his bass lines create mood and tension, giving the group a dimension of emotion that is crucial to developing the messages within the songs.

As a whole, DEW strives to reach all generations, but they are specifically targeting youth ministry in their music. Using motivation from personal life experiences, the band hopes to use their music to inform the youth of the world of the message of Christ. Using God’s Spirit and Word as a guide, each song has placed them closer to reaching the goal.

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